The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-16
THE BIRTH OF TRADE UNIONISM IN THE
JAPANESE NATION

are showing their satisfaction"
l thought of Japan as it used to
be and was ready for any up
heaval.
About a year ago there was a
strike against great shipping and
commercial firm at Kobe-Kobe,
where the coolies used to be point
ed out to visitors as examples of
Japanese industrial regularity. 1t
was a serious strike; most of the
hundreds of strikes in Japan in the
last few years have been in dead
earnest. Near the office of the
shipping firm is great, fashion
able and famous hotel, such a place
as in the old days japanese work
err would not dream of entering.
Somebody started the story that
the books and papers of the ship
ping firm had been transferred to
the safe of the hotel Strikers
marched in body into the hotel
lobby and compelled the manager to
open his safe and exhibit every
thing he had in it.
In December of last year a party
of tourists was riding leisurely
through Kobe in their rickshaws
or man-propelled carriages. Of a
sudden there arose hubbub in
front of them. Instantly the streets
began to clear. The rickshaw men
took one good look and tore into
the side alleys. Up the street
came 5000 workers marching in
exact order and carrying banners
af 70 oil oil.
to stare and snort.
Ten years before the bearers of
those banners would have been
hanged. The government does not
hang them today 1t is no longer
the old band of militaristic high
binders; it, too, has been regener-
ated. The new idea is working its
way into the council chamber as
elsewhere. At the parliamentary
election previous to that of eight
months ago one person in ten vot-
ed. At the ensuing session bill
to grant universal manhood suf-
frage was sidetracked in its last
stage of passage by the trick of
proroguing parliament. Everybody
expects to see it revived and enact
ed. Parliament has ceased to be
a joke.
Under the surface all Japan feels
disquieted with new sensations and
with vague notions of coming
changes. The government. no long
err able to suppress labor organiza-
tions, and, l think, no longer de-
string to suppress them, seems now
to have the idea that it can con-
troll them. 1t has fostered or
ganization on the railroads Organ
ization under government super
vision) and has given to the en-
ployes a voice in the railroad man
agement. 1t seems no longer dis
posed to deal with strikes by shoot
ing down the strikers. In the re-
cent great shipyard strike it al
lowed the thing to drift to its
natural conclusion. The truth is,
it does not know what to do about
the multiplying evidences of unrest
and neither does anybody else. Dis
satisfaction is everywhere, but no.
body has successfully analysed it,
foretold which way it will go or
suggested a remedy for it.
The second cause of trade union
growth in Japan is much clearer
and simpler The last seven years
have seen great change in the
countrys economic conditions. The
war set running transformation
that was due for her anyway. She
was destined to change over from
an agricultural to manufacturing
country. For manufacturing she
has great natural advantages, an
Industrious and skillful population,
water power, some fuel, plenty Of
capital, good organizing ability, the
best location from which to supply
the western Pacific. But just as
fast as she built and filled fac
tories the organization spirit ap-
peared among the employees. Where
ever there was large bodies of men
under one regular employment it
was demonstrated that some kind of
coalition among them was inevi-
table. In Japan as everywhere
else industrial development took the
one course. The organization of a
great manufacturing enterprise put
greed, cunning and power. Men
so employed found at once they
could do nothing Individually in
their own defense. A mighty force
stronger than mems wills drew
them to unite, and the tyade union
movement was born in Japan in
spite of government or any other
opposition.
I suggested at the outset doubts
concerning the Japanese movement.
Of re fol yuh
l was in Japan were not of ma
ture to reassure one that long ago
outgrew the notion that the world
could be remade over night. There
was developing in the unions, or
some of them, a distaste for the
methods of reason and peace and
some wild notion of throwing I'M
armed masses upon rows of bayo-
nets, a proceeding that all about
the world has proved fruitless of
everything except bloodshed and
defeat. Some of the unions were
taking grounds against the popu-
lar extension of the franchise, urg-
ing that all political action was
useless and physical force was the
only means to achieve betterment.
do not know whether Mr.. Su-
zuki and the other friends of san
ity in the labor movement will be
able to overcome this tendency and
do not know anybody else that
knows, but of one thing | feel
sure: If any considerable number
of Japanese workingmen wander off
after strange gods, wild and red,
they will wander back again. The
typical Japanese is too sagacious to
daily much with this kind of thing.
Over a period of many years !
have observed him in. his habitat