The New York herald., 1921-10-04
LABOR STRENGTH IN JAPAN
ALARMS MILITARY CHIEFS

dicated complete sympathy with the
strikers. Leading men of the empire
also reflected rather surprising SYM
pathy with the cause of the strikers.
Among these was yiscount Takahashi,
Minister Of Finance.
The fact that an important official
of the Government conceded certain
degree OF right in their fight did a
great deal to encourage and hold the
strikers together. Viscount Takahashi
suggested that the employers might
with benefit adopt the profit sharing
scheme and a more adequate system
OF promotion for efficiency. Comment
Ing upon the Kobe incident, the Wis
count said:
my study OF labor conditions
throughout the world has taught me
that the working people In Great
Britain are remarkable for their dis
cipline and orderlincss. while the capt.
talist class in the United States Is so
well organized and firmly established
that there is a distinct difference be-
tween capital and labor. During my
stay In the United States witnessed
strike and could clearly distinguish
that there is q gap between capital
and labor In that country.
"It is the common practice among
the capitalists in the United States to
lock out their men and women. Hence
labor disputee have an exceptionally
deep meaning in the life OF America.
On the contrary. cannot perceive IN
Japan any established system OF capi-
talism in the strict sense OF the term.
The only amicable solution OF labor
disputes in this country at present lies
in the Just and impartial enforcement
OF profit sharing plans.
"Most Of the new enterprises pro-
NOTED take the form of joint stock
companies, which as a rule are organ
lied comparatively by shareholders,
manage and laborers The just and
wise distribution OF profits among
these three factors OF Japanese enter
prise would solve all pending labor dis
putes. Now is the time for both capi-
talists and workers Of Japan to CO.
operate in the promotion of their in
tesUsts. The price Of commodities In
this country has been booming with
out limit and has already far sur
passed the quotations Of other coun-
tries.
Unrest among the people is affect
ing the thinking OF the general public.
The most effective way Of settling this
unrest is to bring about q reduction OF
the high prices of necessaries by cut
ting the cost OF production. On this
point the Japanese capitalists have
made a grave mistake. They have re-
tsined a surplus OF labor and been
compelled to charge excessive prices
for their products"
The opinion Of the Minister OF
Finance, while comforting the leaders
in the present trade union movement,
Is not fully shared by them. They are
naturally inclined to regard the Kobe
demonstration as the preliminary OF
a countrywide movement among the
Industrial and agricultural workers to
bring about a reduction in the cost OF
government as well as in the cost OF
living
1t is significant fact that both
these elements In the productive life
OF Japan are unanimously in favor OF
the disarmament programme which is
to be considered at Washington. At
the same time they have convinced
themselves that the Kobe strike Is
merely the preliminary of a universal
movement among the toilers of all
grades for the amelioration Of existing
conditions.
Some Of them even predict that, un-
less the Government lends its support
TO the movement. the influence of the
Mikado and his Ministry will ultimately
be destroyed through the growth OF
democratic sentiment, which. up to
date, has been held in check. Even
the newspapers that express the full
est sympathy with the project stop a.
the suggestion Of some of the leaders
in it that the movement toward a re-
public IS gaining headway.