New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
Depression Put "a Curb oHa
More Radical Forms of
Defiance Used by
Workers

I 800, s
means COMMITTEES for the formation OF
the nasional union, under tina siafae o.
Nippon General Confederation Of La
Dor Unions, met In June, 1922. By Sep
tcrnber 10. when tho representatives OF
the fi2ty.eight labor organizations
gathered together at Matsumcto-tei, tn
Esnda, Toxic, ths proposition had
taken definite shape. Back Of the men
who had gathered there stood some
100000 workingrnen Of Japan. IL was
an historic event. And on the evening
Of September 10, at Matsuraoto-tsi, the
preliminary steps OF the launching OF
the one great national union we're
gone smoothly through. Tbs result OF
the Matsumoto-tei Conference was 70
be reported to the national mass meet
ing which was to meet at Osaka on
September 30, one day before the elev-
enth anniversary convention OF the
Japan Federation OF Labor WIS go
gather In tho samo city. The rky was
not entirely cloudless; STILL most OF
tho labor leaders felt chat 50 FAR as the
final success OF che big union YVES con-
cerned It was fairly safe w,nging
Into the sunlit blue.
Tbs Osaka meeting came ss sched-
uied--on September 80. But the ex-
pected did not come 90 pass. The mass
meeting broke UP In blind frenzy Of
civil war; the police had 20 dispense 1t.
But something quite as significant as
the establishment Of the one big union
came to the surface In the stormy ses-
sion---something which made oligarchi-
cal Japan rub It's eyes In wonder. The
whole big union plan was wrecked over
precisely the same question which
fathered the Civil Wag IN America
that Of etate righss~-oe, as the Osaka
labor debaters called It, the invasion Of
the complete autonomy Of local unions.
Werkmen Decry Violence
In Fighting for Cause
AT the third session OF the eleventh
anniversary convention Of the Japan
Federation Of Labor, which WAS held
following the stormy, unsuccessful In
auguration mass meeting of the Cen
eral Conference OF Labor Unions Of
Japan, there came to pass an incident
which throws picturesque and I'M
portant light on the character and
workings Of the Japanese labor unions.
J. Okumura, OF the Kioto union, intro
duced resolution calling on Che Jap
aness Federation Of Labor to impeach
the Kioto prefecturai authorities. II
was over the official attitude on the
employment Of violence In connection
with the labor dispute at the sawada
Alley Works Of Kioto. This resolu-
tion passed amid thunderous acclama-
tion. Then arose the question Of es-
tablishing defense organization" to
meet just such q case as that OF the
Sawada incident. Mr.. sakaguchi, Of
the Kofu union, rose Co his feet. The
gist Of his speech was that IL is not
honorable &c answer violence, with vio.
lence. He was opposed 20 the estab-
lishment OF a standing lighting organ
ization.
That seemed xsther unpopular note
to strike while the echoes Of the indig-
nant denunciation over the Sawada out
rage we're still filing the ears Of the
convention. It turned out to be nothing
Of the sort, however. The Osaka dele
CATION spoke UP. It said something
which sounded extraordinary, coming
az 1t did from tho lips Of. the men who
worked with their hands and feet. It
said that physical, violencs is not nee-
essary In q fight Of ideas. More as
founding still, the resolution was lost.
So lit is not altogether a fight for
food and shelter that the workingmen
Of Japan are waging. Il 10 for Che war
Of sdeas that they have enlisted.