Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-06-15
LABOR CONDITIONS
INDUSTRIAL JAPAN


Sherwood Eddy writes Of working
and living conditions n Japan in the
May International Trade-U Union Move
ment (Review of the International
Federation Of Trade Unions). Al sum
mary Of his observations follows:
Japan's industries have developed
tremendously since 1914 when they
had an opportunity to secure markets.
Japan is handicapped BY her limited
area, the poor quality Of her farm
land and the tremendous composition
between the still cheaper labor Of In
dia and China and the great Industrial
organizations OF the United States and
Europe.
In 1914 the Japanese government
was in danger Of bankruptcy but with
the increase In exports over Imports
from 1915-191S the national debt wal
reduced until It Is now the smallest
among the allied nations. Within q
years there has been 3 tenfold in
crease in her foreign trade and a 40t
per cent increase in the volume oil
business done by the banks. The pei
capital wealth which was $3.50 In 1904
was estimated at $765 in 1919 and the
national wealth at $4,000, 100000. Yet
with this tremendous increase in
wealth, in 191s,s 90 per cent of the
population had an income Of less than
$3.50 per year. In the sIums of Tokyo,
Kobe and Osaka thousands of people
are crowded into little alleys with
one room novels for entire families
Osaka and Kobe have the highest
deathe rate in the world.
Working Conditions.
Working conditions in japanese fac
tories and mines are very bad. The
10 to 12-hour day is prevalent though
few progressive employers have
granted the eight-hour day. Many OF
the cotton mills still keep the four
teen to seventeen-hour day. Child la
Dor is general. Wages are very low
Though we have not at hand the
means OF comparing real wages" in
Japan with those of the United
States). Women workers receive an
average OF 20 cents day. According
to a study made by one Of the leading
economists of Japan the average wage
in Tokyo is less than so cents day
with minimum of 20 cents and a
maximum of one or two dollars a day
for skilled labor.
The labor movement is growing
slowly with much opposition. The
first unions were started about 40
years ago under Christian leaders.
Most of them are now under radical
leadership. Labor unions have no le-
gal status, so that the number OF
unions and their membership fluetu-
ate with conditions in the country
The latest returns give 300 organiza-
tons with 365.700 members. The EN-
ployers have several organizations
with large sums of money for propa-
ganda. There are some 40 radical
groups in and near Tokyo which have
been much affected by the Russian
revolution. The labor movement is
greatly hindered by laws which decree
Jail sentences for strike-leaders. The
police, labor spies, and gangsters are
used to break up the unions.
The labor leaders are chiefly state
socialists, guild socialists or commun-
lists. One of them is reported as say
ing: ''To be frank with you we are all
radicals and out to abolish the present
system, because the government, the
capitalistic courts, and the big bust
ness men are all united against us
We have arrived late upon the scene
in the labor world and we have start
ed with advanced ideas and principles
We are prosecuted, bounded, and be-
trayed, but we will win"