The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-05-03
By UCHIDA.

THE Japanese capitalism during the wartime,
unlike the European capitalism, made ire
mendous steps forward, increasing its produc-
tive forces manifold. The number of indus
trial workers during this period reached
4,500000. However, as the world war came
to an end Japanese capitalism received terri
fic blow, from which it never recovered. To-
day the wage of the average worker is 20
yen $50 cents) to 200 yen $50 for the male
and about half as much for the female work
ers. The working hours average II. In the
countryside, where the sem-feudal system still
exists, the conditions of the peasants are ap-
palling. Tilling the soil, two to three acres;
working from daybreak till dark at night, at
the end of the year they have to meet the
deficit of 100 to 200 yen ($50-$100) by work.
ing in the cities or in the mines.
Under such conditions the left orientation Of
the workers and peasants is inevitable.
This was especially the case during the past
two or three years. Strikes were frequent.
Farm disputes were taking the form of regu-
lar rebellion. Consequently the japanese bour-
geoisie with the help of the state, are trying
to crush the rising tide of revolutionary wave.
Thus, on March 16, 1923, following the first
general election under universal manhood suf-
frage, in which the japanese Communist Party
figured prominently in spite Of its totally lille
gal status mass arrests of over 1000 fight
ers took place. Of these 500 were recently
sentenced to two to ten years Notwithstand-
ing these terrorstic measures on the part of
the Japanese ruling class the fight went
Thus the government had to conduct another
mass arrest less than year later, on April
16, 1929. This time 307 of the 600 arrested
were placed in the jails of Japan, charged with
conspiracy. In the meantime between the first
and second arrests the government, through
emergency measures, revised the notorious
"Peace Preservation Law" providing for cap
ital punishment" for Communist leaders. ORR
ginally the maximum sentence was ten years.
Same Boss-Class Government.
The Tanaka government, which was directly
responsible for the two raids, had been forced
out of power by the "liberal" Minseito govern
ment last summer because of its "tactless" in
ternal policy, especially the dynamiting of
Marshal Chang Tso-Lin. But the new Hama
guchi government, which was pushed into
power by the Japanese finance-capital to save
the situation, is no better than its predecessor.
Perhaps it is worse than the Tanaka govern
ment, in that it walks around "liberal' and
"pro-labor" government. Thus when the Ha-
maguchi government conducted general cleo
tions and gained overwhelming majority in
the lower house of the Imperial Japanese Diet
it succeeded in creating in the minds of some
of the backward strata of the Japanese work
ing class and peasants the worst kind of illu-
sion, that "there is at present better and lib
eral parliament"
Now that the election is over and the gov
eminent has majority support in the parlia
ment it is in better position to carry through
its policies for the benefit Of the class it rep
resents. The trial Of the BOT Communists ar
rested year ago is to come up some time in
the early part of May.
According to the statement made public
some time ago these 307 to be divided into
four groups and convicted accordingly. The
reason for the dividing, without doubt, is to