Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/499

May 20.—A social democratic party called the Shakwai Minshu-to was organized, but suppressed by the Government.

The stokers of the Hokkaido Railway Company made a strike.

June 3.—Another Social Democratic party, called the Shakwai Heimin-to, was organized, but put down by the authorities.

July 5.—The organizers of the Shakwai Minshu-to were acquitted.

September.—The Kansei Rodo Kiseikwai (an association aiming at the organization of labour societies), a similar institution to the Rodo-Kumiai-Kiseikai, was established.

December.—The Engine-Drivers’ Association of the Nippon Railway Company was broken up by force through the combined efforts of the company and the police.

1902: January 1.—The Labour World was turned into a daily paper under the name of the Naiguai Shimpo, but its publication was discontinued after three weeks.

March 15.—The Labourers’ League was organized.

April 2.—As the result of the prohibition of a labourers’ festive gathering, which was to be held at Muko-jima, a great demonstration was held in Kanda, where Messrs. Hatoyama, M.P., Urabe, and others, delivered speeches.

April 3.—The publication of the Labour World was resumed.

July 5.—A book on Socialism, called ‘Shinshakwai’ (New Society), by Mr. Humio Yano, was published.

Three thousand workmen of the naval dockyard at Kure came out on strike.

August 10.—During three weeks from this date, Messrs. Katayama and Nishikawa travelled in the north-east districts, making speeches on labour questions. In the middle of the month the ironsmiths of the Tokyo arsenal came out on strike.

September.—The Government issued an order including labour orations under the category of political speeches.

The above is a chronological statement of the chief events which have taken place during the last few years in connection with the labour question in Japan. The personages who have taken an interest in these movements make it possible to see what progress the question has been making of late.

The Labour World has for the last seven years been assuming a very progressive attitude towards the labour question, which it has endeavoured to study in the light of the principles of Socialism. On the other hand, the Printers’ Association had in view, when it was first established, the harmony and conciliation of capital and labour. Mr. Shimada, M.P., President of the association, assisted by Professors Kanai and Kuwada of the Imperial University, gave utterance to this effect, but their efforts to inculcate this view was a complete failure.

In the years 1898 and 1899 the labour question was taken up