Correspondence between F. Takano and S. Gompers

31)  FT to SG, May 2, l897.

No.3 Oiwake-cho, Komagome,
Hongo, Tokyo, Japan, May 2, 1897.

Mr. Samuel Gompers,
Washington, D.C.


       Dear Sir, -- Your favor of Mar 29th came duly to hand and contents carefully noted.    I was also in receipt of the pamphlets you have so kindly forwarded to me.    As they reached me only yesterday I have had no time as yet to read them but am sure they will be just as interesting and valuable as your other publications.
       In regard with the petition I will say that its presentation to the House, as I have announced in my last letter, was abandoned on the ground that the step is more likely to bring upon us much suspicion of Authorities and may cause a great deal of unnecessary muddling from them.    As it is eminently desirable to keep peace with the Government, especially at the outset of the agitation I took the advice as a wise one.    At the same time I was more than fortunate to gain a promise of the adviser, a member of the House, to bring himself the matter before the House at its next session.    I do not believe, however, that the House will be equal to pass such a progressive measure as encouraging the formation of trades unions but it will serve as an effective instrument to call the attention of the people at large to the necessity of trade unionism.
       I have, upon perusal of your latest favor, been somewhat disappointed in failing to find any response from you in reference to my request made in my letter of Dec. 11th last on the subject of my proposed contribution to some of the American labor journals.    As I have written to you in my last letter, it became an imperative necessity for me to find a way to raise enough fund to carry on the agitation.    It is estimated that at least 30 yen per month is necessary to hold a public meeting once a month and this to be continued until the idea of fraternity and solidarity is sufficiently awakened in the minds of our working people.    It is out of question to raise the fund among the workers as well as among other classes of our country men, hence the necessity of raising it by means of contributing articles to American journals and to use the compensation thus received for the purpose of holding the meetings.    I hope you will understand the situation I am facing and my feeling of helplessness.    It is my earnest desire that you will kindly take troubles to write to editors of some labor press to ascertain if there are some who are willing to take up my contributions on the subject of Japanese industries and conditions of working people.    I know by asking this to you that I am troubling you too much and have nothing to offer you in return, for which I hope you will not be offended.    An early response from you upon this subject I earnestly solicit and it will be greatly appreciated.
       I have forwarded to you by this mail a copy of Far East in which you will find reproduced the article I have written to Mr. Gunton of New York City and believe that you will find some interesting data in connection with the life condition of Japanese workers.
       With best wishes to you, I remain,
                                                        Yours faithfully,
                                                                            F. Takano

P.S. You will please note the change of my address as written on the heading of this letter.
F.T.