米騒動後の社会

Society after the rice riot

  宇部の米騒動の契機となったのは労働争議だった。米騒動の結果、３割賃上げが実現した。大正13年（1924）には、戦前唯一の宇部労働組合が設立されたものの、経営側や労資協調団体の反撃により労働運動は敗北し、わずか2か月半で解散に追い込まれた。

　山口県行政は、米騒動後に次のような政策をとった。物価の安定をめざして生産者直売の公設市場を設置したが、これはのちに中央卸売市場（築地市場など）につながった。生活困窮者を扶助するために、宇部市と山口県は、民生委員制度の先駆となる方面委員制度を実施するなどの社会政策を実施した。また、治安維持のため船木警察署宇部分署を宇部警察署として独立させ、高等警察課に特別高等課を設置して社会運動の取締を強化した。

　宇部市では、山口県内で最初に方面委員制度が創設された。一方で、住民を教化する報徳会が結成され、宇部炭鉱の中核である沖ノ山炭鉱には沖ノ山炭鉱信愛会が組織された。これは、労資間の意思疎通を図る労資協調団体で、宇部炭鉱の他の炭鉱でも同じ性格の組織が結成された。また、治安維持のために沖ノ山在郷軍人分会が設立されるなど労務管理が強化され、労働運動、社会運動の発展が抑圧された。

 　このように米騒動は行政の社会政策や社会福祉政策の出発点となる一方、警察の社会運動取締の強化、企業の労務対策の強化がおこなわれた。

  It was a labor dispute requiring a wage increase that triggered Ube's rice riot. As a result of the rice riot, 30% wage increase was realized. In Taisho13/1924, the Ube labor union, which was the only labor union before the war, was established, but the labor movement was defeated by the counterattack of the management side and labor cooperation groups, and it was disbanded in just two and a half months.

  Yamaguchi prefectural government adopted the following policies after the rice riot. A public market was set up directly for producers to stabilize prices, which later led to the Central Wholesale Market (Tsukiji Market, etc.). In order to help the poor, Ube City and Yamaguchi Prefecture implemented social policies such as the implementation of each direction welfare committee's system, which is a precursor to the public welfare committee system. In order to maintain public safety, the Funaki police station Ube branch police was made independent as the Ube police station, and a special higher police section was established in the higher police division of yamaguchi prefectural police to strengthen the control of social movements.

  After the Ube rice riot, Ube City first established each direction welfare committee's system in Yamaguchi Prefecture. On the other hand, the "Hotoku-kai" was formed to enlighten the inhabitants, and the Okinoyama coal mine "Shinai-kai" was organized at the Okinoyama coal mine, which is the core of the Ube coal mine. This is the management side and labor cooperation groups that promotes communication between capitalists and laborers, and an organization of the same character was formed at other coal mines in Ube coal mines. In addition, labor management was strengthened and the development of labor and social movements was suppressed, such as the establishment of the legionnaires of Okinoyama reservists' association in order to maintain public safety.

  In this way, the rice riot served as a starting point for administrative social policies and social welfare policies, while at the same time strengthening police control of social movements and strengthening labor measures by companies.

2020.7.23

《宇部労働組合の成立と敗北》　（『宇部市史　年表』）

1924年（大正13）

 <Formation and defeat of Ube Labor Union>

("Ube City History Chronology") 　1924 (Taisho 13)

3月8日　第二沖ノ山炭鉱の坑夫西村庄太郎ら、宇部市で初めて労働組合を結成、緑座で創立大会を開催〈『宇部時報』　大正13.3.9〉

4月26日　沖ノ山炭鉱、労働運動首謀者の電工2人を解雇〈『素行渡辺祐策翁』〉

4月26日～5月26日　沖ノ山炭鉱の坑夫ら、解雇鉱夫の無条件復職・賃金3割値上げなどを要求して労働争議〈『報道七十五年』〉

5月22日　報徳会主唱者花田仲之助、宇部の労働争議解決のため市長国吉信義に請われて宇部で報徳会臨時講演大会を開催〈『素行渡辺祐策翁』〉

5月23日　東西新川組長評議員連合会、宇部労働組合排斥を決議、以後これに続いて信愛会・各炭鉱縦断組合・宇部達聰会・宇部市民団等も同様の趣意書を市民に配付〈『素行渡辺祐策翁』〉

5月25日　宇部労働組合、水平社の斡旋で運動中止を宣言、26日事務所を撤廃〈『宇部時報』　大正13.5.29〉。沖ノ山炭鉱争議、労働者の敗北で終結〈『西部石炭鉱業会十年誌』〉

5月30日　宇部達聰会長および東西新川区長、宇部労働組合問題決着で一般市民に謝辞〈『宇部時報』　大正13.6.1〉

March 8 Nishimura Shotaro etc, a miner of the second Okinoyama coal mine, formed a labor union for the first time in Ube City and held a founding competition in "Midori-za". <” Ube Jiho” Taisho 13.3.9>

April 26 Okinoyama Coal Mine dismisses two electrical workers, leaders of labor movement. <” Venerable Soko Watanabe Sukesaku”>

April 26-May 26 Miners etc. at Okinoyama Coal Mine were in labor dispute as they demanded

unconditional reinstatement of miners who had been dismissed and wage increases by 30%

etc. <” 75th year of the press”>

May 22 "Hotoku-kai" advocate Nakanosuke Hanada holds "Hotoku-kai"extraordinary lecture

meeting in Ube under the invitation of Mayor Kuniyoshi Nobuyoshi in order to resolve Ube's

labor dispute. <” Venerable Soko Watanabe Sukesaku”>

May 23 Higashi-nishi Shinkawa group leader /councilor council federation resolves to reject

Ube labor unions, and subsequently "Shin-ai-kai", each coal mine longitudinal union, Ube "Tatsu-so-kai", Ube citizens group, etc. distribute the same statement to citizens. <” Venerable Soko Watanabe Sukesaku”>

May 25 The Ube labor union has announced that it will suspend the movement due to the mediation of "Suiheisha". Ube Labor Union office abolished on 26 th. <" Ube Jiho", Taisho 13.5.29> Okinoyama coal mine dispute ends with worker defeat. <"Western coal mining society ten year magazine">

 May 30 Chairman "UbeTatsu--so-kai"and Higashi-nishi Shinkawa ward mayor gave thanks to the general citizen for settlement of Ube labor union issue. <" Ube Jiho", Taisho 13.6.1>

　現在の民生委員は米騒動後に創設された方面委員を先駆とする。宇部市内に於いては、小学校地区内の各自治会で、住民が顔を知っている人が委員に任命されて活動した。

　米騒動後すぐに、大阪府で方面委員制度が創設された。山口県では宇部市で最初に方面委員制度が創設されている。方面委員制度（岡山県では済世顧問制度というように名称は相違している）は戦後の民生委員制度に発展する社会福祉制度である。（2019.5.7更新）

  The current members of the public welfare committee are pioneered by each direction welfare committee who were founded after the rice riot. In Ube City, at each neighborhood association in the elementary school district, a person whose face was known by a resident was appointed to act as a committee.

  Shortly after the rice riot, each direction welfare committee's system was established in Osaka Prefecture. In Yamaguchi Prefecture, Ube City had first established each direction welfare committee's system. Each direction welfare committee's system (in Okayama Prefecture, the name is different, such as the "Saisei" advisor system) is a social welfare system that develops into a post-war public welfare committee system.

2020.7.25

Excerpt from the lecture material by Nagaoka Masami, November 3, 2018 "Establishment of social work in Osaka and district Committee" Osaka Museum of History special exhibition. Commemorative lecture.

《宇部市方面委員制度の成立》（『宇部市史　年表』）

1924年（大正13） 

<<Establishment of Ube City each direction welfare committee's system>> ("Ube City History Chronology") 1924 (Taisho 13)

2月28日　宇部市議会、方面委員制度を可決、宇部市方面委員規程を制定。4月委員を委嘱〈宇部時報　大正13.3.2〉

3月11日　宇部市長、方面委員適任者の推薦を市会議員らに依頼〈国吉家文書〉

4月　宇部市、方面委員制度を実施、市内を小学校通学区域の4区域に分け福利増進事業を開始〈宇部市方面委員要覧〉

  February 28 Ube City Council passed each direction welfare committee's system and established the Ube City each direction welfare committee's regulations. A member of committee is commissioned in April. <" Ube Jiho", Taisho 13.3.2>

  March 11 Ube Mayor requests city council members to recommend suitable members of each direction welfare committee. <" Kuniyoshi Family Documents">

  April Ube City implemented each direction welfare committee's system. Divided the city into four elementary school areas and started a welfare promotion project. <" Ube City each direction welfare committee handbook">

『馬關毎日新聞』大正7年（1918）8月18日

「北川分署長は米價暴騰の爲め細民の生活に窮するものあるを救助せんとし藤田村長と計り十六日午後東新川岡村旅舘に村内資産家の會合を求め協議を遂げたる結果來る十九日より東新川常磐通り納税貯金事務所に公設市塲を開き一人三升を限度とし一升三十錢に廉賣すすることに決せり」

　米価高騰で苦しむ村民に、公設市場を開いて米の廉売を行うことを決定している。第1次世界大戦下の物価高騰の為ため、大阪市は全国にさきがけて、大正7年（1918年）4月、市内4カ所に日用品供給場（公設市場）を設置した。

　この動きは全国に広がり、米騒動の時に宇部村でも米廉売の目的で開設された。食品を中心とする生活必需品を安く、安定して供給するのが公設小売市場の役割であった。食料品の安定供給と流通の機能を発揮するため、公設卸売市場の設置が求められ、大正12年（1923）、「中央卸売市場法」が制定された（現在は「卸売市場法」1971年）。昭和47年（1972）に現在の宇部市中央卸売市場（野菜・果物）と宇部市地方卸売市場（水産）が発足した。

2022.12.21

　田中義一（参謀本部次長・陸相・首相）は第一次世界大戦が総力戦となったことから、欧州に学び日本における総力戦体制の構築をはかった。米騒動に多くの在郷軍人が参加して問題視された一方で、在郷軍人会が、役場や警察に協力して、消防組、青年団とともに米騒動の警戒や治安維持にあたったところが多かった。田中義一は、義務教育→青年団（２０歳の徴兵検査まで）→壮年（徴兵）→在郷軍人会（退役）というシステムによる総力戦体制を企図した。米騒動後、青年教育（青年団・修養団）や在郷軍人会の組織が強化され、総力戦体制、軍国主義国家体制の基盤となった。

　米騒動は「大正デモクラシー」の出発点となった一方で、社会運動を抑圧する組織も強化されて軍国主義国家体制に移行する基盤づくりがおこなわれた。1925年、政府は、徴兵という「税」が課せられる壮年に男子普通選挙権を付与して国民国家体制づくりを進めた。同時に、国体（天皇主権・統帥権の独立）を護持し、社会主義運動を弾圧する治安維持法を成立させた。「大正デモクラシー」が二面性を持ち、総力戦体制と軍部独裁へ移行する必然性を内包していたことを示していると考える。

　「大正デモクラシー」の民主的な風潮は、昭和恐慌・満州事変をターニングポイントとして急速に失われ、二・二六事件（昭和１１年（１９３６年））で軍国主義国家体制が確立した。日中戦争がはじまると総力戦体制が確立し、政治・経済・社会の民主化は戦後まで実現しなかった。 

　米騒動後の「大正デモクラシー」では、男子普通選挙権などの参政権、労働基本権、健康保険法などの社会権が付与され、方面委員制度（現在の民生委員制度）などの社会福祉政策が実現した。別の視角から見れば、「福祉国家」の構築は、国民が総力戦体制に協力できる体制の構築とみることができます。

（2019.5.7更新）

  Tanaka Giichi (The vice-chief of the Staff Headquarters, Army Minister, Prime Minister) learned from Europe since the First World War became a total war, and tried to build a total war system in Japan. Many legionnaire reservists participated in the rice riot and were viewed as problematic. On the other hand, there were many places where the association of legionnaire reservist worked with the government office and the police, together with the fire brigade and youth groups, to guard against the rice riot and to maintain security. Tanaka Giichi planned construction of a total war system that compulsory education → youth group (untill conscription inspection of 20-year-old) → middle-aged (conscription) → the legionnaire reservists (retirement). Based on this, after the rice riot, youth education (Young men’s association and "Shuyo-dan") and the association of legionnaire reservists were strengthened, and became the basis of a total war system and the militarized national system.

  The rice riot became the starting point for the "Taisho democracy," on the other hand, the organization that suppressed social movements was strengthened and the foundation for the transition to a militarized state system was laid. The government promoted the construction of a nation-state system by granting men's general suffrage in the middle-aged who a "tax" called conscription was imposed. At the same time, the government passed the peace preservation law to protect the emperor national polity (Emperor sovereignty/Independence of supreme command authority of the Emperor) and crack down on Communists. This is considered to indicate that the "Taisho democracy" had two sides and contained the necessity of shifting to a total war system and dictatorship of the military.

  The democratic climate of "Taisho democracy" was rapidly lost with the Showa Depression and Manchurian Incident as a turning point, and The Emperor Military State System was established in the February 26th Incident (Showa11/1936). When the Sino-Japanese War began, a total war system was established, and democratization of politics, economy, and society did not occur until after the war. 

  In the "Taisho democracy" after the rice riot, suffrage rights such as the Men’s Popular Election Law and social rights such as basic labor rights, Health Insurance Law were granted, and social welfare policies such as each direction welfare committee were realized. From another perspective, the construction of such a "welfare state" can be seen as the construction of a system that allows the people to cooperate in a total war system.　

2020.7.25

　現在（2020.6.2）COVID-19が猛威を振るっている。

　米騒動の発生した大正７年（１９１８）から大正８年を中心に世界中でスペイン風邪が猛威を振るった。スペイン風邪によるシベリア出兵兵士の死亡者も多かった。

　日本国内でも大流行し、山口県内や下関市でも流行した（井竿富雄「シベリア出兵におけるスペイン・インフルエンザの問題」）。

　厚狭郡と宇部村は、最初にシベリアに出兵した第１２師団の管轄地域であり、出兵中に罹患して死亡した兵士もあったとみられる。

　この時期には米騒動の裁判が行われていたが、米騒動起訴者にどのような影響がでたのかはよくわからない。

　日本におけるスペイン風邪の公衆衛生上の調査や歴史研究は不十分であった。現在のCOVID-19の流行では、次世代につながる多角的な研究の蓄積が必要である。

2020.6.6更新

  COVID-19 is currently (June 20, 2020) raging.

  From the Taisho 7/1918 when the rice riot occurred to the Taisho 10/1920, the Spanish flu raged and spread throughout the world. The deaths of Siberian dispatch troops due to the Spanish flu were also high.

  The Spanish flu was very epidemic also in Japan and was epidemic also in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Shimonoseki City. （Izao Tomio “The Problem of the Spanish Influenza epidemic in the time of Japan’s intervention in Siberia” ）

  Asa-gun and Ube-mura is the area under jurisdiction of the 12th Division, which first sent to Siberia, and it can think that some soldiers died of illness during the dispatch.

  At that time, the rice riot was being tried, but it is unclear how the rice riot's accused were affected by the Spanish flu.

  There were insufficient public health research and historical studies of the Spanish cold in Japan. The current epidemic of COVID-19 requires the accumulation of multifaceted research that will lead to the next generation.

2020.7.25