Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-03-05
ELECTIONS IN JAPAN.
A Politician of That Country Tells Ho
They Are Conducted.

A Politician of That Country Tells How
They Are Conducted.
An enthusiastic observer of the re-
cent political campaign work in this
city was Hon. Y. Honda, a resident OF
Hirosaki, city of 50, 600 inhabitants
in Northern Japan.
Mr.. Honda is now on his way around
the world He is just out OF politi-
cal Office. having served two terms, or
four years, as member OF the Ken
Aomori, or Assembly. and was elected
by the people OF his gun. or county
In conversation with the writer MIR,
Honda said. II was here week be-
fore election, and greatly enjoyed at
tending the meetings held by the va
rious political parties and beholding
the great street parad4s; also the de-
corum that pervade., the precincts Of
your polling places, and likewise the
subsequent interest manifested during
the count and the reception of the
election news. With as in Japan there
il not SO much demonstration. but
withal, IA very great interest Is taken
In our prefecture or ken elections for
members OF the gun, or county as
semblies. Our country now has n
population OF over 80. 0O0.0 900. We
have n count made every year, and
there are forty-three provinces, called
procedures, or kens, in Japan. Each
ken has q kwal, or an assembly, like
your State Legislature. composed Of
members elected by the people resid.
ing In the guns or counties into which
the kens are divided.
These several guns are entitled to
from eight to forty assembly guns. or
representatives, the number depend
Ing on the population. no gun having
less than $4,000 people. The kwai, or
assembly, holds an annual session,
limited TO thirty days, and the business
discussed relates only 10 the assembly
districts. This, you see. smacks very
much OF n republican form OF govern
ment very like your own. This sys-
tenn has been ours now for about ten
years. The earlier mode WAS for the
General Government TO appoint IA Gov
ernor and Secretary TO rule over each
ken. There are three prominent POI
litical parties in Japan---the Liberal,
Progressive and the Conservative.
belong TO the Progressive, which has
been In the ascendancy for some time.
The Liberal. which il not far behind
IL considered too radical. In our coun.
try voters are Obliged to have prop.
eety qualification amounting to land
tax OF $40.
In my gun there are 10000 people.
but not more than 10000 are voters
This does not mean that the other 60,
900 are poor men by any means. for
many OF them are rich merchants and
tradespoople, but they can't vote be-
cause they happen not TO bo and-own.
ers, and, therefore, do not pay the Slt
land tax. Probably one-half OF th'
10000 are too poor to be voters. A
our elections the voting and counting
are done In the largest hall In eacl
gun and In the presence of every bod,
Interested.
about eight years ago the Mikad'
promised tho people that In tho yea
pressed wish on the part OF the pee
pho and call for the election Of M
tional Assembly, which, | presume
will hereafter moet once n year PROP
arations for this National Assembl
and the building therefor arc no,
being made. The Radicals think thu
this move viii result in placing great
er power in the hands OF the people
but very much doubt it. Last sun
NOR the Mikado appointed priv
council to prepare national constitt
ton for the coming assembly, an
this act, must confess, occasiouo
considerable talk among tho peopl,
many Of whom think that this const
tuition ought not to be prepared b
the Mitado himself, but that h
ought 20 have called together repre-
sentative general assembly for SO in
portant II work. 49, San Francisco T..
amlHer.