The Red Cloud chief., 1889-01-25
ELECTIONS IN JAPAN.
u Politician of Thai Country Tells lIov
They AYE Conducted.

4 Politician of Tha. Country Tells IIov
They AZ. Conducted.
An enthusiastic observer Of the re-
cent political campaign work in this
city was Hon. !. Honda. a resident of
Hirosaki. a city Of 81. 800 inhabitants
In Northern Japan.
Mr.. Honda i, now on his way around
tho world. Ike is just out O! a politi.
cal Office. having served Two terms. or
o years. As "a member of the hon
AOmori. or Assembly. and Was elected
BY the people O! his gun. or county.
In conversation with the writer Mr..
Honda said: II was here a week be-
fore election. and greatly enioycd nj.
tending the meetings held by the va
riOus political parties and beholding
the great street paridcs; also the do
corum that %pervadcs the precincts Of
your polling places. and likewise the
subsequent interest manifested during
the count and the reception OF the
election news. With us in Japan there
Is not SO much demonstration, but
withal. u very great interest is taken
In u prefecture or ken elections for
members OF the gun. or county as
semblies. Our country now has n
population Of over 50, 900, 900. We
have a count made every year. and
there arc forty-thrce provinces. called
procedures, or kcns. in Japan. Each
ken has a kwai. or an assembly, like
your State Legislature. composed of
members elected by tho people resid.
ing in the guns or counties into which
the kens are divided.
"Thesc several guns are entitled 10
from eight 70 forty assembly guns. or
representatives, the number depend
ing on the population. no gun having
less than 80. 600 people. The kwai. or
assembly, holds an annual session.
TO thirty days. and the business
discussed relates only to the assembly
This. you sec. smacks very
much OF "A republican form OF govern
ment very like your own. This sys-
has been ours nov for about ten
years. The earlier mode was for the
General Government to appoint "a Gov
ernOr and Secretary to rule over each
ken. There r three prominent pc
parties in Japan-the Liberal.
and the Conservative.
belong to the Progressive. which has
been in the asccndancy for some time.
The Liberal, which is not far behind,
IS considered too radical. In our coun.
Try voters arc Obliged to have a prop
'rty qualification amounting to a land
AK Of $40.
"ln my gun there are 20. 600 people.
not more than 10000 are voters
This does not mean that the Other CO.,
are poor men by any means, for I,
many OF them are rich merchants and +,
r~adespeOple. but they can't vote be- :
ausc they happen not to DO land-own- =
r.. sHd, therefore. do not pay the SO
and tax. Probably onehalf Of the |
O.OOO are too poor to 10 votes. At
elections the voting and ~couatias
re done in the largest hail in each
and in the presence Of every body !
lier.sted. s
"About ei.A4 .c'rs ago the Mikado Z
the people tina. ~ the year {
800 he would accete 10 \ largely "a. 2
wish on the part OF the pco- 2
10 Shd ga, for the election OF a Ma. z
onal hsseEoiy. shich. I presume. &
III Hessa''cE mc'' or,s "a ,~s.. Prep :
for this hati.a.. SsscEly =.
The building therefor are .s. (
ring made. The Radicals think tina,
az move will result in placing great |
YO~es So ~ hands # tie people.
II ! very nucsc sguta i; last sum. "a,
cr ,s.a Mikado appointed a triy;
'uncil 10 prcrn~c 8 naiionai consiiia. q
IN for the coming assembly. and :.
is act. ] must confess, cealsiOncd :
nsiderablc talk among the people. 1
any OF whom think that this corst,. -
Ii09 ought not 10 DC prepared rs
g Miki1s ..mself. bu; tina. be b.
ght to have called ,.ss.tor : repre- mi
NATIVE general assembly for 20 i..- ,,
. work--Sga Fra.cseo II no