The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-11
The Crisis in Japan
%lIl.-Tangled Politics.
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.
BY Frederic J. Haskin.

When enera Baron Uehara, min
lister Of war, demanded money for 4O.-
900 more men on the pretcXt of giving
Korea very necessary defense his
superior and premier, Marquis Saionji,
was facing a deficit of s3,250, 900 in
the nnua expenses, Notwithstanding
the fact that they were $500, 900
lower than the budget of the year be-
fore. All this was aside from the ter
rible financial tanglc which was out
lined in the preceding article. The
minister also insisted that the reduc-
ton of from 10 to Is per cent in all
departmental expenditures should not
apply to his department. The best he
would agree to was a reduction of 3
per cent for a period of three years
only.
Saionji refused to sanction this at
titude, but Uehara, instead of resign
ing, voluntarily or Under pressure,
stiffened in his tilt with the premier.
This vas last September, and at once
the leading newspapers and the gen
eral public took the side of the pre-
micr. Leading bankers and business
men, who are naturally conservative
and have always supported the minis
try heretofore, also came out against
the stand taken by General Uchara in
the face Of the difficulties which faced
the country. Such a great tinancier
as Baron ShibusaWa, well known in
the United States as the president of
the party of Japanese business men
who toured the country in 1910,
ct RI ~ L. rnnSl,JnH tn lnp,nylp of
Uehara.
1t was soon seen, however, hat the
entire war party of the empire was
behind the minister Of war, and that
the all-powerful Elder Statesmen also
supported him. Indeed, it is still an
open question whether that venerable
quintet did not concoct the Korean
proposal for the purpose of checking
the rise Of the navy in popular APP
prevail. This has been charged, but
not proved. The fight ragged until De-
cembcr 5. when the premier resigned,
leaving the obduratc minister Of war
still in the field, although minus his
extra troops.
1t is an open question whether the
war lords and the Elder Statesmen
expected Saionji's withdrawal and the
public Indignation against them which
followed. Instead of losing by the
premicr's act of self-abnegation, the
advocates of retrenchment were
strengthened, Saionji's party, the
Constitutional association, massed for
definite action as no other party had
ever done in Japan, and a vote of
cenSure on the crowns advisers was
passed in the house Of representa-
ives.
At his point it will be interesting
to glance at the Elder Statesmen,
those five old men who have been
running Japan, and whose grip has by
no means been ~effectually broken by
the present turn of events. The
or Elder Statesmen are a
small body of experienced statesmen
and soldiers who are appointed by the
emperor to be his personal advisers.
They really have no legitimate place
in a constitutional form of govern
ment such as Japan processes. but
their Influence has been dominant |
ever since the Restoration in 1868, One
reason has been the pre-eminent quail
~ 49, oi'S Lie S'N'''h' |
have been chosen. These men are
among the greatest in Japan today.
But they are also the most conserva-
tive standpatters, Hence their waning
influence.
Prince Ito, one of the greatest
of his time, judged by n
vas head of the body and
president of the privy council. His
place is now held by Marshal Prince
Yamagata. The other members are
Prince Oyama, who was COM
mander-in-chief of the Japanese army |
In the victorious wal with Russia,
Marquis 1nouye n Marshal Matsu-
The appointment of Prince
a year ago to the post Of lord
keeper of the privy seal and grand
chamberlain of the emperor's house
hold, operated automatically to add
him to the Genro. A sort Of eX-of-
ficio member is Count Watanabe. an