The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-31
TOKIO'S REFORM
PARTY IN POWER
Organization Known as City's
"Tammany" Is Overthrow

Toxic, July Sl.-Thc political ma
chino which for ten years has domi-
mated mumeipm government i'm Toxic
was demolished by tho reformers al
the recent mJni,ipal elections So scr
ious Was the reverse that the orgauiza-
tiou, which WAS EroWu as the Tukiwa-
iat and which has been called "rok.o's
! 1amuunN h19 been dissolved alto
sc,hct.
/ lE2 "aud -oycrrCicnt party regards
the overthrow of The Organization as "a
sna. victory and Indicative Of the
| cucrol reform movement which is
wccrinr over Japan IN an branches Of
political lie. For the last ten years
,hcy E9d fought 60 eliminate the Tu'.i-
Wabal majority In the municipal as
acmbly. but each successive attempt
met with failure. until this year they
have not only removed the objection
able majority, but also defeated it's
leader, :. Morikubo. i'm whom they saw
all Of the party's corruption persona
fed. The charges were similar toI
those which have characterized So
many municipal uphcayals in Ameri-
ca-harmful patronage, corruption inI
the distribution Of contracts for public
works and general graft.
The success this year was due large |
~ to the younger element. which was
organized into an machine body. |
Public meetings were held and almost |
every means or political publicity util- |
lied To arouse the voters OF the urgen-
cy Of good government The election |
continued for three days, at the end of |
which the rcformists had captured all |
but II Of the - seats la the assembly |
Morikubo, the ousted leader, thorcupun |
invited his fellow victims 10 meeting |
at which it was voted 70 dissolve the |
association.
Now Look for Greater Power.
The new organization now i'm power
is known as the Municipal Government
club. They are not content with re-
forming municipal politics alone, how
ever and have already begun vigor-
GUS campaign TO establish themselves
in the National House Of Representa-
uves, whore the Soiyukai, or Conserva-
tive party viii be the object Of it's at
tack. The Seiyukai has a large ma
jority in the Diet. and since it was
linked with the now defeated Tokiwa-
kai. il appears to be in danger Of losinc
It's power.
The present OlumG cabinet is back
ed by groups hostile to the Seiyukai.
II unable To carry through his program
IN the face Of an opposing majority.
Count Okuma would he likely To dis
solve the Diet ana give the people an
to register their will at
now election.
IN interesting phase of the suffrage
question was seen in the recent NUM-
'ipal elections The suffrage is very
there being three classes Of
voters, classified according To the
mount of tax they pay.
Taking the city as whole about oncl
householder I'm thirteen has a vote.
Each grade OF voters elects - assem-
'l>men. The voters Of the first grade
number only 1,1S7. The second cate
cory has G,13G electors. The great ma !
orlty of voters, namely, I9,9iS. out Of
he total Of 57,271, are found in the
bird grade. To be qualified for this
rade the citizen must pay land tax
n else an imperial tax to the amount
II yen yearly.
The election of the asscmblymcn of
he third grade was regarded as most
loosely eNpressins the popular will. I'm
very street leading to the voting !
'ooth the candidates had established {
ommittce rooms where there was "A
.ood deal of smoking ana talking. For
1crly tea and refreshments were at the
isposal Of the thirsty or hungry voter
ut today the government following
he ideas Of the West, permits only
moral suasiun. The voter approached
ne outer Office of the election hall,
ave his name and address and was {
upplicd with a ballot. Another Off {
ial checked ana stamped the ballot. I
he voter then passed upstairs to the :
Dung room where his ballot was '
sam supervised. Finally nc wrote the v
anne of his candidate and handed over q
is ballot TO the officials q