Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-25
WOMEN ENTERED FIGHT
Their Appearance, for First
Time in Nippon's History.
Caused Sensation-Coming Of
New Woman" Accompanies
Signs of DemOcracy's Growth.

Toxic. March 25.--Closing an exctt-
Of several candidates at TOXIC mads
personal visits and appeals 10 the vot-
ers. q general election was held to-
day throughout the Japanese empire
to choose u new House Of Representa-
tiVes.
The last House was dissolved by tho
Emperor on Christmas day. 1914, be
cause Of It's refusal to ratify the mill
tary program of the cabinet To
days election, therefore, not only
brings a new House but decides the
fate of the cabinet headed by Count
Shgenobu Okuma.
In the last diet tho ministry was
opposed by a majority, and should
this majority, represented by the
Seiyukai. or Conservative party. be
returned, the cabinet might have to
retire from Office. According to lat
est forecasts, however, the independ-
ents are likely to be increased from
twelve to forty, and thus hold the bal
ance In the House.
OKUMA TALKED FROM TRAIN.
The campaign has been the most ex-
citing and expensive in the history 81
Japan Tho candidates employed thou
sands OF canvassars and there were daily
ralllcs lii the streets and halls throucn-
out the country. The growth OF democ-
rac% was evidenced by an increased an.
peal 10 the reason Of the voters Premier
Okuma made whirlwind campaign
speaking from special train, while lead
eis Ike Iuklo Ozaki, the minister of JUS
tlcc. distributed their views by phouo-
graph.
me government insisted upon an in
'feas" IN the army Of two divisions and
Bhron kato. the foreign minister. de-
'iared mat the adoption OF this measure
WOULD not affect Japan's relations with
the other powers The Seiyukai contend
ed mat the success of the government
IN pushing this measure through would
D" blow to constitutionalism
CONTEST EXTREMELY CLOSE
indications before the election vera
that the contest would be exceedingly
''ose' me governmental groups. consist
ing chiefly of the progressive Doshi-kai
an" huse-hai, as we'll as the nationalist
group kokum!nto have waged a strenu.
Gus campaign. Virtually all the cabinet
members made speaking tours in Toxic
Inc appearanc Of women in the rs m,
paiSn, for the first time In japanese his
toiH' caused sensation The wives OF
stN"raI or IN" candidates made a hous.
|" mouse canvass in behalf of their hus
'"hus' thereby provoking considerable
''''''eht In the newspapers concerning
Wv "eVelopment of the "uew woman
ne government used all its efforts
e"'"st corruption In the elections and
'"V f"'ice We're ordered to make Quick
"frtStS IN tn" cases OF hrih. ,;v,r. ,,
''''e TAXING As a result i500 uersons
We're arrested
'"' i'uhber of REPRESENTATIVES elected
'o-oay was aSl, but in View of tho di~i.
'u.lN OF determining the ballotinc ths 70.
s"i' W'Il not he known for sever,I ao,,s
IN al thtio We're about "a, cord,a..
l"h'ns into consideration the fact ,hat
,'e population Of Japan is approximately
''""o', the suffrage is smou orn.
"o'u' 2'mi"o persons having the r,ph+
|" vote Three-hfths Of that nunhcr
. 'Nercised their prerogatve al ths Inst
election In 1912 Tie city Of Toxic Wit,
a population OF a little more than ano on
has only 10000 voters.
HAWAII WOMEN WANT RAI1Or
Honolulu, T. H. March 4-Conpress
VIII be asked to extend the franchise
10 the women of Hawaii Il a resolution
introduced in the territorial Legislative,
to-day carries