Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-02

Toxic. Jan. 4-Energetic canvassing
Is already under way for the general
election for the House of RepreSen-
tativcs which has been called by the
Emperor for March % following the
dissolution of the House because OF
it's refusal to approve the military
program of the cabinet. 1t is de-
clared in governmental circles that
the rejection of the project to in
crease the army by two divisions IN
Korea is not to be interpreted as in
dicating cessation Of military de-
velopment in Japan. The Emperor
and the cabinet felt so confident that
the nation supported the idea of mill =
tary increase that they did not hest
tate to agree upon the dissolution OF
the House where the majority OF tn"
members, affiliated with the social vi
Seiyukai party. were opposed to the
present ministry.
The Seiyukai not only rejected the
army increase but disapproved the
proposed amendment to the sinking
fund law which was an important
feature of the governments financial
program. The present law requires
that the sum of 100000 yen go
900. O0O) will be set aside each year
for redemption. In the past this has
tended to u promotion of new Dor
rowing to pay old debts. When the
borrowing took the form of treasury
bills or short term loans the Interest
raid was much higher than in the
debt was not reduced and the interest
showed a tendency to go up. The
government decided that a policy OF
redemption which meant the crea-
ton Of a new debt was not wise and
proposed that the amount set aside
each year to the sinking fund should
he reduced to 30,OO0,000 yen. The
different of 2O,000.0OO yen was to be
employed for railroad construction
and other public works instead ct
finding capital for this purpose by
notes and bills. The opposition con-
tended that the reduction in the
sinking fund allotment would do
harm to Japan's credit abroad.
The efforts of the government will
now be directed towards securing
the election of members of their own
groups. Prince Katsura, a great an
popular statesman, worked for two
party system in Japanese politics.
There are many people who declare
they see a trend in that direction
now with the Seiyukai party on the
one hand and the governmental and
possibly independent group on the
other The Seiyukai which has been
termed the Doshi-kai and Chusei-kai
the two governmental groups, mean
respectively Same Mind Association
and "Golden-mean Association
Their policy is popularity accepted
as being progressive. The last i'm
portant group is known as the koku-
minto, meaning the nationalists
party. 1t is the independent section
Of the house and has as it's leader Mr.
Hi Inukai, one Of the most energetic
and most popular members of the
diet. The Seiyukai hold about 200
seats, the Dosh-kai 80. the Chusei-
kai SO and the Kokuminto about the
same number.
The last cabinet was Seiyukai
cabinet and it was overthrow be-
cause the House Of Peers refused to
accept the budget on account Of the
naval scandal for which the Yama
motto ministry was held responsible.
1t was then that Count Okuma was
selected to accomplish the difficult
task Of forming a cabinet Of the
minority parties. The recent session
Of the Diet was the first real oppor-
tunity to show it's power and to hold
Office in the face Of an hostile ma
jority. Defeated by that majority
the Okuma cabinet instead of re-
signing arranged a dissolution feel
ing that the people favored the cabi-
nets program and that at new cleo
ton the cabinet group would win a
majority of seats. If the Seiyukai
win the forthcoming elections the
Okuma cabinet will probably retire.
The slogan Of the Doshi-kai group
vas pronounced by a chairman Of
recent meeting to be as follows:
Guarantee of the peace Of the Far
East and expansion of national de-
Tense; solution Of the American and
Chinese questions: encouragement of
industry and improvement Of COM