The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-15
JAPAN is STIRRED
OVER OURA CASE
Decision Not to Prosecute Former Minis
ter of Home Affairs on Charge of
Bribery Has Caused Great
Discussion.

Toxic. Nov. l5.-The decision of thu
government not to prosecute Viscount
Oura, the recent minister of home at
fairs, whom a preliminary court declared
had contributed $4,000 for purposes Of
bribery OF members of Parliament, has
excited controversy throughout Japan
The controversy eenters about Yukio
Ozaki, the minister of justice, who frank
ly takes the responsibility upon his own
shoulders, and who says:
"VIscount Oura was undoubtedly guilty
of bribery but the act was prompted not
by any base or selfish motive but solely
and entirely by sincere desire to carry
out the governments policy, though in
Unconscious disregard of the principles of
the cabinet. In consideration of this and
! OF the fact that the ex-minister is re-
lpentant and has resigned all political
and public positions and has manifested
his intention not to interfere in state
politics for the rest of his life, we have
decided to postpone prosecution.
Criminal punishment has the double
aim Of preventing repetition of an offense
and of warning the public against com
hitting similar offenses. Prosecution of
the ex-minister is dropped not because
I've was a member of the nobility or the
holder of high position, but solely be-
cause we believe the end of the criminal
code has been attained without subject
ing him to punishment"
The same preliminary court which
found that Niscount Oura had distributed
bribery money found four members and
IA former members of the House of Rep
resentatives to be guilty of bribery. The
case centers about an attempt TO buy
over members of the opposition groups
and induce them TO vote for the govern
nent's project TO increase the army by
two divisions. That project was adopted
by the last session of the Diet. The dis
closure OF bribery scandals and the sub
sequent resignation Of Niscount 0ura led
TO the collapse of the entire Okuma min
istry. The cabinet later returned to office
in a reconstructed form.
The records of the preliminary court |
show that Oura admitted that he Lad Civ /
en- certain politicians various sums of
money but pleaded that he had acted for !,
The good of the nation. 81 feared" tes-
titled Oura, that if the proposed army /
expansion was rejected Il might create
between the army and navy
and create circumstances undesirable for |
the country. / thought IL would be bet
ter for the country 20 make the House
accept the governments bill even II II
were necessary 20 expend money 20 ac-
that end" Oura continued by
saving that be had not intended to bride
Of the House, but merely TO use
he money in defending the government
sgainst attacks from the opposition.
The opponents Of the decision TO grant \
immunity 20 Oura contend that the law
.hould have been allowed 20 run its
curse irrespective OF the position or the
.o-ealled motives Of the defendant. They
ieclare that Il j. a miscarriage Of justice
% give freedom 70 the briber and hold
be bribed for trial They contend that
be argument that Oura. having forsaken
lublic life and gone into seclusion. Il
ealiy more severely punished than De
o0ld have been By the law. l. more SEN
mental than legal
saws the japan Times, The plain fact :
} that the government has not the heart
o brand - . criminal man who. a.
ne Of IL members. did what he consid-
rca % - in IL interests. even 20 the !
rtcnt ~ violating THE law If the land. 2
10 government apparently considers D
hat tie oHense has been adequately
nd sincerely e0piated. But We can
aaraiy see how The government can
void = verv heated discussion Of THE
uestian 10 the neat session ~ TIE Wet.7 :
Tie warmth 81 tis Discussion through :
u ths rosHtry on the question j. an .
they pranf ~ tie striking crovth Of :
- freedom ~ public foiemics in Iapan.
frefdg5a fhat has rofne from tiie Rest
Cd T. specially hasei on Amrrican
laaa