Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-12
MILITARY PARTY,
LED BY TERAUCH|.
NOW IN CONTROL
Japanese Premier Looks at
Affairs From Viewpoint
of Soldier.
POLICY TOWARD AMERICA
MAY UNDERGO CHANGE
Members of Cabinet Said to Have
Decided Opinions on Cali
fornia Question.
PRESS DENOUNCES MINISTRY
Some\HoStility Expected to BE Shown
When Dict Assemblies
| Next Month.
PRESS DENoUNcEs MINISTRY
Some\HoStility Expected to BE Shown
When Dict Assemblies
Next Month.

TOKYO. November 1.-two opinions
are held regarding Marshal Count
Masakata Terauchi. new Premier OF
Japan-one that he Is a blunt soldier.
ignorant of politics and fnesse: the
other that he possesses rare political
talent and can shine In the debating
chamber as we'll as on the field Of
battle. He goes to power as the nomf-
nee OF the military and Bureaucratic
school of which Prince YamaEata
head of the Elder Statesmen. may be
regarded as the executive. 1t is safe
to say that Yamagata, the Bismarck
OF Japan. would not waste his time
putting people into jobs they were
unfit for.
Count Terauchi was born sixty three
years ago and entered the army in his
youth. y member of Choshu, the great
military clan. he is now its recognized
head. His first. and last, experience
of actual war was In the Aaigo rebel
lion in 1871 He was wounded in Tho
arm and has suffered from a deform
ity ever since, which has dcbarred hin,
from taking part In any other CAM
paiEns except in the office work OF
military education, transportation, sun
pies and strategic plans. In all these
departments he has distinguished him
self
His principal military service was n,
inspector OF military education. a most
ton he held from the start OF the milf.
tary education board. He next wa.
made vice-chief of the general stan.
nut was less successful then. AS Min
ia'er OF war he remained In office for
nine years. and showed such admins
| f.l1a
TO the high post Of resident-generaI of
Korea, In succession to the late prince
ito. He has occupied that post since
1911.
HI0GRAPHERS SAY
HE ACCOMPLISHED REFORMS
according to the polite biographers.
nc accomplished many reforms But
the Tokyo Asahi. the leading morninr
paper OF the capital, says:
Count Terauchrs administration IN
Korea was dreadful. He oppressed
newspapers and bought their support
lie Is mere soldier statesman. He
would not allow any business concern
10 establish itself in Korea without
hrst obtaining his consent He was
tryrannical."
Almost every one here admits that
his administration in Korea was too
military. Japanese Journalist said
the complaint of the press against him
was that he looked on NEWSPAPER men
as private soldiers. But that is his
OUTLOOK on life. He sees the nation
as an army and those who are not
oncers as privates. Politicians are
not accustomed to obey without oues
tioninE. and his ministerial experience
is likely TO be stormy. He has the
II crises arise with other nations. he
VIII have the impulse to try the SOL
dier's short cut--war
without visible rhine or reason tho
Japanese government has been chang
cd at stroke from one which had
the support OF majority of the cleo
tors and was nominally a "liberar. and
progressive one, to ministry OF
bureaucratic headed by a soldier who
despises politics and believes In ner.
sonal rule
OLD AND NEW IDEAS
COME INTO CONFLICT
clear-cut contest between the old
and the modern ideas OF government
! ended almost before ii began in a
triumph for the forces OF reaction.
The four old men, who represent the
traditional forces of clan and feudaI
influence which still rules Japan.
crushed aside with open contempt the
claims of the majority and appointed
rs Premier the leading figure In the
military clan.
The decision was made after the Is
sue had become clcan-cut between tho
candidate who represented the con-
stitutional elements by elected ma
joritics and one whose Affiliations are
wholly military and bureaucratic Tho
only concession made to public opin-
ion was the engineering of the coup
in manner that presented tho nation
with an accomplished fact before the
voice OF the people could be heard.
The main question for Americans is:
What policy will the new cabinet fol.
low in foreign affairs? BY tho cables
II is learned here that American opin-
ion is pcrturbed at the sudden arpari-
ton of Il bureaucratic militia st min
istry. and the authorities OF the Japa-
ncse Foreign Office. ever sensitive to
what the United States is think!ns,
have made statement showing that
it's policy is pacific.
The new ministry can be credited
with one factor which makes for
peace in China. and that Is its control
of the army Premier Terauchi has
had under him in mis- various posts
most Of the officers on the active list.
lie has in the past. and he will con-
tinue TO have, the largest cay In the
promotion Of officers. and consequently
his influence over the army Is real.
The weakness OF the Okuma Cabinet,
headed by a civilian, was that IL had
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