Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-29
DEMOCRACY GIVEN
BLOW IN JAP AN
Appointment of Count Terauchi
Marks End of Great
Struggle.
TROUBLE LIKELY TO COME
Popular Element Now Declared
to Be Increasing in
Strength.
TROUBLE LIKELY 70 COME

TOKYO. October 2S.-The appoint
nent OF Count Tcrauchi, former Cover
nor-Gencral of Korea. as Premier. Is
"a body blow to popular government
in Japan. 1t marks the close Of
great struggle between the rcprescn-
'ativcs OF the people and the old
bureaucratic. aristocratic clan system,
with the latter winning n decided vic
tory. 1t Is victory, however, which
is sure to be followed by continued
hard fighting, for, in spite of the re-
ligious nature of royalty's place. in
Japan. the popular element is increas-
ing in strength. Marquis Okuma's pre-
mic! ship. just ended. was the first ten
tativc approach TO real party govern
incnt that Japan has known.
Count Okuma was called to power
three years ago. when the bureaucratic
parties which have controlled the en-
pire since the restoration were faced
with n storm of popular discomfort
reused to typhoon pitch by the naval
scandals. There were riots in Tokyo.
Public DISCUS, had reached the stage
when almost anything might have hap
pened if the attempt to maintain
military naval ministry In power
had been persisted in
OtUMA'S APPOINTMENT
tLLAlED Discomfort
The Elder Statesmen. executives of
tho bureaucrats who have taken the
places OF the feudal lords of old, know
when to yield. Okuma's appointment
nliayed popular discomfort. and he
placated the military party by passing
the army increase bill, which had
baf'led several governments.
When the storm blew over and the
army increase was secured. the man.
darins began to think that Okuma had
done enough and might be permitted
| TO retire gracefully. While all the
mobiles Of the land were gathered at
iyoto last November for the corona
| ton an extensive intrigue was COM
mcnced against him.
Nothing happened. but y compromise
had to be fixed up with the House OF
Peers on the budget Viscount Kato,
leader OF the largest party in the
elected house and strongest figure in
the okuma ministry. retired. ostensibly
because one OF his l!cuteuants was
discovered TO have been mixed up in
/ the bribery which accompanied the
I effort 10 pass the two-division army
Increase bill, but, in reality, it was
!
Chinese negotiations which he Until
atcd.
Ii Okunia retired, Kato was the nat
ural successor. But Kato was OBJ
noxious to Prince Yamagata, the head
OF the Elder Statesmen Kato, who
spent eight years in London and
picked UP knowledge of how parlia-
mentary government works, lay low
and passed his time organizing parlia-
mentary resistance to the attempt to
replace Okuna
OPPOSED INTEItTr:RENCE
WITH FOREIGN POLICY
The first step was series of con-
fercnccs. at which the leading parties
pledged themselves to fight any mill
tary or elan interference with foreign
policy, and resolved that In future in
crcases OF armaments would be gov
c"ncd by financial consideration.
Count Terauchi. Governor General of
Korea. and the chosen nominee of the
military bureaucratic party. suddenly
appeared in Tokyo and began a series
OF conferences with his political
friends. 1t became known that he was
trying to form ministry. and the
fact leaked out that Marquis Okuma
had intimated TO the Emperor his wish
to retire If suitable successor could
he found. He informed Terauchi that
he would recommend him as q suitable
successor II he would agree to continue
the policies Of the Okuma government
Terauchi is supposed TO have declined
10 accept any conditions. Essentially
IL was a personal contest between Wis
count Kato and Prince Yamagata. and
the prince has won. putting Terauchi
IN power.