New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-26
JAPANESE WAR
PARTY TRIUMPHS;
DIET IS OUsTED
MikadO, Premier and Sc
Cret "Maha" Join to De-
feat Parliament
.ASSASSINS ATTACK
FOE OF TERAUCHl
Toyama, Leader of "Silent
Forces" Plots Death of
Progressive Leader
From Tn, Tribune Bureau

prom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Jan. 25.-The mightlest
forces in Japan have FLASHED, and out
Of that clash has come the attempted
murder of Yukio Ozaki, leader of the
Constitutional party; the dissolution
by the Emperor of the Japanese House
of Representatives, triumph for Pre-
mier Terauchi and a complete victory
for the miltaristic faction dominating
Japan.
Men who know the internal life of
Japan say that Japan has cast the die
for a policy of Japan above ala
policy Of aggressive military action in
China, hostility to the foreigner in
Japan and expansion that may become
a menace to the United States.
The hand of Mitsuru Toyama. called
the "silent and unseen hero of Japan"
leader of the Gen-Yosha, Japan's po-
litical "Mafa," is seen in to-days
events. The attempt on Ozakis life is
ascribed directly to Toyama, for his
band, the Gen-Yosha, is pledged first OF
all 70 generation for the imperial fam
ily and that blind patriotism which has
carried Japan to first rank among ma
tions in barely two generations. Ozaki
had demanded the resignation OF
Terauchi.
Toyama Organized Revolts
Tovama organized revolts in China
and Korea with the deliberate aim OF
provoking and justifying Japanese IN
tervention. He instigated the plot that
resulted in blowing up Count Okuma
in 1890. VIXEN tho Premier tried to
place foreigners on the bench side by
side with Japanese judges IN trlals
involving foreigners. The Premier lost !
a leg as the result of the explosion.
I'm 1891 Toyama sent his Soshis, or
braves. into every voting place IN
Toxic TO break up the election and
save the Matsukata Cabinet, with ITS
programme Of a greater navy. Toyama
has usually been opposed to the gov
eminent because recent Japanese gov
ernments have been liberal toward for
eigners.
Terauchi Party Triumphs
Now that the split has come on the
question Of militarism Toyama is found
behind Terauchi. The militarists rule
japan.
Popular political parties and the li5
eral press have fought the ever-increas-
ing domination by the military caste.
An interesting light is thrown on Jap
anese affairs by a recent article in the
Toxic "Ahasi" which says:
Great Britain afhrms that she will
~ until she has
crushed German militarism, and Japan,
indorsing that view, is actually par
ticipating in the war. Yet there is per-
haps no other country in the world
where militarism fourishes as 1t does
in Japan.
For every department of our politi
cal organism is controlled by soldiers.
In the capital field marshal, always
clad in military uniform, presides over
the Cabinet Council. That great motive
power in the political life of Japan,
the great lord Prince Yamagata, is
also a field marshal. Go a step out of
the country. and you find that the gov
errors of Chosen and Taiwan are mill
tary officers. The Governor General OF
Kwangtung Province and the directors
of the Manchurian railways are ex-
soldiers.
Japan, Land OF Soldlers
Japan is truly a land of soldiers.
The world is given to understand that
the government of japan is conducted
by the will of the people, but that IS
only in name. The hard truth is that
everything is decided by the whims of
her soldiers.
THE fact that an unconstitutional
militaristic cabinet like that of Count
Terauchi should have been allowed to
come into Office must be ascribed to the
helplessness of the existing political
parties in Japan"
House Dissolved
The japanese embassy to-day re-
ceived a cablegram from the Toxic
Foreign Office announcing that the
House lad been dissolved because of
the introduction Of the resolution de-
claring a lack Of confidence in the
present cabinet. IL was said that fol-
lowing the dissolution the present adj
ministraton would continue to hold
Office and adhere TO its already de-
clared policies.
Embassy officials, while refusing to
discuss the political phases of the sit
uation, say that there is no provision
in the japanese Constitution for a re-
sponsible ministry, but that there has
been a large party eager to establish
that principle by precedent.
Likewise they say that If the new
House follows the texture of the pres
ent and votes lack of confidence in the
Terauchi ministry, the Emperor again
is free to follow his own decision,
either to dissolve the House again, &C
cept the decision of the country and
demand the resignation of the minis
try, or ignore that decision and con-
tinue the ministry in power.