The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-04-24
JAPAN FACES BIT TER \
!: FIGHT IN RACE FOR
SEATS IN NEW DIET D
\ General Election May 10; Hara'
Government Is Los z@zI
ing Support ny
/ Rv Henry w. Kinney

NY s,y ing 0uPPOSS ~
\. s.5 ]. h BY Henry W Kinney
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
4 4 Toyko, March Is (By mail)-The
time for the general election which Is
IL elect members to the Diet, to take
liz place Of that which was suddenly
.disaolyed recently, has been set 1or
Nav 10. and tremendous interest IS
being taken in the event. with botn
sides determined to hight 70 the last
ditch. Fl. - -" ~, ;.
The government has given out that
the Department Of Justice, which Will
= have control Of the election, Will take TAI
most stringent measures In order 10
nreyent disturbances or irregularities,
and that Ii will take drastic steps
against anyone found to be interler-
ing with the working of the macnln-
cry. ~ ~ 49,,
While soon after the dissolution OF
the Diet it was generally DelleVeo
that the government would nave .
comparatively easy chance OF victory
owing to the fact that the party IN
power always has a great adVantage'
this belief appears now to be chang-
ing. sto some extent. This Is because
Of the fact that many of the business
men. who have always been tho
strong supporters Of the Hara' busi-
mess government, are now coming OUT
in opposition to the administration,
nv,rg "a it's proposal to raise the tax
.rate,. q step which will be imperative
" necessary to provide funds TOR the
Ereat increases in the. army and navy
!: budgets, to which the; government is
pledged. .s> ~ 80 ! fs 81 ~. i !.
:. = In order to combat the increase In
the tax rate, particularly that Of
wealthy men and corporations, g tax
alton investigation club has been
formed by members Of chambers OF
commerce, stock exchanges and In
surance associations, which intends to
: lead the fight against the tax In
crease. and this will without doubt
cause some difference In the lineup
of the forces at the polls. NJ II
Considerable fear is also being felt
that the masses may attempt to make
their influence felt, and. some papers
y and popular leaders have gone SO Tar
as to predict that japan is likely to
see demonstrations similar to the rice
riots of the fall of 1918, In the near
future. The ugly temper of the work
ing people is being shown by frequent
ego slow" strikes, q form OF express
sion which is rapidly becoming the
popular, form of labor demonstration
in Japan. Thus the tramcar men,
who only q. few weeks ago won out IN
a strike for higher wages, are again
Sgetting ready to enforce, q demand fol
!: shorter hours by means Of giving tbs
worst possible service, and various
other workers in different parts 5Oi
japan are taking similar action. The
situation is summed up by the Jill
/ one Of the leading Tokyo dailies,
which says: II .5s$$, .,s ,t,. : Il, ~ 4
W ''since the univer1ai suffrage ques-
ton became an issue in the Diet, the
temper Of the people has assumed
serious aspect, and s the agitatiots
conducted in Tokyo have been disordrr
. erly and unseemly. Indeed, 1t was
feared d that such demonstrations
would have the effect Of delaying the
adoption of universal suffrage.
Strikes or "go-slow''' campaigns have
been reported from many parts OF
the country, and there are various
movements Of reconstruction. #
ION account of these movements
and agitations there is serious .unI-.
rest among the people, and it is fear
ed that this will be further irten-
sified by the agitation Incidental to
! the Forthcoming general election, be-
cause the issue is universal suffrage.
AS the ELECTION campaigns Of the gov
ernment and of the opposition become
/ animated. unexpected disturbances
may possibly. occur and on this point
all thinking men are seriously con-
cerned.i i It is to be hoped that the
campaigners on both, sides will take
I due note Of the present mental con-
dition Of the. people and will scrup-
ulously r sfrain from improper actions
or utterances." ~ =. :. ! w., 80 s.i..
3.