Evening star., 1920-02-15

commoner. In Ameaoa, he would bo
regarded as a very shrewd ana shto
politician. Yet it Is doubtful whether
ne will be able to make progress along
iioeral lines The/ question is natur-
ally asked Why. II the cabinet 10 not.
dependent upon a majority. are thers
SO frequent changes in the ministriesf
Since the establishment Of the diet,
less than thirty years ago. there hava
been no less: than fifteen changes in
prime ministers. The longest tern
was that Of Prince Kstsura, who held
omce for four years and seven months.
tenure made possible by the exi-
gencies Of the Russo-Japanese war.
during which a change was undesir-i
able. The reasons are not difficult 70
ascertain. Although no cabinet can
remain in offfce without the approval
OF the emperor and the powerful, in .
nuence Of the imperial, household and
that array. of militarists and others
who constitute the bureaucracy. ner-
ertheless. subservieAcy to these eie- :
ments Is not sufficient. because the
diet, Just in the proportion in which,
1t is deprived OF control. indulges in.
the hercest criticism. Popular agita-
tion is mighty force in Japan.
Alleged Csrruptien at Polls.
Criticism in the diet during its brief
sessions is reinforced by a newspaper
press which redominantly is against
the administration and delights in op-
position rather than the advocacy Of
constructive measures. In addition !,
there have been instances OF corrup-.
ton by subordinates very near 70
members Of the cabinet. and Of un.
lawful practices to influence eiectiongo
Members Of the house OF repre- sene6e
atives have been bribed to vote f6sf
pending measures. and. worst of e2hb.
oribes have been received in connec,.
tion with government contracS
While the use of money in Japanesso
elections il fragrant and on a vsr3d;
large scale. and the friendly sssekixGq
ton Of omcials with large busilu1s
interests is we'll known and telers<en
disclosures Of dishonesty on the, p>s
OF those in responsible positions. ~
officials Interference with jelectiS
have been followed by riots ana
dignation meetings. BOT mefeiy n
single ministers bean compelled
quit under charges Of corrupeion,
~ 1ett a, vhnle cshtpst ,ragjened d
|s ahewia9 tkst mSSsy No {een
cefved from Gernan shtpb11idef
officers connected with the min
Of naval sAstsa. a. ~ =
Az sisswhefs. there 10 !, sro~in,
difference to politics In Japan iafil
from the feeling Of the elector
his vote - useless. .beceuse be
have no assurance that the obi
which he seeks to promote viii
aided by the candidate who rece
his support = -! -
The Japanese. usually % earnest
orderly. o not all Of them. take
htical activities seriously sand
lence is occasionally resortsd 10.
a political meeting in Tokio
August friends and opponents of
speakers were represented by nun
Gus "Shoshi' or shoulder hitters.
the midst Of the proceedings SO
disturber threw three snakes on
platform. Just now meetings
workingmen attract the Iare(
crowds.
1t is dimcult to forecast the futu
OF japanese politics. There are
dications OF an awakened politic
consciousness. and Japan alwaJ
alert to recognize and adopt tbx
which is most beneficial in othef
countries. cannot fail to recognize
that stagnation is the outcome ID
the agencies Of government do NOT
keep pace with the Developments: Of |
the time. With the passing of the /
elder statesmen and the coming L
forward OF new men. not SO identtfed
with the traditions Of the past. need.
ed reforms may be secured Nearly
all japanese have at least the. rudi-H
ments of education and the exteH-St
sion Of the suffrage promises to pro-,t
mote political activity among the
masses Of the people.
The workingmen are beginning to
assert their claims IN no uncerSaf9
manner. In addition to awakened
interest among them, the economic
pressure Of the high cost of livins,,
nowhere moro severe than in Japapsv
causes the people to look to a pa.
ternal government for aid ~"
Reeonstraetish League Fsrned. ,o.,
An organization. including maaHT
well educated men, la Dor leaders and.
a considerable representation from
the newspaper press. has recently
been formed under the name OF tfSPs
Reconstruction League 'nem
This association deserves notice h6tiw
cause it comprehends in one platform
the aspirations Of both liberals and
radicals. The members have set forth
a declaration OF principles under.
these heads: Universal suffrage, sAUpH
lition Of class distinction, legal rec,
ognition of labor unions. abolitpn
Of bureaucratic diplomacy and 10
secret treaties, reorgantsation of Sd-
ministrative, Legislative and judicH&'
organs. including substitution Of AZ
senate for the house Of peers aAtDs
trial by jury; also civil heads Of th4s
army and navy departments: refornks
In taxation. including An increase aL.
direct taxes and graded tAxation; as..,
surance Of the livelihood or the eou..
mon people. minimu1- wAGs. labor
exchanges, labor insurance, > etc.:
fundamental reform Of local govern.
mont In colonies: gevsrnors Esnesss
to be civilians and local autonomy to
be established. The term new tar