South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-23
JAPAN Is FACING
BITTER FIGHT IN
ELECTIONS FOR Diet
Government Prepares Strin-
gent Measures to Prevent
Disorders at the Polls.
BY HENRY W. KINNEY

TOXIC. April 22.-The time for
the general election which is % elect
members 20 The diet to 'ake tHe
place or that which was suddenly
dissolved recently. has been scr ..r
May 10 and tremendous interes
being taken BOO fac event. wien iaIH
sides determined 20 dEht to the ast
ditch
The government has given 0lt
that the department OF Justice. which
VIII have control OF the electioH. WA
take mos stringent measures boz ore
Ger 20 prevent distur1anc+s or ire
reeularit-es. and that Or wf trNa
drastic steps against anyone found
to be- interfering with the working
o. the machinery.
First Belief Changing
While soon after the dissolution 90
The diet g. waS generally lalie. RI
That the go! eminent would hate
Colap1ratite eas- chance 0f VICE
tory. owing 90 the fact that Ire
Vartv in p1Vr- always has .r nc
advantage this belief appears an1v
10 be ChalEin 20 some extent. This
is because of % c fact that m1lv Cf
nc business I'r4 who have hIwlrs
ben the strong supporters of Ile
Hara business government. are now
coming OUT in opposition 90 tho 1d-
ministration. owing 90 its proposal
90 raise the tax rate step which
viii Doe imperatively necessary 10
provide funds for the great In-
creases I'm the army and navy
budgets. 20 which the government
is pledged
I'm order 90 combat The increase In
81 d b..
wealthy men and corporations
taxation Investigation club has been
formed by members OF chambers n
commerce, stock exchanges and in-
surancc associations. which intends
10 lead the tight against the tax iU-
crease. and this will without doubt
cause some difference in the lineup
OF the forces AZ the polls
Masses May Rise Up.
Considera bic fear is also being felt
that the masses may attempt 10
make their influence felt. and some
papers and popular leaders have
even gone $50 far as 90 predict that
Japan is likely 10 see demonstration
similar 10 the rice riots OF the feu
OF 1918. IN the near future The
ugly temper Of the working people
rs being shown by frequent go
which IS rapidly becoming the pop
ular form of la Dor demonstration iu
Japan. Thus the tramcar men. who
only a few weeks ago won out in
a strike for higher wages. are again
getting ready 20 enforce "a demand
for shorter hours by means OF Civ
ing the worst possible service. and
various other workers IN different
parts Of japan are taking similar
action.
Sums mp situation
The situation is summed up by
the Jill one of the leading Toxic
daifes, which says
"Since the universal suffrage ques-
tion = became an issue in the diet
the temper o. tho people has assum-
ed serious acpect and the agita-
tons conductec i'm Toxic have been
dis0rderlv and unseemly Indeed
T. WIS feared that such demonstra-
tions Guild have the effect OF de-
laying The adoption OF universe!
suffrage. Strikes or Ego slow" cam
paigns have been reported from
many parts or tho country. ami there
are various movements OF recon
struCtion.
"On account Of these movements
and agitatiOns there IS serious un-
rest among the people. and it -
feared that this unrest viii DO FUR
Their intestifed by the agitation in
cidental % the forthC0m ing general
election because the issue is uni-
versal suffrage. As the election
If the opposition become animated.
unexpected disturbance may pos
~iuiy occur. and Uu This point IN
fHiu|rtnw men EHE -ar.nr--'r rur-