The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-11-07
HARA'S DEATH
CREATLOSS
TO JAPANESE
His Position as First Common.
er Premier Testifes to
His Greatness as
a Leader.
WAS EASILY ACCESSIBLE
A Newspaper Man Himself, He
Always Recognized the
Value of the Press,
Saws A. johnson.

In the assassination Of Premier Hara,
the japanese have lost a great common
er, the masses have lost great friend,
and the world has lost one Of its great.
est statesmen.
Premier Hara came into office Septem-
ber. 30. 1918, Immediately after the race
riots of Japan. which caused the down.
fall Of the preceding ministry. His COM
ing into office caused much commotion.
for he was the first commoner TO become
premier, this office having always been
filled by men of noble rank That he was
the first commoner 10 hold this office is
a testimony 10 his greatness.
Hara gained his first fame as head of
the Seiyu-Kai party in 1914. succeeding
Saionji. While member of the Die, he
was member Of the House of Represen-
fatiyes and not the House Of Peers, which
is the more powerful house.
Coming into office as premier in 1918.
he maintained his ministry for more than
three years during one Of the most un-
settled periods in the history Of Japan.
During this period Japan felt the begin
ming Of her great labor disturbances. The
movement TO increase suffrage for men
was also started and later the same move
ment for the right Of suffrage for women
was begun. In addition 10 these prob.
lens, the Armis,ice was signed and Ja-
pan, which had been in an era Of great
prosperity, suddenly found herself almost
bankrupt. Yet during all these disturb
ances. Hara kept his seat 1t is unsual
for any premier in Japan in the twen.
iie:h century 10 hold office for any
length Of time. Two years is considered
long time for premier 10 be in office,
and many stay in power less than one
year; yet Hara. in spite Of all the diff.
culties that surrounded his administration
held office for an unusually long time. In
America the administration is blamed for
mistakes, but in Japan the premier must
take the blame.
One Of the most unusual things about
Hara as premier was that he was always
accessible TO newspaper men or anyone
else who had business with him. He was
al one time chief editor on the Osaka.
Mainichi paper and not long after he was
made premier he gave dinner at the
premier's official home to the represen-
iaiiyes Of the press. Three graduates Of
the School Of Journalism Of the Univer-
sity Of Missouri were present at that din.
ner: Alfonso Johnson, now business man.
ager Of the Missourian; H. H. Kinyon,
formerly University publisher; and Os-
car Riley. now secretary Of the Japan So.
ciety in New York.
"The thing that impressed me mos,
about the premier that night" said Mr..
johnson, was his handshake, which is
most unusual in Japan. In Japan one
usually bows and draws in his breath.
The more noise one makes in drawing in
his breath the more pleased he is sup.
posed 10 be 10 meet the person. But Pre-.
mier Hara had real American hand
snake, which he probably acquired during
his tour Of Europe and America.
This recognition Of the press was
rather unusual" continued Mr.. johnson,
but being newspaper man himself. he
recognized the importance Of the press.
lhe dinner was most elaborate. There
We're six different glasses for the differ.
ent kinds of wine which were to be serv.
ed throughout the evening. The Premier
was very democratic and talked with US
throughout the evening. / remember he
asked me in English if Id have cigar.