The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-01-17
JAPANESE ARE
PREPARING FOR
Big ELECTION
Premier Wakatsuki Expected
to Dissolve Coming Diet
For That Purpose

Tokyo, Jan. l7.-(P)-POlitical par
ties in Japan arc building their
fences in preparation for the greatest
election ever held in the cmpire-an
election wherein more than 5000, 600
new voters will have the privilege
Of casting their ballots for the first
time under the manhood suffrage
law passed by the Diet in 1924.
If the election takes placc-and it
apparently is a forgone conclusion
that Premier Wakatsuki will dissolve
the coming Diet for that purpose
it is expected to be preceded by an
old fashioned spell-bound campaign
similar to those which have charac-
terizcd many American presidential
contests. Japanese party leaders are
emulating in numerous ways the
American political tactics.
No Other Course Seen
Premier Wakatsuki, who succeeded
the late Premier Kato last spring as
head Of the government, is the lead
er of the Kcnseikai, the minority
party in the Diet. The Kenseikai
government was able to survive the
last session because of semi-coali-
ton with the Seiyuhonto party. The
Seiyukai, presided over by General
Baron Tanaka, was the actual ma
jority party in the lower house. but
was effectually defeated through the
Kenseikai-Seiyuhont combination.
The coalition is declared to have
ended, the Seiyuhonto demanding
what was considered too great pc.
litical price for its adherence to the
Kenseikai standards. Consequently
there apparently is nothing for Wa
| katsuki to do but decree dissolu
! tion and 60 before the country. Al
the same time, general election II
the last thing desired by any party
! The cost is expected to be tremen
dous and the attitude of the millions
of new voters towards parties ant
| politicians is mystery.
/ s.. Economy An Issue
! F0f several months various com
! binations have attempted ia caus'
the fall Of, the Wakatsuki cabinet
lhopink that new cabinet would b.
1appointed which would weather tn
jnext Diet and, consequently, avoid
national election. The premier ha
been, accused in the newspapers o
1 all sorts Of things ranging from les
majestic to perjury, with the expec
ltation that he would resign. Blu
1.-THE premier has stood his ground an
i9rcfuscd to pay any attention to hi
faccusers. Some politicians. expec
1.-THE Seiyukai to introduce a bill Q
/ Impeachment to the Diet whereupo
lit will be the premier's cues'to an
tnounce dissolution.
L.. The .Kenseikai would 60 before tn
tcountry on q platform Of, rigid. gov
| efnmental economy reduction : q
taxes, further international disarm1
1 ment. encouragement Of industTis
tentsfprises and the reclamation an
Improvement Of lands in Hokkaid'
IFormosa and Korea where some poi
4 tlon Of the excess Japanese populs
/ ton can be taken care Of.
I The Seiyukai is expected to see
jclection On the ground that the KeI
la<ikai has not done anything towaS
tbe Improvement At economic cpnd
lttonss but, on the contrary. recent
fnppfoyed : national budget ter lDs
f{nny millions IN ,Advancc Of the Oh
sgAkta YEAR. III also would accuse Il
n n 9Iive;vernhsSntss u harb6fint and stnSt
tint eSysEsf scan4ais dpriae f. =
~ havs. been made recent
vi ~ 11Sss -. Il - y ~ ~ -