The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-09

ruSllcQ luCO a OldZlu& IOOU 10 IcSCuc
the emperor's picture, found he was
unable to escape, ripped the picture
from the frame, gashed his abdomen
with sword that he snatched from
the wall, stuffed the picture therein
and died in the flames with the prec-
ious portrait In his body.
This boy became national hero in
Japan.
Hirohito, the present emperor, was
born August 20, 1901. Because of the
illness of his father, Emperor YoSh-
ihito (the old man had softening of
the brain) he was constituted Prince
Regent on Nov. Is, 1921. He succeed
ed his father upon the latter's death.
He was married to Princess Nagako
Uni in January, 1924. Their first child
was born the following December, and
three others have since followed, one
of whom died in extreme infancy.
Since all Of the emperor's children
are girls, and no woman may ever
rule Japan, the heir-presumptive to
the throne is the emperor's brother,
Prince Chichibu. He Is q year younger
than the emperor, and married q
Japanese girl educated in an Ameri-
can college.
Unlike European royalty, Japan
does not 60 abroad for royal match
making. Japan's princes Of the blood
are married into noble families; II
there Is no male issue, q male near
relative Is called to the throne.
The japanese cabinet functions
very much like President Hoover's
cabinet, containing IL ministers who
are appointed by the emperor and are
responsible to him alone.
The Japanese diet, or congress,
consists Of House Of Peers and q
House Of Representatives, Of equal
power. The former are either elect
ed for seven years or are appointed
by the emperor for life: the latter
must run for reelection every four
years. They draw $500 a year, as
compared to an American congress-
mans $4,000 year.
The peers are: hereditary men,
bers of the nobility, elected counts or
barons, men of education or dis
tinguished service appointed by the
emperor, elected representatives Of
the taxpayers, members Of the i'm
perial academy elected by that body.
The representatives are elected
from various walks Of life.
* * X
Governors and sheriffs Of prefec-
lures are appointed by the govern
yr4ant Movo,.c ora ckocoy, hvy tho oype.
peror from one of three candidates
elected by the municipal assembly.
The elected chief magistrates Of
towns and villages must obtain the
governors approval.
The American system or trial by
jury has been in effect only three
years. Prior to that, the presiding
Judge heard the evidence and decided
the accused's fate, even in capital
crimes which in Japan are treason
and murder. Many years ago hang
ing was substituted for beheading.
The diet, In session, looks very
much like Americas congress. Little
time is wasted on debate, as the Jap
anese language does not lend itself
to brilliant oratory. There, as here.
practically all legislation is decided In
committee long In advance. The Jap
anese solons, however, are honest
enough to admit this. instead Of vast
ing time on q lot Of oratory for po-
litical effect.
X \ \
The post-Perry cataclysm In which
the empires old order persisted be.
fore the march Of progress and from
which modern Japan arose with
constitutional government, elected
representatives and the public voting
booth. altered the emporer's power
but did little to weaken his prestige.
The governmental set-up Is differ
ent now. but the man who sits on the
gilded throne ct Toxic today Is stu
more than q mere human being in
the estimation Of loyal japanese. He
is, in their eyes, god-nothing less
Many, many men have died for his
heaven-born line on japanese battle
fields.
Many. many more may have that
chance.
(THU ENID