Hara Takashi
The opposing faction was the "seiyukai", led by Hara Takashi, which drew its strength from the lower house. Eventually the "seiyukai" was able to gain the Aritomo's support, and Kei became premier in 1918. Konoe believed the house of peers should stay neutral in factional party politics, lest a partisan-seeming peerage have their privileges restricted. He therefore supported Hara Kei's "seiyukai" government, as did most of the "kenkyukai".