Page:Constitutional imperialism in Japan (IA constitutionalim00clemrich).pdf/59

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No. 3]
Conclusion
49

In the campaign of 1915, speech-making was a more prominent feature than ever. Ozaki, Minister of Justice, and the Premier himself actually “took the stump”. One unique feature of the campaign was the sight of Okuma on a trip westward by rail, making short speeches from the car-window at important stations. Another unique feature was the fact that, at many places where the presence of Ozaki or Okuma was impossible, their “tinned speeches” were heard from the phonograph. And an opposition candidate went one better by letting Ozaki speak through the machine but stopping it every few minutes to answer Ozaki’s points. There certainly never has been such a “popular” campaign.

It may be added that the landslide to Okuma was the popular response to this campaign. It was a personal victory for the “grand old man”, because he was not afraid to appeal to the people. The army increment scheme, which had been the principal issue in bringing about the dissolution, was scarcely mentioned in the campaign. Even the important negotiations with China cut little figure; although they probably had more weight than the two-division increase. The result of the election was not so much pro-Doshikai as anti-Seiyukai. It was not that the electorate loved the Doshikai more but the Seiyukai less. It was a question chiefly of Okuma or Hara (present leader of the Seiyukai). It was because the people trusted Okuma. And when Okuma’s great victory was announced to him, he remarked: “Now we can witness the dawn of real constitutionalism in Japan”.

Dr. Ukita, editor-in-chief of the great monthly magazine, Taiyo (Sun), has discussed, in quite an interesting manner, the change of methods in national elections. According to a summary of his article, he expressed these sentiments:

He divides the history of parliamentary campaigns into three periods,—namely, the robbery, the jobbery, and the begging periods. These vicissitudes in the history of elections in Japan may, he remarks, be considered either progress or degeneration according to the point of view. In the first period the voters were forced to elect men whether they liked them or not by a display of force,

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