Great Campaign Beginning.
Following upon the announcement that—Labour Organizations at Osaka and elsewhere propose to begin a vigorous campaign for universal suffrage in this "first year of reconstruction," a summary of the leading Japanese opinion on the subject will be of interest.
"The ery for universal suffrage thas become so popular that the Iniperialistic now identified itself with the movement; and the Kokumin-to party, which is always quick at perceiving whither the popular current runs, "but which is nowadays a very small party, is going to make a bid for a larger popularity by introducing a Bill throwing the franchise open to males of 20 years upwards and leading an independent livelihood. This represents nearly tht most advanced demand, the Kensei-kai's proposal limiting the minimum age of electors to 25. The Kensei-kai is also being dragged towards the movement evidently against the will of Viscount Kato. its president, who kept a significant silence on this topic in his lengthy speech on the oasasion of the recent mass meeting of his party. The movement has gained an additional impetus by its cause being espouse ed by the Yuai-kai and many other Tabonr associations, of which mem-Bers have just organized a new natty of the name of the Nihon Rede-to (Japan Labour Party). But the issue of the struggle in the forthcoming session of the Diet at Toast is a foregone conclusion in view of the opposition which the movement is destined to meet from the Government. party, the Seivukai. which commands a great majority in the Lower House.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.