The Seiyukai was in this proud position even when Count Yama-more assumed the Premiership towards the end of August, and when the latter declared himself in favour of an - immediate extension of the suffrage, he simultaneously flung down a challenge to the Seiyukai and stepped forward in popularity. There seems to have been no consultation with the leaders of the majority party before the step was taken, a defiance that hag rocked the ranks of the Seiyukai_ with.) indignation and furnished the other political parties with plenty of ridicule to hurl at the political party, whose good graces so many Premiers had courted with as-sinuous devotion. When Premier Yamamoto took this indirect means of telling the Seiyukai that he wag not very particular as to whether they would pull with him or not, he was fully conscious of the psychology of his own people and of their vulnerable spot—for the Japanese, individuals- and organizations alike, wince at nothing more than at the contempt of studied indifference which effectively pricks the bubble of their vanity.
GENERAL, ELECTION COMING, A general election ig due next year, probably in the Spring. The Seiyukai are girding their loins for the political fray and so are the supporters of Count. Yama-more who have even gone the length of announcing that they are out to smash the Seiyukai. The Diet meets next month for the last time before the general elections, and it may be taken for granted that there will be vigorous passages of arms between the Seiyukai and the Government.' The immediate future. of the development of the party system: in Japan is fraught with the most interesting possibilities, now that. Premier Yamamoto has had the courage to defy the most powerful bloc in the Lower House and to get out of tha old - rut of having to truckle down'to the Seiyukai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.