Fighting Premier

Deputies of the Imperial Diet hurled Gargantuan phonetic sequences at one another in a loud and angry tone. In the galleries, fist fights were of frequent occurrence. The Kensei-kai and the Seiyu-kai (chief political parties) were at it again, with the Seiyu-honto alternately baiting and encouraging both. There was drawing to a close perhaps the stormiest session of the Imperial Diet in many years. Reijiro Wakatsuki. Above the squabbling undersized Deputies towered an old man, six feet in his stockings, who is still the amateur jiu-jitsu champion of Japan despite his 60 years. As a schoolboy he won the same title in archery, fencing, running, rowing, tennis and baseball. After graduating "summa cum laude" with a law degree from the Imperial University at Tokyo (1892), he entered the Imperial Department of Finance as one of its lowest clerks, quickly vaulted to the complete superintendence of the Tax Bureau and was sent to Paris, London and Manhattan after the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) to negotiate loans for reconstruction and refund the Japanese war debt--in all of which activities he was phenomenally successful. Returning to Japan, he was rewarded by the late Prince Katsura. founder of the Kensei-kai (the present Government party), who made him Vice Minister of Finance but allowed him entirely to determine the policy of that department while himself holding the title of Finance Minister as a mere adornment to that of Premier. When the Katsura Government fell, he entered the House of Peers,* became Finance Minister. While serving in this post he associated himself with the great Viscount Kato, then Foreign Minister; and together they fostered the policy of bringing Japan into the War on the side of the Allies. Such is the status of Premier Reijiro Wakatsuki, successor to his late friend and leader Premier Viscount Kato (TIME, Feb. 8). With the passing of Kato the strength of the Kensei-kai has waned. Only by compromising with the Seiyu-kai has it been possible for Premier Wakatsuki to get action and roll up at the session just closed a formidable list of:

Measures Passed: 1) A 100% increase in the duty on wheat: 2) A 50% increase in the duty on flour; 3) Legislation blocking the enactment of ultra-reactionary laws; 4) A law punishing blackmailers and blackmailees, if the latter allow themselves to be blackmailed; 5) The taking over by the Government of the Nishihara private loans to China; 6) The creation of a subsidy on domestic pig iron and steel; 7) Large educational and .small naval appropriations; 8) A tax on soft drinks.

Measures Defeated: 1) A much bruited bill forbidding Occidental dancing in Japan. 2) The Government bill reducing land taxes. 3) Several Opposition bills to impeach Premier Wakatsuki, who thankfully retired from the session to rest and pursue yet another of his hobbies: the writing of poetry. Once he wrote: I take a leaf from Yuan Hsien* Who even in poverty enjoyed sports; A lingering thought to Chen-pin,* Who, with high ideals and thoughts. Always refrained from self-laudation. As a statesman of fiery zeal I admire Clemenceau ; As a gentle-souled Premier, I respect Gladstone.

*Its 400 odd members are divided into five classes: 1) Males of the Imperial Family who are of age; 2) Ordinary Princes and Marquises; 3) Counts, Viscounts and Barons elected by their re- spective orders to the number of one-fifth or less of each; 4) Persons nominated by the Emperor for meritorious service; 5) Persons elected from among the largest taxpayers after being nominated by the Emperor. *Semilegendary Chinese statesmen.