Show ELECTION WAYS IN JAPAN the prominent part taken by japan in ih the hawaiian question and the frequent mention of the japanese parliament have given rise to the compo of that body and the japanese election methods the latter are fashioned after those of the united states in many respects the preliminary cAU caucuses CUsee and conventions being like those held in this country in most particulars tic ulars but there to Is one thing about our candidates said a japanese resident of new york that to is unlike the american candidate eandi date and that is he does not ask his hia fellow citizens to place him in nomination but allows them to ask mm him to become their candidate the Sa japanese parliament consists of ft a huse of representatives known as the in and a house of peers known as the kitoku in there are members in the lower house who ate are elected for four years and about members in the house of peers whose term of office mee is in seven years there is no positive number set pet for them the membership of the upper house hous because there are many hereditary members and their number may be augmented at any time by appointment at the hands of the emperor all marquises and dukes are members of the house of peers by virtue of their titles the members of the imperial household and imperial princes are also members of the house of peers barons counts and viscounts are eligible to election to the upper house but none of these ranks may be represented by more than one fifth of its total membership in addition to these there are various persons whom the emperor rewards for distinguished services with a seat in the upper house the members who are elected are chosen from among the largest taxpayers in the various districts fifteen men whose taxes amount to a certain sum a year are elected in each district and they elect one of their number he must be at least 30 years old and may be a merd merchant hant manufacturer fac or a member of one of the learned professions the president and the vice president of the upper house are appointed by the emperor members of the lower house are all elected by popular vote each male of the age of 25 years who has lived one year or more in the district in which the election takes place may vote provided he has paid at least 15 yen in direct taxes exclusive of what he paid in local taxes when the voter is 30 years old he is also eligible to membership in the lower house without any achy further qualifications but a man who already holds an office in the judiciary police or correction department who has an office in the imperial household or is in any way connected with the customhouse custom house may not become a candidate for them the house of depre senta tives when the members are elected they come together and elect three of their number as worthy of the place of presiding officer from these three the emperor selects the president and vice president of the body the lists of voters are made up by officers of various districts and are completed on or before april 20 from that time until july 1 when the elections take place much active campaign work is done the nominations are made in the various counties or districts and on election day the chief officer of the county takes charge of the voting in his district the voting places are all in the municipal building and are open on elLi election etton day from 7 a m until 6 p m the voter presents himself at the inspectors desk on which the ballot boxes axe are placed and after writing his name and opposite that the name of the person for whom he desires to vote on a book kept for that purpose he deposits his ballot in cases where a voter cannot write an officer may write for him but the election books must show that such help had been extended to the voter outside the building there are many men who yell and cheer for their candidate and burtton hole the voters as they come to the voting place an act in many respects like the crowd around a rural american election place those who compose the outside cheering and electioneering electioneer ing crowds are for the most part young men from the schools and colleges and their influence with the voters is anxiously sought by the candidates di after the pools are closed the county officers take charge of the boxes and place them under lock and key in the municipal building where they remain until the next morning when they are opened and examined by a board of inspectors spec tors on whose report the candidates are declared elected the next general election will take place in july 1809 |