Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1963)
MEDFORO MAIL TRIBUNE. MEOFORD, OREGON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1963 Conservatives and Socialists Vote For Power in Japan By KIM WILLSENSON United Press International TOKYO (UPI) - Japan's 60 million voters will go to the polls today to decide a par liamentary contest between the Conservatives who run the coun try and the Socialists who would like to. So far, that sounds like al most any election in almost any democracy. And the fact that Prime Min ister Hayato Ikeda called the election a full year early, while riding a crest of personal pop ularity, would have a familiar ring in any parliamentary sys tem. The big issues are the Ameri can alliance and rising prices neither particularly surprising. Japan's present democratic forms were introduced by the American occupation forces and retained, after the occupiers had left, by a people thoroughly disillusioned with dictatorship. Stand Alone But the Japanese essentially are not imitators but adapters. In Japan, democracy is differ ent. For example, the Conserva tives are, in fact, the only party that has fielded enough can didates (359) to win at least 234 seats and a simple majori ty of the 467-seat House. Their major opposition, the Socialists, put up only 198, hop ing to elect 156, the bare third. The middle-roading Democratic Socialists put up 60, hoping to recapture their 1959 strength of 40. The Communists have 118 running, but held only three seats last time around. Many foreigners and Japanese periodically wonder whether Japan has a democracy at all. The answer lies in how the term is defined. If democracy is taken to mean rule by freely elected rep resentatives of the people, the answer is certainly yes. If democracy means a sys tem in which the electorate wants and has a choice between realistic alternatives presented by a government party and a loyal opposition, the answer can only be "maybe." One reason is the public apathy and the lack of issues in the present election campaign. There have been fewer voters than policemen at some cam paign rallies. Fifteen policemen are detailed to prevent violence at each rally. At some, only 12 or 13 voters showed up. At oth ers even the candidates failed to appear. Reason For Elections Still, the prime minister dis solved a Diet that had a year to run, and called elections. He did it because Japan, in fact, is ruled by a single party, and the internal politics of that par ty are, in effect, the politics of Japan. Ikeda's timing for the elec tion was timed not at the So cialists but at factional rivals within his own party. He want ed to show his popularity at the polls before the next party con vention. The Socialists have not held power since a year and a half period during the occupation (April, 1947, to October, 1943) when the anti-war feeling was highest. ' Their vote has been rising in recent elections. They picked up 98 seats in prefectural as semblies and a number of key mayoralties last spring. But they do not draw more than 40 per cent of the total vote.. The most generous projec tions do not show them attain ing 50 per cent until 1968 at the earliest. Their Impotence is reflected in the unseemly brawls they stage in the Diet, ear-splitting mob scenes that are the anti thesis of democratic debate. Reasons for Vote There are many reasons for the dominant conservative posi tion vote in this country: The rural vote. A problem familiar In many countries. Even though Japan is an indus trial nation, a third of its people (34 million) still live on farms or in villages. Added to the nat ural conservative tendency of agrarian people is the structure of old Japanese society. Under this system the village must obey the wishes of its head or elder. And the elder, who is in debt to the conservative prov ince chief for patronage, tells his villagers to vote conserva tive. Anyone who violates the command is out of step with the BIG 7 DAY'-THANKSGIVIN SALE PHEASANT FLOUR 10-lb. bag W 25-lb. bag $H69 APPLESAUCE " 303 can S) for OYSTERS M'SSl0U"CU,C0Vt 8-oz.can for KAL KAN TUNA CAT FOOD 6-.z . can 12 for TRUE FRESH SLICED PINEAPPLE 20-oz. can W SCOTTIE MARGARINE i-ib. Pkg. 3 k 9 CHUBBY DOG FOOD 16-oz. can for (B PHEASANT GREEN BEANS 303 can W CANNON 20"x40" BATH TOWEL Pastels or Bold Stripes BEAUTIFUL SELECTION PLASTIC ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS IB f BT 1ST QUALITY MICRO-MESH-CRYSTAL CLEAR SEAMLESS NYLONS W Bridgeford Frozen Bread Dough Whit or Wheat. 3-lb. loaves per bag .. Hi West Fresh Frozen V PEAS c IO.01. Pkg. .. U WISH BONE RUSSIAN .16 Ol. Bottle 49c 14 Ox. Pkg. 59c FRENCH DRESSING DURKEfS COCONUT STOCKTON CATSUP .12 Ox. Bottle 6 1 ' 88c SNOWDRIFT SHORTENING 63c DUCKY POWDERED DETERGENT Giant Pkg. 59c THUNDERBIRD SALAD DRESSING . ,,33c HALEY BEEF STEW 79c DERBY TAMALES VI SAUCE 23c MEN'S 4 BUCKLE Rubber Overshoes Sixes 7-1 J Heavy Duty Reg. $5.95 $0885 mm n i m MEN'S PRECISION MOVEMENT SWISS . WRIST WATCH Eipaniion Band 2 Yr. Warranty '1 Inc. tlx At Cathiar'i Booth HI-H0 CRACKERS u,-. I wtu uuiu S12.88 Ull 1 1 IV ORANGE OR GRAPE .....46 Ox. Cn 4 99U NORELCO KAZ ELECTRIC VAPORIZER All Niter or Consul with Free bottle of inhalant Reg. $7.50 s BLUESTONE ROASTWELL ROASTER 88c Rag. 98c OPEN ROASTER Rag. $1.98 MM 8-LB. FOWL ROASTER I H4 Reg. $3.19 AQ 1S-IB. FOWL ROASTER I a V if URGE SIZE DECORATED TURKEY PLATTER Reg.. $1.98 t HALEY'S lb GARDEN GROWN ASPARAGUS ..303 Can 6 "99c Rag. $19.95, Flip Top Head. Rag. $29.95, Floating Head .. SI8.77 Dual Rotary Blade AT CASHIER'S BOOTH MEN'S ARGYLE DRESS SOCKS o Fast Colors Sizes 10-13 Reg. 39c pr. 3 pair 88 KLAMATH U.S. No. 2 Potatoes 0 7c 50 lb. bag (0J Li win uwu'i'iffy cn Atu ucean jprty lib. box 19c SUGAR HUBBARD CALIFORNIA , DATES IVrlb.box . . . f r a . 31 ik I NUTS 5)(n) iy)SJib. Almonds Brazils Filberts Pecans Walnuts Produce prices affective Thursday thru Sunday, Nov. 24 RCA RADIO I T.V. Tubes ZZS. 40 CHILD OR ADULTS Tooth Brush 19c S2.00 VALUE LUSTRE-CREMI Shampoo m.n.u 99c $1.10 VALUE JERGEN'S LOtlOII plu Fr Dispenser 69C 1000 PIECE INTERLOCKING Jig Saw Puzzle 88c REG. 69c SHREDDED Foam 12 ox B.fl 49c REG. $4.98 KIDDIES PEG-N-PLAY DCSlk Wooden S2a99 REG. 59c GIANT SIZE Icicles i9 39c REG. 9c PENN CHAMP Spray De-icer 69c REG. $1.39 HOLLY TIE Sasheen Ribbon 88c REG. 59c LADIES LATEX Rubber Gloves 2' 88c REG. $3.98 TONKA METAL Pickup Truck S2.66 REG. 59c RONSONOL Lighter Fluid - 2 88c REG. 69c SILICONE IRONING Board Cover 39c Rea. Met T-BIRD PRICE 1.29 66c 83c 59c Listcrin Tooth Paste $1.06 V.lut Dual Pick 38 Rubber Tipped Bob Pins QC O Bronte or Black, mm tm (tea. 25c cird Vr 250 Tibial. 100 ma. Vitamin 0 . . Glaam Cottar Toothpaste . Vl.Jon I Grain Aspirin, 250 tablets 29c Rubber Hat Water Bottle ....1.49 99c Vlcki Vapo Rub 1.49 99c Faihion Curl Hair Spray ....1.09 69c Strafford Castile Soap 20c 649c 18-Oc. Battle Listerine ...... .1.25 79c lOOTablate Geritol .6.00 4.66 Miu Clalral Color Bath 1.38 99c 25 Tablet. Alka-Seltzer .... 59c 39c 10 Aorfd Household Combs 29c 19c CASHIER WINDOW SERVICES FILM DEVELOPING YEAR AROUND LAY-AWAY PLAN Fraa Gilt Wrapping t Creatine Card, far all occations Hunting and Fiihing Licensee Check. Cashed Money Order. Peitef Stamps Battle Return RCA TV I Radio Tuba, at 40 Ditcount G-E Floor Pollihtr l Water Rantal 77c a Day ; iiiii B .7 Today rest of the village and ostra cized. Autocratic tradition. Too Japanese are only 18 years away from 2600 years of auto cratic rule. For many, particu larly those educated before the war, the government is an en tity separate from them, in which they take no part. Its role is to rule, theirs to obey. To challenge it by voting against it would be unthinkable. Political funds. Here, the conservatives have an immense advantage. They are both allied with big business and dominant in the government, from top to bottom. They make excellent use of their opportunities. In 1962 alone they reported officially collections of about 1.6 billion yen about $5 million. Unof ficially this figure is regarded as only the top of the iceberg. Political funds are the breath of political survival for the Dietman. Keeping his constitu ents happy is expensive. He must send congratulations to the family with a new child, send a wreath to a funeral, at tend the dedication of any new building in bis constituency. He must also make substan tial donations to public institu tions to assure himself a place on the speaker's platform at ceremonies. Often, he must or ganize a "ko-enkai," or fan. club and this means money for buses and box lunches. When constituents come to Tokyo, they expect the Dietman to have them out to lunch as a matter of course. He must also appear at their hotel with a bottle of sake and candies for the children. Finally,, but certainly not least important in the voter's mind Is the socialist nroeram it self. The far-left Marxist line that the party followed until re cently has had little appeal in prosperous postwar Japan. NYLON BLEND BRAIDED BEAUTIFUL SELECTION THROW RUG Christmas Cards ' 24-in. x 45-in. Machine Washable j Keg. Me Your Choice aflhtlM dUkdHA I ' I ' $2?98 U I U U Box : I Seattle Man Is Sentenced by Court Aaron Cornelius Huisman Jr., 19, of Seattle, Wash., was sen tenced to four years in the Ore gon State Correctional Institu tion on charges of burglary not In a dwelling when he appeared in Jackson County circuit court Tuesday. He had pleaded guilty earlier to charges of breaking Into a local restaurant and taking $1,- 093 In cash and $97.15 In checks. Newell Ehrman Clark, 19, of Grand Hotel, Medford, pleaded guilty at his arraignment In Cir cuit Court to charges of at tempting to obtain property by false pretenses. His case was continued for receipt of an FBI report. ' HEEf, ON FLOORS WIGAN, England fUPI)-Wi-gan Technical College governors told girl students Tuesday to either leave their stiletto heels at home or face expulsion. The stilettos, they said, have caused $2,800 worth of damage to the college's new floors. Relax in Comfort CORNER JACKSONVILLE HI WAY AND LOZIER LANE Easy! Crochet a pair of slip, pers for yourself, the other for a thrifty gift. Comfy foot-warmers each in smart pattern stitch, in knitting worsted. Crochet soles too. Pat tern 7036: directions small, me dium, large included. THIRTY - FIVE CENTS (coins) for this pattern add IS cents for each pattern for first-class mailing and special handling. Send to Alice Brooks, Medford Mail Tribune, Needle craft Dept., P. O. Box 163, Old Chelsea Station, New York 11, N. Y. Print plainly NAME, AD DRESS, PATTERN NUMBER. 206 HANDICRAFT HITS in our big, big, new 1964 Needle craft Catalog, out now! See toys, fashions, crewelwork, heir looms, gifts, bazaar hits every thing to crochet, knit, sew, weave, embroider, quilt, smock. Send 25 cents right now.
