Note 101 — Chapter X · LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

The principle of local self-government has been most signally upheld in one instance by the Imperial Japanese government. Recently the Governor of Gumma Prefecture, in the face of the public opinion of that section, gave permission for the re-establishment of the system of licensed immorality. Inasmuch as the people of that prefecture have always taken great pride in the fact that their section was an oasis in the desert, they raised a great storm, and accused the Governor of having lent himself to speculators. Whether or not this accusation was true, the Minister of Home Affairs so far respected local opinion as to revoke the permission granted by the Governor and to remove the latter from office.