Evidently he had remembered that presently he might find himself a Kenseikai candidate. The same thought struck Kittrick.
"But you said that you didn't know whether you'd be a Seiyukai or a Kenseikai candidate. Now, which party platform conforms the most with your principles?" He grinned.
Nishimura waved his hand impatiently. "Oh, platforms! When I was in the States I heard of that all the time. Platforms!" He snapped his fingers. "In Japan we do not tie our statesmen's hands with foolish platforms. We observe the events when they happen and shape our actions accordingly. Wise men do not cross bridges till they come to them. We have no party platforms, at least none to speak of."
"But what do your parties amount to, then?"
"It's the men that count. Our people vote for the men whom they trust, whom they know to be wise. It's the men that count."
"But you haven't explained yet why you're so eager to get into this game?" broke in Kent.
The great man sighed and composed himself patiently to further explanation, as might a man indulgently bear with the inept questions of children. "Well, of course, you see there is power, and influence, and also money, a great deal of money, if one knows the game."
"How much do you get as a member of the Diet?"
"And how much do you figure your election will cost you?"
"Then I don't see it. You are elected for four years, but the Diet may be dissolved at any time, and then you are out. In other words, you risk fifty thousand on a chance to gain a maximum of twelve thousand and possibly only three. And I thought you were a business man."
The criticism irritated Nishimura, drew him out entirely. With outstretched hand he warded off further questions. He held out his cup; the woman filled it, and he drained it, composing himself to the task of explaining elementals.
"Of course I don't pay that fifty thousand. That comes from the Watanabe interests. You know, of course, that the future of Japan lies in industry and commerce, and that's in the hands of the great interests, the Watanabes, the Katos, the Oharas and the other big ones and some smaller ones. These interests are patriotic; they know that to succeed Japan must have in the Diet men with experience and vision who will help their industries and make Japan great. So they see to it that the right men are elected. The Watanabes, for instance, are very patriotic and always figure on having about ten men in the House, and the rest all have their own men whom they can depend on. That's why they are helping me."