Suehiro Nishio

A politician with a history in the labor movement. Born in Kagawa Prefecture. After dropping out of high school, he became a lathe operator in Osaka. He entered the labor movement in 1915 (Taisho 4), and joined the Yuaikai in 1919. In 1920, he became head of the Osaka Federation of the association and led various disputes. In 1925, during the first split of the Japanese General Federation of Labor (renamed the Yuaikai), he took a right-wing social democratic stance, leading the way in expelling left-wing unions. He participated in the founding of the Social Democratic Party in 1926, and after the first general election in 1928 (Showa 3), he was elected to the House of Representatives 15 times. He was expelled from the Diet for a verbal gaffe during a speech in support of the National Mobilization Bill in the Diet in 1938. As he did not join the Imperial Rule Assistance Association or the Patriotic Society of Industry, he played a central role in founding the Japan Socialist Party after Japan's defeat in the war, and was appointed Secretary-General.

In the spring of 1947, he became Minister of State and Chief Cabinet Secretary in the coalition cabinet led by Katayama Tetsu, and subsequently Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet led by Ashida Hitoshi, but was implicated in the Showa Denko Scandal and fell from power. He was later found innocent and rejoined the right-wing Socialist Party when it was formed in 1952. After the two Socialist Parties were unified in 1955, he became a party advisor, but at the 1959 convention, the left wing rebelled against him for his comments and actions on the issue of revising the Japan-US Security Treaty, and he was referred to the Control Committee, so he left the party along with his comrades. In January 1960, he formed the Democratic Socialist Party (later the Minshato), and served as its first chairman until 1967. He retired from politics in 1972. He remained anti-communist and a realist throughout his life.

[Akira Miyazaki]

"Nishio Suehiro's Political Memorandum" (1968, Mainichi Shimbun)" ▽ "Nishio Suehiro's Together with the Masses - A Record of Half My Life, reprint (1971, Japan Labor Association)" ▽ "Nishio Suehiro, Mass Politician, Nishio Suehiro, edited by Nishio Yasuhiro (1993, New Policy Research Council)" ▽ "Nishio Suehiro Biography" by Egami Teruhiko (1984, Nishio Suehiro Biography Publication Committee)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

労働運動出身の政治家。香川県出身。高等小学校中退後、大阪で旋盤工になる。1915年（大正4）から労働運動に入り、1919年友愛会に参加、翌1920年同会大阪連合会主務となり各種争議を指導。1925年日本労働総同盟（友愛会が改称）第一次分裂では左派組合除名の先頭にたつなど、右派社会民主主義の立場をとった。1926年社会民衆党創立に参加、1928年（昭和3）第1回普通選挙以後、衆議院議員に当選15回。1938年議会で国家総動員法案賛成演説中の舌禍事件で議員を除名されたこともある。大政翼賛会、産業報国会には加わらなかったこともあって、敗戦後、日本社会党結党の中心になり、書記長に就任した。

　1947年（昭和22）春、片山哲(かたやまてつ)社会党首班連立内閣の国務大臣・官房長官、続く芦田均(あしだひとし)内閣の副総理となったが、昭電疑獄に連座、失脚した。のち無罪が確定し、1952年右派社会党結成時に復党。1955年左右両社会党統一後、党顧問になったが、1959年の大会で日米安全保障条約改定問題に対する言動に左派が反発、統制委員会付託となり、同志とともに脱党。1960年1月民主社会党（後、民社党）を結成、1967年まで初代委員長を務めた。1972年政界を引退。生涯、反共、現実主義を貫いた。

［宮﨑　章］

『西尾末広著『西尾末広の政治覚書』（1968・毎日新聞社）』▽『西尾末広著『大衆と共に――私の半生の記録』再版（1971・日本労働協会）』▽『西尾末広著、西尾安裕編『大衆政治家西尾末広』（1993・新政策調査会）』▽『江上照彦著『西尾末広伝』（1984・西尾末広伝記刊行委員会）』

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