Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-02
REPORTED SERIOUSLY Ill
Empress D3wager of China Strick.
en- at Tai-Cnuen-Fu-Noted
Physician Summoned.
A STEP IN C.D-STIca Of ARBITRATION,
In Case OF Protracted Divergence of
Views Between Powers the Ques-
tons of Indemnity May BE Re-
fcrred to The Hague Court for
Final DecisIOn.

fcrred to The Hague Court for
Final DeciaI0n.
1 Tirntsin. Oct. 26.-1nformation haa
been received from japanese sources
that the empress Gowager is seriously
Ill at Tai-Chuen-Fu. and that the mos.
prominent physicians in the empire
have been called to attend her.
A Step Towards Arbitration.
New York, Oct. go y step in the d.
rection of the arbitration of the Chi.
nese difficulties, u Washington dispa tch
to the Herald says. has been taken by
Secretary Hay. He has cable1 to Min
Eter Conger the suggestion made by
Russia that in case of i protraected di-
Nergcncc OF views the questions of in
demnity be referred to The Hague
court for decision and instructed him
to consult with his colleagues as to The
demands their governments will make
upon China in this respect. Should he
report that it is not possible to reach
an agreement then Secretary Hay in
tends to advocate vigorously the adop-
''on OF the Russian suggestion as the
easiest method of obtaining satisfac-
tory solution.
Secretary Hay and other officials of
the administration believe in general
arbitration, but they think it is in the
interest OF all the powers and China
that direct negotiations should first be
tried. Those who advocate arbitra-
ton, however, argue that swifter ac-
non could be secured by the reference
OF the entire disput, to arbitration at
this time than by beginning negotia-
tons in Picking which may be indefi-
nitcly prolonged and produce no re-
suit.
Il The authorities are anxious to OBJ
tam information relative to the re-
plies of Germany and Great Britain
on the Russian suggestion. No infor-
nation on this point has yet reached
the state department.
Should all the nations consent, the
authorities say great obstacle in the
way Of satisfactory solution of the
whole Chinese question will be re-
moved.
United States Should Lead.
i Oscar S. Straus, minister to Turkey,
said in this city:
at is proper that the United States
should lead in the matter of arbitration.
| We have never ceased to urge the course
upon the powers. and 1t appears 10 me that
now is the proper time for us to put our
words into deeds. The compact between
Germany and Great Britain, which un-
doubtedly has the approval Of our govern
ment. leaves nothing to be settled except
the amount of indemnity which China
must pay to the several governments. In
case serious dispute should arise regard
Ing indemnity, the matter would have tc
be referred to arbitration, and If it is tc
be arbitrated The Hague commission is the
proper body for it to come before"
} News of Suicides Confirmed.
Washington, Oct. 29.-From an in.
dependent source Secretary Hay has
received confirmatory evidence of the
reported suicide of Yu Hsiang, the
! fanatical governor of the province of
Shansi, whose punishment was de-
nanded by the powers for the mas
kacre of large number of mission
aries. This message came from Spe-
cial Commissioner Rockhill as follows:
Shanghai, Oct. 22.-Have reliable infor-
nation to the effect that Yu Hsiang COM
mitted suicide ed.
(Sgined) "ROCKHILL."
( 1t is regarded as probable by the
state department officials that Mr..
Rocllhill was unacquainted with the
fact that the Chinese government it.
self had communicated information
TO this effect to the powers before he
sent his message, so that coming from
another point than Picking. whence
the Chinese report emanated. Mr..
Rockhill's advice is regarded as
strongly corroborative.
A A dispatch has been received from
Mr.. Conger disproving the stories of
the reactionary tendencies of the
Imperial government. The state de-
partment has received reports from
various points in China, and notably
from Canton, through its agent
there, to the effect that the imperial
government had ordered the removal
from office of the viceroys from the
Ereat Iangtse provinces of Marking
a.pd Hankow because of their pro-for-
eie,n sentiments.
,Conger Told to InveEtigate.
Secretary Hay cabled Mr.. Conger to
Investigate the report, and if it were
found to be true to make a forcible
protest to the imperial government
through the Chinese commissioners at
Pekimg. Ii Hung Chang and Prince
Ching. against the proposed action
Saturday Mr.. Conger reported that
after careful investigation the story
OF the change in administration had
been found to be without foundation
To Send Answers Monday.
The answer to the communicable
from Germany and Great Britain, EN-
bodying the last agreement relative
to the open door" and the terri
torial integrity of China probably will
go forward Monday. 1t is said that
from the first our government ha.
never been in doubt as to the actor
1t should take on this agreement, OF
rather the invitation to approve tn,
agreement. But it was not possibl,
to move speedily in he matter
The point of interest is the treat
ment that will be accorded the thirt
section of the agreement relative t,
the course to be pursued py the sig
natories, in the event that they fin,
themselves INSTRUCTED in the execu