Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-02
BACK FROM SHANGHAI.
Present Conditions In China Dis
cussed by a Business Man.

Present COnotIhOn8 DA8-
eussed by a Business Man.
There is only one solution 10 the
present difficulty in China and that-i
the deposing of that awful woman the
empress dowager," said O. G. Leslie,
an American business man who recent
~ returned from Shanghai, where he
has spent several years. Mr.. Leslie ar
rived in Pittsburg the other day and is
registered at the Lincoln hotel. He
left Shanghai two months ago and ex-
poets TO return in August, says the
Pittsburg Dispatch. He has been in
the orient many years and thoroughly
understands the present situation there.
Every foreigner in China" he said,
"who has been there long enough 10 be-
come conYersant with the condition or
political affairs knows full well that
the trouble will never cease and out
siders will never be given a show in
the commerce until that woman is out
OF the way. The uprising of the Box
ers was a foregone conclusion months
ago. Foreign residents knew it was
coming. and happily most of them pre-
pared for the emergency.
But for the empress dowager l be-
lieve China would be today open in all
parts to commercial development. That
woman has exercised a wonderful as
we'll as baleful influence on the nation.
The Boxers were not originally a po-
litical organization for the extermina-
ton Of foreigners at all. Years ago
they were simply peaceful secret so
ciety. They were the best organized
body in the empire, however, and the
dowager recognized what a power they
would be IL brought under her infiu-
ence. She went craftily to work and
less than a year ago saw that her OBJ
Jects were about to be attained, for she
had injected into the order an intense
hatred of foreigners, the sort she so
cordially entertains herself. The burn
ing. pillaging and massacring followed
as a matter of course.
IF the powers will only put away
this woman. China will pacify herself.
The young emperor should be put back
on the throne. He is about 80 years Of
age. very intelligent and entertains the
most advanced ideas as to the good civ
ilized traders can do his country All
the wealthy native merchants think
with him and have secretly encouraged
foreigners during the late political cri-
sis. Two prominent ones in Shanghai
got up petition to the powers for the
removal of the empress dowager some
time ago and obtained the signatures
of 200 leading men of the city. The
empress learned who the two men
were, and they were compelled to flee
to Hongkong to escape beheading. The
Shanghai merchants are now giving
the allied forces every assistance.
with all that has been said of Chi
mas vast resources not the half has yet
been told and likely not known to the
world ut large. Why, oil fairly ooZes
out of the ground In some places, but
foreigners are not allowed to drill for
1t. Splendid placer gold mining is found
in several portions of the country and
whole mountains of iron and other
minerals. The people are the best sort
to trade with. Anything you deliver
them is sure to be paid for. even if the
Chinaman has to sell his house and
wife to get the money.
Foreign residents are anxious for
the civilized nations to push the fore
ing act to finish now that they have
begun. There will be no safety for
them until the change in executives is
made. In my opinion not less than 3d.
600 to $4,000 well seasoned soldiers
will be sufficient to quell the uprising"