Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-27

our people are not anxious for govern
ment securities
Il suppose the men who made the ap-
plicatIon wanted 70 acquire merit or
office for their gencro2lty?'
VERY likclyr gaid the minister.
who knows?'
GUILDS AND TRADES UNIONS.
But you have employers assocla-
dons 10 regulate the relations Of capital
| ana labor, have sou nOt?'
Yes, replied the minister 1--WE
have such associations but not es-
pecIally TO regulate labor Many Of
the guilds are associated with the cities
The Canton merchants OF Shanghai
have a club, and the Nlngpo merchants
have one There are also unions In al
most every branch Of trade tea guilds
silk guilds and blnkers' guilds Such
associations, however have more to do
with the prices, discounts and the ham
ding Of goods than with labor matters.
How about organized labor? Docs
It exist I'm China
I'VE are not 50 advanced as you IN
that respect" replied the minister
There are many local labor organiLa-
lions, but they are more Ike mutual
life, sickness and accident insurance
companies than your trades unions.
Indeed, We have but few unions deyot-
ed TO regulating hours and wages,
There may be some at the treaty ports
connected with the large factories. At
Shanghai, for instance the river FOR
five miles Is now lined with silk mills
a
somewhat organized, Notwithstanding
most Of the employees are girls, They
are always ready 10 strike and do so
when they think they are imposed up
on. AS factories Increase In China, |
suppose our labor will become organic
ed and We shall have our walking del
egates."
How about labor on the railroads."
1T Is not the quietest In the world"
replied the Chinese minister. THE
workmen there strike every now and
then. Just now there is strike on
the HankOw Canton Line which has
stopped the construction"
HOW THE AMERICANS LOST A
GOLD NINE.
THAT Is on the concession granted to
the American syndicate. How are the
Americans handling their concesslon?'
Il don't think they are handling It
very we'll" replied the Chinese minis
ter, 1T would have been a gold mine
If they had held on to 1t, but | under
stand that they have sold the control OF
the road for a comparatively small sum
to Belgian capitalists. That concession
was most valuable one. 1t was given
to the American syndicate largely in
return for the great friendship which
your country displayed towards China
In the settlement Of its difficulties with
Japan. Different concessions in the
way Of loans and other things were
made to Russia, Germany, France and
England, The United states was the
only nation which did not ask for any
thing and was at the same time about
the most friendly 90 China. As result
our people felt grateful and we were
glad TO give your capitalists this con-
cessiOn with the authorization Of a
large loan 20 build the road and the
privilege Of having the profits Of the
sale Of the bonds above 30 cents on the
dollar, ] can't conceive why the Amer
leans did not hold on 10 II. AZ 1t Is
now the Belgians have secured one of
the most valuable railroad properties Of
China They have large interest In
the line from llankow to Pekin and this
extension gives them great trunk line
from Pekin to Canton, tapping what
Is perhaps the richest agricultural and
industrial district Of the world inhab-
tied by several hundred million peo-
rla "a hn
and | regret that the Americans have
allowed It to slip out Of their hands,
Are they working on It now, your
eXCelency?"
Yes. Work is going on at both ends
and on both branches Indeed when I
go back home | hope to be able to trav-
ell from Canton to Pekn by rail-"
CHINESE AMERICAN TRADE.
But there is plenty Of money in
China, said |, why do not your own
people build railroads."
"They will do so when they under
stand them better We have many
rich and well-to.do and some are in
vesting in banks and modern factories.
IIongk0ng and Shanghai banks are
wv lltu ny NlllllfNfs Rul l'Rlllfi lNNtN'll
are slow to adopt new Inventions and
new things
How about the Chinese market and
American trade?'
"Our market Is an enormous one" re-
piled Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng I'VE
are good spenders and our trade will
increase as We grow richer and as tho
country develops. Il IL already IN
as far as America Is concern.
ed We are now taking about one-half
of all the cotton cloth exported from
the United States"
Gould the trade be further increas.
ed?"
Eyes. We have 4COOOOOOO people and
almost all wear cotton, winter and
summer. In the future there win be
great demand for wooden goods for they
viii take the place Of much Of the pad
ded cotton now worn, There IL also an
increase in the use Of American food
stuffs and Injuries, We arc buying
more Of your -four every year and more