The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-28

Special Correspondence of The Sunday Republic
Washington, Feb. 26.-lt was by appoint
ment that l met Sir Chentung LANG
Cheng. the Chinese Minister. in the Offices
of his legation this afternoon.
l had arranged by telephone for an in.
terview with his Excellency and our tall
was held in a room furnished in modern
style, the Minister sitting in a swivel
back Office chair before a Grand Rapids
roller-top desk.
He was clad in Chinese costume, but he
spoke in pure English and more like an
American than like the representative of
a nation which many think to be a thou
sand years behind the times.
Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng, himself is
by no means behind the times.
ntted by education and experience to
carry the world about in his big, round
celestial head. and to fight the diplomatic
battles of his nation.
He was born in China, but at the age
OF IL was sent to the United States to be
educated. He studied at Amherst for
three years and then went TO. the Phil
lips Academy. at Andoyer. where he grad
uated.
Upon his return home he was taken into
the employ Of the Government. which Is
another word for the old Empress Dow
ager, and he has been in her Majesty's
employ ever since.
He Is said to be closely associated with
her Majesty. and it is probably due to her
appreciation OF him that he has been at
the front in Chinese affairs for the past
twenty years.
He came here first as secretary of the
legation. returned to china to take a place
In the Foreign Office, and became one Of
the embassy which made the peace treaty
with Japan at. the close of the war.
,r since then he has been connected with
Berlin. London and Madrid. and has car
ried off honors from all these capitals.
Queen Victoria made him a X c. NJ. G..
DISTINGUISHED orders of his Empire. the
Gar of Russia did likewise, and SO did
KING Leopold of Belgium.
the title of Doctor Of Laws. and all this
Notwithstanding he is still in his thirty
ninth year. What will he not be when he
reaches the age when La Hung Chang was
MONEY MATTERS IN CHINA.
1 opened the interview by asking his
Exceliency about money matters in China.
thing about your ~millionaires. you trusts
and your combinations of employers."
I am sorry to say that / cannot give
you much alonog such lines" replied his
EXcellency, for I a little to do with
organized capital in my country"
But you have organizations of capital"
said l.,
Yes" vas the reply, but not such as
you have N the United States. We have
millionaires here and there. but the multi
millionaires are few.
I'VE have combinations of small capital
lists. but no great trusts and syndicates
TO monopolize our natural products, such
as iron and copper, sugar and fuel"
What branches of industry are most or
ganized?"
The bankers" replied the Minister.
THE bankers of my country come almost
altogether from one Province, that Of
Shansi. lying west of Shantun2. That is
a State of rich men, and those men make
a business of banking. They nave a natu-
raj aptitude for it.
'They might be called the Jews of
China. They bring their sons up to be
bankers. putting them into the counting
rooms when they are boys. and gradually
raising them until they graduate as bank
ers. They 20 from there to all parts of
the empire. and they are really the finan-
cierS OF the country"
Are they honest men," I asked.
Il think So" replied the Chinese Minis
ter. They are honest and insist on their
brothers being honest.
IF one of the bankers Is about to fail
his brother bankers come in and lend him
enough to save him from bankruptcy.
-There are many Shansi banker in Pc
kin.
They had heavy deposits at the time of
the siege. but when their. banks burned