The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-30
BOYCOTT SAID
TO BE WANING
Shanghai Merchants Sorry They
Went Into It.
STUDENTS ARE AGITATING
SSIBILiTY OF TROUBLE IN
THE FUTURE.

Pekin, Aug. 29.-The American boy
colt almost overshadows the peace ne
gouations as a topic of interest in
China. Accounts reaching Pekin from
trading centers indicate that the. move
mept attained its greatest strength
early in August, and since then has
been decreasing. Nowhere except in
Shanghai has American business re-
ceived a serious blow. The boycott
would have been equally successful at
Tien Tsin. which is a distributing mar
ket for American goods second only
t. Shanghai. except for the determined
repression of Yuan Shikai who is al
most the only Chinese viceroy really
ruling his own province.
Lukewarm Support.
The Pelin government, in response
to Minister Rockhills representations
Issued instructions TO provincial off,
Gals which read well, but which the
officials construe with the belief that
the government sympathizes with the
sentiment against the exclusion of
American goods, although obliged for
mally TO oppose the method of it's ex-
preston. Several minor officials are
implicated in the movement at Shang-
mai. and It's leader holds the rank of
taotai- The government would pun
ish them by depriving them of honors.
according 10 the Chinese custom, if it
were in earnest.
Are Now Repentant.
Many important merchants who, en-
parked in the boycott now repent of
the scheme. but it has passed beyond
their control into the hands of aEi-
tators. the majority of whom are stu
dents. many recently returned from
Japan and some from America, who
relate at meetings and in newspapers
lurid- stories of outrages received at
the hands OF American immigration Of
nc1aIS. The agitators are active prin-
cipals in the central and southern cit
les They have abandoned the orig
inal demand that Chinese students and
merchants be admitted to America as
freely as those Of other nationalitieS
and now are demanding the unrestrict-
ed entry of all Chinese. They argue
that If this movement succeeds the
same coercion may be employed
against Canada, Australia, Japan. and
all countries jim which Chinese live.
Agitation in Newspapers.
The native newspapers. which have
become influential only since the Boxer
uprising and the number whereof is
multiplying are a powerful factor in
tanning the agitation.
The best informed foreigners believe
that the boycott has passed it's climax
and will gradually subside; that the
cessation of orders for American goods
Isl merely temporary, and that a de-
crease Of orders now will result in a
corresponding increase later in the
year.
The principal piece goods merchants
of Shanghai telegraphed to Viceroy
Yuan Shakai, proposing to have Tien
Tsin consiguments shipped directly to
Tien Tsin, instead of through Shanghai
as heretofore, and requesting him to
take measures to stop the boycott
thereof, and Yuan's civil administra-
tor issued proclamation accordingly.
Better Times Ahead.
The end of the Russo-Japanese war,
by opening Manchuria, would give a
country practically has been closed to
imports throughout the war, largely
because the armies mOnopolized all
means OF transportation.
Most American products sold in
emma are handled by British and Ger
man firms on commission, and the bulk
of the losses fall upon them What is
considered the greatest significance Of
the boycott is the possibility of future
use of this method of coercion If the
first attempt succeeds.
The guilds which launched the move
ment are forming a permanent organi-
cation and have plenty of funds to send
orators about the country and SOW cir
cularS broadcast. They boast of re-
ceiving MAN, contributions and mes
sages from American sympathizers.
PropOrtionately as the first boycott
succeeds, the weapon may be expected
to be employed against any govern
ment that offends the Chinese.