Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-16
CHINESE WELCOME
KONG WI WEI
GREATSTATESMAN DELIGHTED
WITH LOS ANGELES
"HIs ExoeIIeney" Is rendered a Ban
quet by Prominent Fellow coun-
trymen-Takes q House In
WestIake District

Accompanied by city officials and
with a military guard Of honor COM
posed Of men of his own nation, Kong
WI Wei, former prime minister of
China and at the present time one of
the greatest men Of his empire, was
welcomed to Los Angeles yesterday
morning with reception such as has
never before been accorded a man of
his race.
His excellency." the title which still
remains a. part of the official address
of the great man although he has long
been absent from his native land, spent
the day yesterday in a grand reception.
He was received at the station by
Mayor McAleer and committee from
the chamber of commerce. Every
Chinese of prominence in local China
town was in the parade, in an open
carriage and headed by the squad of
Chinese cadets which General Homer
Lea has been training for the past sew
eral months, the minister went direct
to the headquarters of the reform
movement in Los Angeles on North
Los Angeles street.
Merchants Pay Respects
There he was rendered banquet and
the merchants paid their respects to
him. He was then shown over the
to his residence, magnificent dwell
ing in the Westlake district, overlook
ing the lake. The house had been
beautifully furnished as befitted the
rank of the occupant and the reception
of the afternoon was well attended.
Magnificently carved ebony furniture
adorned the rooms and was placed
along the walls of the reception room
in proper Chinese taste, while a special
side table on which the Chinese dainties
were served was placed at the right
of each chair. Heavy red and gold
embroidery was thrown promiscuously
over tables and chairs. The minister
will have all the~comforts of his home
palace.
Following his exertions of the day
yesterday, Minister Kong granted a
special interview to 1.-THE Herald"
through his secretary and interpreter,
Chew Hok Ban. 81 have found Los
Angeles one of the most progressive
cities 1 have met during my travels"
said the minister. "I am highly pleased
with this city and am sure / shall en-
joy this climate. Today I was received
by my countrymen in a splendid recep-
ton and from the first day of my stay
7
here shall be most pleasant one"
IT left China several years ago and
since that time have been travelling in
all parts of Asia and Europe. l ar
rived in America several weeks ago
and went to Washington. There 1 be-
and my physicians suggested that 1
come to California and recuperate un-
der the health giving climate. I came
by the Portland route and because of
the rains was delayed three days in ar
irving here. I shall stay in Los An
geles about one month when I shall
continue my tour of inspection into the
reform movement.
Explains Lea's Army
The arrival of Minister Kong in Los
Angeles explains the mysterious drill
ing and marching about the streets of
Chinatown of a fine looking military
body of young Chinese.
Minister Kong was the prime minis
ter of the late emperor of China and
when the empress gained control and
started in a work of revenge, the min
lister left his country and started tour
ing the world and his faithful friends
went with him. The great reform
movement which the prime minister
is inspecting is being felt in every
Chinese colony in the United States
and bright young men of all these
colonies are being drilled by American
officers in order to respond with Ameri-
can methods when the call comes.
During his stay in Los Angeles Min
lister Kong intends to spend some time
with DR.. Tom Leung of 9O3 South Olive
street. Dr. Leung was formerly a
student in the Canton university of
medicine of which Minister Kong was
the president.