Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-17
rsgNe sHAocHiNe.
History Of the Leader Of the Chinese
Boycott.

Boycott.
The leader of the boycott movement,
one Tseng Shaoching. otherwise
known as Tseng Chu, is a prominent
man from the Fuhkien province,
though his adopted home is now
Shanghai. He is a merchant Of some
standing, dealing in goods from Sing
apore and other places adjacent to the
Straits Settlements. He does not deal
in American goods; he has Euro
pean in nominal partnership with him
"a Dane. He has purchased the rank
of Haotai. He is a very energetic
person and likes to take the lead gen.
orally in good objects; for instance, he
was a leader in securing contribu-
ton Of $4,000 taels from Chinese for
the International Institute, giving as
his own contribution 1900 taels, al
though not equal to many other sub
scribers in wealth.
He has always been regarded as a
generous man with his money when 1t
is sought for philanthropic objects. He
is one Of the trustees Of the Interna-
tional Institute. He has also been a
leader Of the Red Cross work, taking
a prominent part In the movement In
augurated in China during the war be-
tween China and japan and the recent
conflict between Russia and Japan;
and he has been one of the leaders in
the anti-footbinding movement. He is
regarded by his countrymen as being
little vain, and likes to have his good
deeds sounded abroad. In this respect
he is not unlike many Americans. He
is q member of the Chinese Chamber
of Commerce at Shanghai, and, being
a leader, he naturally took lead in
not only proposing but carrying out
the recent boycott Of American goods
Formerly a great friend Of Ameri-
cans, he has worked up feeling Of
hatred toward Americans. He has
more than once since the inauguration
of the boycott movement, in spite CT
his statements to the contrary. showed
a very anti-American feeling, and ne
even does not feel toward the Interna-
tional Institute-which is presided
over by the Rev. DR.. Gilbert Reid, an
American-as he did before. He has
from the beginning CT the boycott
movement agitated for not buying
American goods, though the Chinese
Chamber Of Commerce merely voted
for not making any new contracts. At
the first meeting held Of the Shang-
hal Chamber Of Commerce, when the
boycott was first proposed, many Of
the members-though approving OF
the movement as a retaliatory meas
ure against the harsh treatment to
which the exempt classes OF Chinese
have been subjected in America-were
afraid to take the lead in the move
ment; but Mr.. Tseng announced that
he would take the lead in the move
ment; that he would telegraph to all
the treaty ports, to the various native
commercial guilds, asking their as
sistance, and, furthermore, that he
was willing t. pay all Of the expenses
Of telegraphing, himself. The men,
bers Of the Chamber Of Commerce
agreed to this proposition; hence Mr..
Tseng was named as the leader and
sort of general manager Of the boy
colt movement in China.
He has had various conferences with
the American merchants, as well as
the American consular officers, on the
subject of this boycott; but he has
been immovable. He has declared his
intention Of carrying the boycott to
the bitter end, and this he would have
succeeded in accomplishing were 1t not
that peace had been concluded be-
tween Japan and Russia, which thus
opened the northern, and particularly
the Manchuria, market for American
cotton goods, and which resulted In
the boycott practically ceasing about
September IA, last.-From the Jour-
nal of the American Asiatic Assccia-
ton.