The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-15
DAMAGE is GREAT.
Effect Of China's Boycott WIN Last for
Years.

Washington, Feb. 15.-From the many
reports received by the state depart
ment from its representatives in the east
relative to the anti-American boycott,
It's extent, the prospects of its continu-
ance and the amount of injury it has
inflicted on American trade, two. select
ed at random from the north and the
south, have been made public. In neith-
er is there any hint of violence and the
movement, it IS stated, is confined
strictly to trade limits
The report from North China brings
the history of events up to the close Of
1905. At that date the boycott move
ment had been nearly all talk" in the
principal cities, says the correspondents,
who add; THE student class as the
willing workers Of the boycott Organiza-
ton has done its best to keep the issue
alive and to some extent has succeeded
much against the wishes of the mer-
chants who have had enough and never
want to see another boycott. But this
talk and undercurrent Of agitation has
not been shown to any great extent IN
the business affairs related to American
products. There has been timidfty in
buying and in some instructions can
collation. of order under the spur of
threats, but despite denials from some.
Americans, it is well known to the ma
jCrity that such conduct on the part OF
Chinese buyers has not been the rule.
This statement, however, does not apply
to the product of the Standard OIL com
pany which has been opposed in many
places outside of the principal cities in
northern China. As to the condition 1t
can only be said that thorough investi-
cation will prove that trade competition
has as much to do with it as was Chi
nese anita onisn. That underhand
methods have been employed against
the Standard Oil company and the Brit
fsh-Amerfcan Tobacco company is be-
coming palmer every day. At present
the attack on these two companies Is
apparently conferred in and around Han
kow where obscene circulars have ap-
reared and also many evidences of I'M
friendly intent But at Soochow, Chink-
lang, Chang Chow, Wuhu, Ktuhang,
and many other places tributary TO ana
on the Yang Use there has also been
more or less antagonism of late.
The merchants are against the
boycott. but under the lash of the
guilds they must give half-hearted
acqufescence at least. If the officials
so desire they can squelch the re-
crudescence of the movement in this
section and by so doing viii gain the
support of the merchants But again
there is the now powerful student
class which under the teachings OF
foreign educated Chinese and perhaps
others not friendly to American iTl-
terests where they conflict with their
own, has developed an influence rec
Ognized by officials, guilds merchants
and laborers."
From south China, and in fact clear
down to the Straits settlements, comes
the report that there is no improve
ment in the boycott situation; that
trade is badly affected in most lines
and there is little or no business out
side the small European trade. An
American sewing machine company
reports that Chinese are afraid to go
into Its places. Some would like to
buy, but dare not have machine in
their possession" The report con
cludes:
If the boycott is called off tomor-
row, it will take many years to re-
move the i'll effect from the injury
done. At Penang American firms
could not move any goods in their
godowins and Chinese refused to take
the goods which they had already or
dersd."