The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-01-23

SVuhtig Win hu6D ehASN@N ~ -
tlonal pride. While the subject OF
trusts was up for discussion recently
in Vladiyostok and Shanghai, an AM
erican, who had been listening In ST.
lence to the discussion, remarked; II
may be true that trusts do all the
harm you say--that they are Illegal
and ought to be suppressed, we VIII
lay all that aside for moment, OF
until you can show me any other
country on Gods footstool that con-
taiRs enough frst-class brains, nus
tie, and push to organize successtul
trust Of any kind"
To this very intelligent Chinese,
a graduate Of Yale, who had not spok-
en- during the first part Of the de-
bate, replied: $50 you think the Unit
ed States is the only country that has
the requisite brains to organize trusts
do you? am sorry to have to dis
Illusion you, but trusts existed In
China before Columbus set forth on
his voyage of discovery. And, what
is more, they exist today. We have
our own names for such commercial
organizations, but to the foreigners In
our country they are known as trade
guilds II any Of you intend to make
a study of economic conditions In
China | believe you will find much to
interest you in the guilds"
was impressed by what the Yale
man said. In spite OF the fact that
was not a newcomer in the tar
East, and had on divers trips visited
nearly every part of China, was
compelled to admit to myself that
had not paid much attention to the
many commercial associations or
guilds. A few days later had an
opportunity to begin study OF the
guilds. 1t would require too much
space to record even a small part OF
what | learned about them, and
merely scratched the surface OF the
subject learned that the guilds are
in reality trusts, and that they have
existed since before the birth Of Con-
fucius. So America is not the birth
place OF trusts. However, want TO
tell my readers about the oldest, and
at the same time the most interesting
of the guilds. 1t is the Beggars' Guild.
The Beggars' Guild is an association
Of beggars, and its influence is felt
all over the empire The mind OF man
runneth not so far back as to be able
to say when thfs unique institution
was organized. 1t has its head men
in every province In the empire, ana
these heads in turn report to the chlet
Of the guild and his board of advisers,
who reside in Shanghai Every city,
town, and community that is visited
by travellers has a representative oil
the guild, and these men employ the
men. women and children who carry
on the actual work of soliciting aims.
The occupation is regarded so favor
ably by many natives that there is no
lack OF applicants for admission to the
guild.
Travellers who visit China declare
that the beggars of this land are the
most persistent, the dirtiest, and most
loathcome to be found anywhere on
earth. It is marvellous to contemplate
the number of small children to be
seen begging in China, and the thing
that strikes every stranger out here Is
the large number Of deformed men,
women and children that follow sight
seers about. Upon investigation l
learned that the officials Of the guild
have their agents constantly securing
China for children that are misshap-
en- at birth. The more hideous the
deformity the greater asset it becomes
to the guild. 1t is not at all uncom-
mon for children to be deliberately
crippled and then sent out to beg.
Quite naturally a large percentage of
the maiformations are fakes pure and
simple. | have seen men trussed up
in all manner. Of uncomfortable posi-
tions in order to attract the attention
Of strangers. The slightest inyestiga-
ton will reveal the fake. Unless a ma
/ tive is either a member OF an employe
4 Of the Beggars Guild he cannot solici,
aims; This Is where the trust feature
OF the business comes IN. The trust
paws the government well for the PRIV
4 iieee OF bleeding charltably-inclined
strangers, and so we'll IS Il uneer.
stood that outsiders must not mtruds
that none attempts it. Among the re
forms which the prngressists In China
would do well to undertake, when, i
ever, they come into power, Is thu
abolition Of this most detestable an'
debasing Of monopolies. There s
nothing that casts more d.sarsdit Of
a nation than its federation Of swarm
4 Of beggars-
The receipts from begging In Chin