The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-11-17
NEW RULER IS
MAN OF ACTION
Prince Chun Adopts Stringent Meas
ures-Bound to Have
Peace.

Peking, Nov. 17.-China is begin.
ming to realize that the emperor and
the dowager empress are dead. The
Chinese have been so accustomed to
look on the dowager as the one per-
son dominating all, that the an.
nouncement of her death caused but
little change in their Unconditional ma
lures and easy-going ways during
the early hours of the ceremonies
attending her passing, but now there
has come a marked change. Prince
Chun, the regent of the empire. in
fear of increasing excitement and
revolutionary movements. has taken
firm grip on affairs and has adopt-
ed stringent measures that will re-
suit in the maintenance of peace for
a time at least
Five thousand gendarmes guard
the streets and other military forces
are held in readiness for any event.
uality. Every precaution was taken
to prevent the recurrence of the rev.
dictionary tactics of last April and
May, which were marked by wide
spread incendiarism. The foreign le-
cations are under guard, special de-
tachments Of Chinese troops keeping
watch at the approaches, and in
some cases the regular legation
guard was augmented by reinforce
ments from other places.
There were many occurrences to
add to the sinister aspect of affairs.
Rumors were current for time that
the new dowager, Yehonala, and Yu.
man Shi Kai, the grand counsellor
and one of the most powerful men In
the empire, had committed suicide.
Though there was no truth in these
reports, they went far toward dis.
turbing the people and creating
alarm amongst Chinese and foreign
ers alike, who realize how delicate
the political balance is at the present
moment
Serious runs on banks occurred
and four native banks closed. The
crowds were wild with excitement
and toward the close of the day the
police interviewed and drove them
back. One foreign bank, the Yoko-
hama Specie bank, suffered big run
on its Tientsin notes, but the British,
Russian and German banks were not
affected. 1t is probable that a num-
Der of other native banks will be
hn1f IL
government will step in in an en-
deavor to stop the financial panic
among the poorer classes.
AS yet the cause of death in the
case of the emperor and dowager en-
press has not been made public. A
number Of lengthy reports have been
written with reference to this, but
they are unintelligible to the foreign
ers here, who have not yet recovered
from the shock of the suspicion Of
foul play, which was widespread.
There is no reasonable evidence,
however, to show that death in either
case was the result of anything 9TH
er than natural causes. The emper-
or had been ailing for a long time
and had been in feeble health during
the latter half of his life. The dow
ager empress had carried burdens OF
state for many years, and in the last
few months had shown signs of de-
clining health.
The government entertains fears of
the Keh Ming Tang reformers, who
are reported to be assembling with
a view to taking advantage Of the
present disturbed condition Of the
country. While matters have an ap-
pearance of tranquility, there are
reports of disaffection among the adj
herents of half a dozen rival candis
dates for the throne, and to the
minds of the foreigners the govern
ment itself is disaffected. 1t is con-
tended by some that the eldest Pu,
that is, Pu Lun. is the legitimate en-
peror, and that therefore the selec-
ton Of Pu vi was another Of the
dowager's illegal acts.
An imperial order was issued in
the name of Dowager Empress Yeho-
nala expelling all palace visitors,
which means the clearing of the
masses who assembled during the
period their majesties were believed
to be dying, and who have remained
within and near the palace precincts
ever since.