The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-08
TAFT'S WORK IN CHINA
Ne RehablIItated Our National
Reputation.
CHECKED COURT ABUSES.

lHElhEb koOHt NpQSG -
( Cleared tho United States Banner
rror the Dishonor Tina, American
/ Criminals Had Brought Upon II.
I Rssdjvs,ed Consular Service.
II was chiefly through the influence
sud az the instlgaiion Of Mr. Taft that
the recent rehabilitation Of our nation
al reputation 10 China was accomplish.
cd BY the establishment OF the United
States court In China until Mr.. Taft
became paramount figure In the far
east scandaious conditions had pre-
vailed In Shanghai and other cities OF
China where the United States exer-
clsed extra territorial rights, undesir-
able subjects OF the United States. men
aud women. had degraded the Ameri.
can dag by using II as cloak under
which 10 conduct numerous nefarious
enterprises American sharpers. gam.
blers aud promoters Of questionable
schemes had long worked In conjunc-
ton with discredited lawyers 10 their
mutual and Illegal gain. In various
instances these criminal endeavors
we're aided and abetted by American
consular officers, who were dismissed
from the service. The former practice
Of ndJudicating all causes In which
Americans were parties In con, mr.
courts gave rise TO abuses The r.
lean Gag. In Shanghai partic v.
stood for national dishonor In the 3
Of other nations who by legislation nd
the creating OF proper courts had
spared their flags the disgrace that de-
scended upon the United States ban
ner.
When be was at the head of the Phil.
ipplne government In Manila Mr.. Taft
by his proximity TO China soon appre-
ciated the seriousness OF the condi-
tons there and foresaw the loss OF
standing In the eyes OF the Chinese 10
which We were indlfferently exposing
ourselves by our failure to keep In
check American criminals. He brought
the matter TO the attention of the state
department and Joined with Secretary
Root, Representative Edwin DENLY Of
Michigan, son Of the former United
States minister to China; Charles Den
by, another son, who is now consul
general at Shanghai Senator Spooner
and some Others in an endeavor to rem.
edy conditions. He exerted his infu-
ence TO obtain the passage by congress
OF a bill creating the United States
court for China. Lebbeus Redmond
Wiley Of Missouri, who had been Mr..
Tafts attorney general In the Philip |
pines, was named as Judge.
Mr. Taft from the first took a deep |
personal interest In the work Of Judge |
Wiley and his court In a way ne |
supervised Its work and was frequent |
ly appealed to by Judge Wiley for ad-
vice as to procedure and other details.
The lack of adequate laws hampered
Judge Wiley, but by proceeding In ac-
cordance with the common law he
quickly made the court effective. With
In a few months after the court was
organized Shanghai and other cities In
China where conditions were such as
10 require 1t were thoroughly and dras.
tically cleaned up. Shyster American
lawyers were disbarred. SO that the
gamblers, disreputable women and 9TH
ar offenders against the law were de-
orived Of legal support. The reputable
American lawyers In good standing
aided Judge Wiley. Heavy fines and
erms OF Imprisonment exercised de-
errent effect upon the lawbreakers.
many Of whom summary fed from
china before the court could bring
hem to account for their mlsdeeds.
When Mr.. Taft was in Shanghai
asst fall he was heartily thanked and
congratulated by the law abiding
americans there for the part be had
AIKEN In removing the stigma from
he American flag and restoring the
.ood fame of the national name In the
rient. In his speech before the Amer
can association In China he paid a
Ugh tribute to Judge Wiley, saying
u part:
"Our government was fortunate In the
election as the first Judge Of the court
4 a gentleman who had had four
ears experience In the orient as at
Orney general Of the Philippines and
Who went to Shanghai with an init.
nate knowledge Of the method of unit
~ In one administration the princl-
les Of the common law of the United
tates with the traditions and condi-
ons Of foreign country. His policy
] raising high the standard Of admis-
lon to the bar and In promoting the
igorous prosecution of American vio-
ltors OF law. which eliminated from
nat community many undesirable
baracters who had brought disgrace
pom the name OF Americans In the
ties Of China. cannot but commend
self to any one interested in the good
anne Of the United States among the
hinese people and with our brethren