Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
Copyright,

Copyright, 1916, by Frank q. CsrpenterD
--~HANGHAI, 1eO9.--(Speciul Core
spondence of The Bee.)-China
is now looking at the world
- through the right end of the
opera glass. Its four hundred
- millions have their almond eyes
Vy-.., and II wants something yellow to
stir UP its blood. Moreover. it is finding
that something in the new newspapers,
which are now springlng up all over the
empire. Within the last three or four years
about 400 periodicals have been established,
and half that number of dailies are now
coming out In the different cities. There
Is a yellow Journal on the borders Of Tibet;
newspaper reporters are interviewing the
statesmen In Picking; and the native editors
are demanding a boycott against foreign
goods down in Canton. There are already
twenty-one dailies In the Chinese capital.
and eight here in Shanghai. Five have
been started IN Hongkong; and more in
Canton and others OF the provincial capt
tails.
These journals represent every shade Of
opinion, and not a few Of them are SEN
s%ational. Some are ardent supporters Of
the imperial government, and others are
criticising II. Some boom certain local
issues, While others denounce them. The
public officials are beginning to wake up
TO the power OF the newspaper, and not
a few OF them are starting journals to for
ward their Views.
Here In Shanghai there are altogether
about 100 periodicals. These include month
lies. weeklies and dailies, the latter being
among the most important in China The
papers are published in the foreign section
Of the city, and are therefore free from
government inspection. This allows their
editors more latitude OF expression than is
permitted to the papers in the native towns.
and the Shanghai papers therefore go out
TO all parts of China.
In n Chinese Newspaper office.
l spent some time going through the es-
tablishment OF the most important of these
papers. 1t is known as the Sin Wan Pao,
and has about the largest circulation of
any newspaper In the empire. 1t belongs
to a limited liability company. made up
largely of Chinese, but most of the stock
is owned by an America, DIR. John c.. Ferg-
uson, who is also proprietor Of the Shang-
hal Times. 1t was with DIR. Ferguson that
i went through the offices. The Sin Wan
Poa is situated on what might be called
the Fleet street OF China. This is a part
Of the Shantung road. which is lined with
newspaper offices, and lies In the heart OF
foreign Shanghai, with big business build
ings on either side.
The most OF the papers, however, are
housed in low, dark, ill-lighted structures,
the offices being reached by narrow stairs.
/ was especially interested in the sleeping
accommodations put up for the compost
tors and editors. 1t will seem strange to
our newspaper men nat the employees OF
Chinese dailies should be slept and eaten
Their wages always include board and
lodging. But the meals cost but a few
cents each per day. and the lodging is not
as good as the Storage communications OF
an Atlantic steamer. For instance. I'm one
journalistic building / found ten men sleep
ing In a bedroom not over twelve feet
square. They lay one above the other in
hunks built around the walls. and the only
private property / could see was the boxes
in which the men store their clothes. Not
only the competitors and reporters, but
some OF the editors sleep on the premises
In this way. They are always on ham and
there is no trouble in getting out an extra
at any hour OF the night.