Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-13
A Chinese Pun.Ie.


The drift Of affairs In the embryo re-
public Of China. through lack OF accurate
information becomes more puzzling as
the days pass. The riddle of the sphinx
is little more perplexing that that the
moves and motives OF President Shi Kali
Yuan is a stauneh supporter Of the
square deai' policy in all things af-
fecting his own welfare, and has
reputation for card manipulation sur
passing the plebe celestial of Poverty
Flat. His selection for the presidency,
dessite his shady reputation. was taken
to imply complete reformation. patriotic
sincerity and that overshadowing love Of
country which prompted him to forgo
the case and Injuries OF private life and
the rheumatic twinses Of game leg"
to serve the dead people. Now the foxy
favorite Of Dowager Ann regards him
self as the only one capable OF handling
the situation and saving the country.
He loves Picking as O capital and stays
there. To the orders Of the national as
sembly removing the capital to the an
Client seat. Marking Yuan frowns upon
unseeining haste and suggests that a
game leg is persistant protest aesn
change of air and scenery. Plans OF
the assembly for an early general cleo
ton for president and members of the
assembly brings from Yuan the informa-
ton that the present status suits him.
In so many words he intlmates that cleo
tons are expensive and annoying as well
as uncertain in results and that the peo-
pic would be Just as happy without one
at present, especially when affairs are
now In competent hands. Furthermore,
President Yuan regards short terms as a
delusion and a snare. Initiating In a
delicate way that a ten-year term, be-
ginning with the present administration.
would immortalIze the wisdom OF the as
semhly and accelerate the pursuit Of hap
piness. Lest American ideas about short
terms or third terTss might become rooted
In legislative acts, President Yuan cat
ipults DR.. WI Tins-fang into the am
bsssadorship at Washington, leaving only
sun Vat Sen and his democratic Illusions
on guard. II is becoming more and more
evident that the foxy Yuan played the
Manmhus against the rebels. The former
were cold decked. the latter nears the dis
card. Yuan IL master Of the game.
Italian Progress in TrtpoIf.
No reliable avenue of news Of the Ital.
ian campaign in Tripol is available.
What comes from Rome carries the gov
ernment's favorite colors Of successive
triumphs. Packages OF Turkish news nj.
tered through London give the impression
that the Arabs are slaughtering the in.
vaders In three and four figure punches,
and only the merciful Arab temperament
restraints them from chasing the balance
Into the sea. Dispatches from these
biased sources must be well sailed be.
fore taken. Truth lies between the two
extremes. II is evident that the Italians
are not making much progress inland and
are settling down 10 q plan OF campaign
designed to wear out the opposition from
defensive position in the cities. The les
sen OF French operations in north Africa
Is to be repeated by the Italians. A de.
eisive battle Is not likely and guerilla
operations may continue for years, At
home the Italian government has not
succeeded In turning the westward tide
OF emigration to Tripoli. I'm spite Of
the efforts Of the government" writes
the Rome correspondent Of the New York
sun, 'only eighty-two laborers ana their
families have been sent to Tripoii, al.
though the government furnished trans
portation, food and shelter sfrss rrho,,