Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
XI-SOCLALISM IN CHINA.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

| One of the famous DR.. Sun Vat Sen
great plans for his country is the practl-
cal application of socialistic principles IN
the future development of the Chlhese re-
public as the creature and not the master
of the people. The recent reVoiutioh was
a startling surprise to the Woriu- Even
those who thought they knew emma oest
were carried off their feet. The estaDilsh-
ment OF a republic. though naturally
weak one at present, in view of unsettied
conditions. caused even greater ASTON
ishment. But the mere mention OF emma
and socialism in the same breath might
well cause a wave of incredulity to go
billowing all over the world. one Won
ders what possible chance there can be
for this new. misunderstanding. political
faith in this most ancient of countries
hypnotized by reverence OF the past and
chained for centuries to ingrown prece-
dent. AS a matter of fact. China today
| offers a splendid opportunity for the
working out of socialistic principles.
Before examining DIR. Suns plan 1t is
| interesting to recall that form OF social
| ism was tried in China hundreds of years
before the western world ever heard OF 1t.
Like many other things in China. the
good scheme failed at first and was con-
signed to oblivion. This particular prof.
Get for the relief of the poor was thought
out by one Wang Ngan-che. a philosopher
of the twelfth century. He was friend
of Emperor Chen-tsung. who gave his in
dorsement to the experiment. Aid to the
poor, gouging of the rich elimination of
waste and standardiZing of crops were
its cardinal features.
The government was to manage all the
| resources of the country and to do the
hiring of every
Management Left body. Official
W., c boards were to
Will 0o'oinAAoAI' be in every Sec
ton. authorized to make daily adjust
nient of wages. price of provisions and
value of merchandise las the local situa-
ton required. All necessary taxes were
to be paid for several years by the rich,
the poor and those below a certain grade
of saffiuence to be exempt. A surplus
over and above the cost of maintaining
the government was to be distributed
among the unemployed. the destitute and
the aged.
All land was to be owned by the gov
eminent. with a board of agriculture in
every prescribed district. These boards
We're to allot the land. This was to be
OOne every year, as ny Tic
weather, arableness of the several
patches, etc. Even the seed was to be
given to the farmers. But In order that
the farmers might appreciate what was
being done for them and by deeds justify
the confidence of the government, 1t was
stipulated that after the harvesting the
same amount of eeS advanced. or pro-
duce of equal value. be turned over to
the government. The boards OF agricul-
ture were to see that only crops suitable
to the soil and the climate were to be
attempted. Crop failure In any one sec
ton was to be equalized by the shipment
thereto of grain and vegetables and
fruits from such other parts Of the en-
pire as had been blessed with bumper
crops. Wang -,gan-che. the theorfst,
and the emperor both felt that this sys-
tenn would bring uniform prosperity and
deep contentment to all Of China's sweat
would become richer and the rich poorer
until all stood upon an equal plane.
Unfortunately the plan failed. 1t was
tried over large areas. but did not live
long enough to
Plan Is Tried be applied in all
Over Large Areas. pire Instead t Of
planting the free grain doled out to them
so generously by paternal government
the farmers ate good deal Of it on
hand. What they didn't eat was bar
tered for other kinds of food or wearing
apparel. AS the humble and peculiar
Chinese never has any too much either
to eat or wear. the temptation to ex-
change the seed grain for something
which was needed instanter was too
great to resist. Then. again, those farm
ers who did plant the seed and raise
crops wearied of well doing waen they
knew that the improvident ones would
be cared for by the state anyhow. In
addition to all this there was the ire
mendous cost of maintaining the boards
of agriculture and buying large lots of
seed. The bitter dispute over who should
bear this burden, the government or the
rural population. broke up the Wang
Ngan-che system. When Emperor Chen
tsung died this minister was cashiered. A
decade or two later the plan was started
again, but failed more miserably than be-
fore. and those back OF 1t were exiled to
Mongolia. The motive was all right, but
the method was wrong.
After a lapse of eight centuries DR.. Sun
Vat Sen advocates another attempt to
apply socialism in China He is conf
dent of success. for there is to be no CIV
ing of something for nothing. no bureau
cratic meddling in the personal affairs of
the people. and absolutely no redistribu-
ton of wealth. In answer to criticism
he has repeatedly stated publicly that he
considers the last named feature absurd,
and that it will not be attempted
X
Cooperative sharing of profits with the
wage earners, who are the real pro-
ducers, a n d
Sharing of Profits govern ment
Is DR.. Suns Scheme. ownership Oh
are what DR.. Sun is after. He believes
the government should own and proceed
to buy up as rapidly as possible railways
tramways. electric light power, gas
works. water works and canals, besides
keeping control of the forests. In this
connection reforestation Of the country
would prove very beneficial, for woodless
China is sadly in need of trees Even Dr.
SUMS tremendous railway plans. con-
templating the building of 10000 miles of
track by the aid of foreign capital, pro-
vide for government ownership fort
years after completion, and he hopes to
7 g..