The Daily Missoulian., 1913-01-27
The Republic of China
XI.- Socialism in China.
BY Frederic J. haskin

One of the famous DR.. Sun Vat Sens
great plans for his. country is the prac-
tical application of socialistic princi-
PIES in the future development of the
Chinese republic as the creature and
not the master of the people. The re-
cent revolution was a startling sur
prise to the world. Even those who
thought they knew China best were
carried off their feet. The establish
ment of a republic, though naturally a
weak one at present, in view of unset
| tied conditions, caused even greater as
tonshment. But the mere mention of
China and socialism in the same breath
might well cause a wave of incredulity
to go billowing al over the world. One
wonders what possible chance there
can be for this new, custom destroying,
political faith in this most ancient of
countries, hypnotized by reverence of
the past and chained for centuries to
ingrown precedent. AS matter of
fact, China today offers splendid
opportunity for the working out of So
cialistic principles.
Before examining DR.. Suns plan it is
cialism was tried in China hundreds of
years before the western world ever
heard of it. Like many other things in
! China, the good scheme failed at first,
and was consigned to oblivion. This
particular project for the re ief of the
poor was thought out by one Wang
Ngan-c philosopher of the
twelfth century. He was a friend Of
/ Emperor Chen -tsung, who gave his in
dorsement to the experiment. Aid to
the poor, gouging of the rich, elimi-
nation of waste and Standardization Of
crops We're its cardinal features
The government was to manage all
the resources of the country and to do
the hiring of everybody. Official
boards We're to be in every section, au-
thorized to make daily adjustment of
wages. price of provisions and value
of merchandise, as the local situation
required. All necessary taxes were to
be paid for several years by the rich,
the poor and those below a certain
grade of affluence 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
| government, with board of agricul-
ture in every prescribed district. These
! boards We're to allot the land. This
was to be done every year, as required
by the weather, arableness of the sew
eral patches, etc. Even the seed was
to be given to the farmers But in or
der that the farmers might appreciate
what was being done for them and by
deeds justify the confidence of the gov
ernment it was stipulated that after
the harvesting the same amount Of
seed advanced, or produce of equal
value, be turned over to the govern
ment. The boards of agriculture were
to see that only crops suitable to the
SOIL and the climate were to be at
tempted. Crop failure in any one sec.
tlon was to be equalized by the ship
ment thereto of grain and vegetables
and fruits from such other parts OF
the empire as had been blessed with
bumper crops. Wang Ngan-che, the
theorist, and the emperor both fel,
that this system would bring uniform
prosperity and deep contentment tx
all of China's sweating millions. The,
thought the poor would become richie,
and the rich poorer until all stood
upon an equal plane.
Unfortunately, the plan failed. Il
was tried over large areas but did moi
live long enough to be applied in al
parts of the empire. Instead of plant
ing the free grain doled out to then
SO generously by a paternal govern.
ment. the farmers ate good deal of II
off hand. What they didn't eat was
bartered for other kinds of food 0,
wearing apparel. AS the humble an6
peculiar Chinese never has any too
much either to eat or wear, the temp.
tation to exchange the seed grain fo1
something which was needed instantel
was too great to resist. Then, again
those farmers who did plant the seet
and raise crops wearled of well doinf
when they knew that the improviden