Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-10-02
POLITICAL UNREST
IN CHINA TODAY
Former Baraboo Resident
Tells of Situation in
Oriental Country.
HAS BEEN FIERCE WAR
An Honest Body of Men Is
Needed, Declares Writer
of Article.
HAS BEEN FIERCE WAR

Attorney F. r. Bently has received
the folio wing letter from F. o. Lesser,
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. William Leiser of
this city. The former Baraboo resident
ts general secretary of the Y. M. G. A.
work Al Oanto \, China, from which
,eztv The letter was mailed on August
n. The letter was typewritten by
chinese stenogrspher and runs as fol-
lows:
Canton, China, Aug. q, 1918
Dear Mr.. Bentley
What, after all, is the real issue un-
derlying The present political read
Tustment in China? Stripped OF the
various si Ie issues the fundamental
question at stake seems to be "a strong
centralized government VS.. States
Rights" Unfortunately soon after
the revolution, political parties came
into existence which have been him
drance rather than an aid to the ef-
forts at reconstruction. With the
leaders centered upon the welfare OF
eheir own party interests, many OF
the mora important national issues
we're sidetracked.
The first party of real prominence
was the kwoh Ming Tong Tor the
Democratic party. This is the party
of DR.. Sun, the hero of the revolution
of Huang Hsing, Tong Shao VI and
Sthers. It's strongest support came
from the region south of the Yangtse
river. It's purpose Is to build up in
China a real democracy bastd upon
she principles and experience OF tie
Emitted States. Each provinces should
elect its own officials, provide'its own
ass mbly, and be represented in the
national parliament by delegates OF ITS
own choice. In other words, lbe
Democratic party advocated rule
through the will of the people rather
than government by mandstes is.u3d
at Pekiug.
The other party of real power, the
Progressive p 4rty, has had IS its sup
porters Yuan Shih Kai together with
almost all OF the old conservative
class. This party has advocated q
strong centralized government, the
various governors of the provinces to be
appointed by the presidents, the power
OF the national parliament to be limit
ed, and the chief executive himself TO
represent q strong central authority In
order TO assure stability within and
prevent aggression from without the
nation.
President Yuan Shih Kai had not
been In office long before the old style
and conservative officials began TO
rally around him. They were men
with experience under the old regime
but had little or no knowledge OF the
principles of q republican form OF
government. While in the ranks OF
the Democratic party there were men
who looked upon the party as means
to rersonaI gain, yet there were hests
of the younger man allied with it, men
who mary of them had studied in
Japan, Europe or America and who
had been made acquainted with the
fundameu tal principles OF a republic
but had little experience in actual
affairs of the government.
Parliament assem- 5led in April and
at least enc third of its members art
men who would do credit TO any great
assembly. Party strife. however, has
been SO keen that very little has beer
accomplished. To show its authority
parliament voted the quintuple loar
unlawful It had not been consulted
nor its sanction obtsined. Presiden
Yuan replied that as long as there
vas no constitution, he, as provincia
president, would have to act as The
exigeucies Of the time required.
The more radical members Of th,
Kwoh Ming Tong made this matte
of party feeling and warned the peopN
against the encroachment of the cen
trail authority.
The breach with the president wa
widened when Sudde lily without an
cause one of the leaders of the K Wo
Camtinued am Last Para