The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-02-07
POTATOES AND CORN
I'M PL ACE Or POPPY
In an Isolated Province of China
Since War on Opium
was Begun,
tsY 1sseelA1ES earsio

iAMOY, China, Feb. with the de-
velopment OF civilization along west
ern lines the isolated province of
Flukien is rapidly undergoing imports
ant changes. It may soon be imagined
that a chunk has been taken out of
New England or some other farming
region of the United States and laid
down in China for there are increasing
evidences that fields once wholly de-
voted to the poppy will be turned over
to potatoes and corn.
Progress has put its foot down on
the opium business, Outside OF China
there are probably few persons who
realize how great blow this action
has dealt at a means of sustenance to
| a province whose resources were al
ready overtaxed to maintain It's crowd
ed population. Opium has always
brought a good prize IN local markets
and formed an important source OF
1.-The farmers revenue. 1t Is small
wonder that campaigns against the
drug have met with armed resistance
Sporadic and reckless destruction
| or fullgrown crops. came last year
with such a suddenness that farmers
were not conscious that the govern
rnent was in earnest until they saw
their entire seasons work lost. This
wear q new method has been tried. In
stead of waiting until the plants are
grown and then destroying the crop.
the government has served notice that
all OPIUM plants must be destroyed as
soon as they appear in the field. In
many instances the summary destrqc-
ton of the crop last year caused riot
and blccdshed, but the notices this
year seem to, be convincing farmers
that tiis government means business.
and the destruction of the young
Dlants already underway has not
caused the strife which resulted last
wear. The new policy is meeting with
the approval OF the farmers. and once
they see that they must give up tho
poppy they are turning to indigo. 20
tatoes and corn.
Another change a little less tangible,
hut none the less marked, is the new
spirit of freedom During the revolu-
ton Fukienese men and money were
not lacking to do the provinces part
in the overthrow of the hated Manchu
government. But that accomplished:
trusting that clean government
would be organized by the patriots
VINO were clamoring for control, the
peopIe Of Fukien settled down TO
business, and the general desire has
been for peace and squtets
There are always elawtesslz bands
wandering about the country back OF
Annoy and Foochow Their numbers
vary with local conditions. an unray-I
oTable crop reducing the country peo-
nIe almost to starvation and augment
ing the number of outlaws. II was
such a. band which recently pillagedl
a village near Chao-an in the southern
bart OF the province, and was report
ed to have destroyed the American
mission chapel there. While the mis-
sion chapel was unframed, the pillag-
ing illustrates the difficulties with
which the local populace must con-
tend. In the Hinghwa district about
eighty miles from Foochow, the CITY
OF Tehwa has been the scene of fresh
disturbances and, for the time being,
no foreigners are allowed to travel
there.
Tne fact that Fukien Is practically
fsoIated from It's neighboring prov
inces shut in by high mountain
ranges, and, dependent upon coolies
ana pack animals for transport to the
interior. has driven the Fukienese 10
the sea. The island of Formosa lying
directly opposite the province was
by F'ukienese seafarers long
ago. the success of which enterprise
.ri7s encouraged the merchants to ex-
tend their zone of operations until the
southern coast of Asia as far as the
;Mayal peninsula, and most OF the
southern islands are now dotted With
Fulsienese colonies.
.SA4 49,
DIsORDERLY CONDUCT CHARGED