The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-06-27
CHINA IS FAST
BEING RID OF
POPPY PLANTS
ROYAL Proclamation Tells
Peculiar Story of the
Opium Reform

6co-,.xno,dence of Associated Presso
PFKING. June pa proclama-
zion bearing the seal OF the preSa-
dent tells in a picturesque way tne
peculiar story OF the opium reho as1
IN China. From 1he proclamation the
Following paragraphs are taken
-.T,he evil of opium is known TO all
men. and no less than SS.000G0o,o00
and tens of thousands OF lives nave
41aen sacrificed during the last feW
decades as a result OF this evil once
q person acquires the habit OF OPIUM
smoking he degenerates Into pr
site and is reduced TO a SReienon,
thus rich man becomes a tpaapef
and a heaIrhy man q weaklfns Inls
conseuuently gives rise to the prev
a1ence OF undesirable characters ana
neople who do not care 70 work,
caDsine the deterioration OF the race
and tf1e decline OF morally; ana
both taae family and the nation are
affected and harmed Fortunately now
ever, as result of the unpreJuo1Ceu
ssoirit of the friendly nations and the
well tntentioned puohcf'y s Nen ~
Chinese and foreigners an agreement
was made with Great Britain IN 9he
491frd year OF HSuan TunS for the pro
dribition OF the importation OF loreiSn
or,i71m and The cessation OF ire cuI-
tivatfon Of native opium wltn1n a
CERTAIN time limit A persistent poLcy
has been pursued with regard 10 nne
nrohFbition of cultivation. smok1ns
ana trading in opium. and as result
or = many provinces have succeeded
In compltely destroying all popp!
DIants:: consequently TRANSPORTATION
oY opium into these provinces mas
Fe-en prohibited II this Opportunity
we're seized completely to banasn ene
opium evil. the country wouto pc Pe St
ON a strong footing. THIS IS WY Ine
order was repeated at the oeein1lSis
OF the Inauguration OF Ene iepuos.S
R1,t owing TO the lack OF dasclpilne
md tI1e fact that both desperadoes
and 1,nruly recruits were mostly OPP
iD7n smokers, the evil sprang AGAIN
inf, being. The ignorant people. see
in~ profit in the opium business, oe-
aed the law. which up till then was
in force. This was most reSretcaple-
-eSome people urge that sance cue
oni1In rrade affects the Livelihood OF
many persons. 1t IS unjust 10 use a..
brrary methods for the proMpDuon
If nonpy planting They forget row
ever. that the eyu of opium is Like a
dangerous ulcer that sinks deep TO
the bone and for the cure OF wnico II
ks better to cut away part OF the bone
than to patch it up with piece OF
flesh taken from another part OF the
body. Whether the profit IN sucn a
trade Us big or small the traders
rbould be made to understand in IN
unfstakable language that no one can
I'VE BIZ drinlIng poison to quench ms
tf1irst. The local elders should be
entrusted with the task OF uprootlnS
the poppy plants and the planners sup
pied with cotton grain or otnef Seeo
for sowing instead.
.~The whole thing depends upon the
officials who should earnestly ana
nersfstently urge them and compel
them to plant some other useful crop
We shall NOT permit one corner OF
the country to spoil che general
movement OF the whole nation, and
tl1e ministry of the interior is hereby
Instructed to communicate the order
of prohibition. and not to allow the
cumming to utilize 1T as means to
enrich themselves Yamen runners
local government employes) must be
strictly controlled 50 that they may
NOT use this as a preteXt to oppresS
the people by extortion: otherwise
the old veil viii simply be replaced
nv a. new one The chief aim is that
the people and officials OF the whole
nation should look upon this as a
great disgrace and shame Let no
nndesroyed seeds poison The new ma
don. Wake up ye people! TINS Is
the order of the government
Seal OF the president
Signature OF the secretary of state