Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-03
Chinese Soldiers
Threaten Dynasty
Correspondence of The Associated Press)

Correspondence Of The Associated Pfess)
Picking, Oct. l2.-Military leaders
from the various provinces have Just
held conference at Hsuchowfu in
Kiangsu province, which threatens
the existence of the present govern
ment, should the parliament persist
in its efforts to restrict the power of
the military. General Chang Hsun,
who is probably the most feared of
all the old-time military leaders in
China, called the conference, and
many of the newspapers which are
in sympathy with the present parlia-
ment, charge that Tuan Chi-jui, the
premier, is in sympathy with the posi-
ton taken by the military.
The conference declared that party
politics is displacing all desire for
peace and harmony under the present
government, and that the national
assembly which is now wrangling
in Picking has accomplished nothing
and is being manipulated by political
leaders, who would be willing to
sell their country If they were able
to attain their selfish ends"
1t was the chief purpose Of the
conference to form a military union
for the checking Of violent characters
and the preservation Of peace. While
the military conference favored the
principle Of having a national assem-
bly,, 1t went on record as being in
favor of dissolution Of the assembly
by military force, should that body
take steps inimical to the welfare Of
the nation.
The conference also considered the
proposed constitution which the ma
tional assembly is about to draft and
inisted that the legislators should be
guided in framing the constitution
by the advice Of experienced military
men. Chang Yao-tseng, the new
minister Of justice, was singled out
as a member Of the cabinet who is
wholly unworthy to retain his posi-
ton and protest against him was
sent to the central government. The
objection to the minister OF justice
Is based on his alleged connection
with the recent opium smuggling case
at Shanghai. Large quantities of Yum
nan opium were taken into Shanghai
by an official party, Of which Chang
Yao-tseng was a member. He was
officially exonerated, but both the
press and the public regarded the
official action as whitewashing, and
his retention in the cabinet provoked
wide criticism even before the mill
tary conference took action.
| The military leaders also insisted
that competent minister of foreign
affairs should be Immediately appoint
ed to look after the tangled inter
national questions which China now
faces.
Parliament and the military party
stand at opposite poles. iTuan Chi.
Jul, the premier, is primarily mill.
tary man and in sympathy with the
practical methods Of the old-time
Chinese who believe that the strict
exercise Of military power Is the only
means Of maintaining peace in China,
President Ii Yuan-hung, while prim-
arily military man. is not so strong
ly in sympathy with the military
party He has endcavored to main
tain middle ground and harmonize
the parliamentarian and the military
leaders. His success has not been
marked. While the revolutionary
troubles have been entirely QUOTED al
Canton and in other parts Of Kwang.
tung province, and the Szechuen
situation Is no longer threatening
there Is general dissatisfaction
throughout China with the inaction
Of parliament, and clash between
the parliament and the military is
freely predicted.