Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-10
YUAN sH| kA| BLAMEs
HIMSELF FOR FAILURE
Confers Full Powers Upon LII Yuan
Hung, Vice-President, in Death
Bed Mandate.
WISHES HIM ALL SUCCESS
Official Medical Reports Concerning
Late Presidents Sickness Still Are
Lacking-Suicide Theories Not
Widely Credited by Foreigners.

known to Yuan Shi-kaf that he was
assist Lii Yuan Hung. the Vice Presi-
dent in getting firm grasp upon the
government.
The text of Yuan Shi Kais deathbed
mandate comforting full powers upon
III yuan lung and wishing his adj
mnistration success was published
shortly after the Presidents death. and
is as follows:
THE Min Kuo has been established
for five years. Unworthilv have |.
the Great President. been entrusted
with the great task by the citizens.
Owing TO my lack OF virtue and abIl-
lily have not been able fully TO trans
form into deed what / have desired to
accomplish, and 1 blush to say that
| have not realized -thousandth
part OF my original intention to save
the country and the people I have.
since my assumption of the office,
worked in day and thought at night
planning FOR the country II is true
that the foundation of the country
is not yet consolidated. the hardships
OF the people not yet relieved, and
innumerable reforms are still unat-
tended to. But by the valuable ser
vices Of the civil officials. and mill
tary men. some semblancc of peace and
order has been maintained in the prov
inces and friendly relations with the
powers upheld till now.
TURNS OVER AFFAIRS
TO VICE-PRESIDENr
While. on the one hand, comfort
myself with such things Accomplished.
on the other hand, I have much TO
blame myself for was just thinking
how could retire Into private life and
rest myself In the forest and near the
springs in fulfilment of my original
desire when Illness has suddenly over
taken me- AS the affairs Of the State
are OF Eravest Importance, the right
man must be secured to take owe,
charge OF the same. In accordance
with Article 90 OF the Provisional Con-
stitution. which states that I'm casa
the office of the Great President ia
incapacitated from doing his duties.
the Nicc-Prcsidcnt shall exercise an
thority and power In his stead. the
Great President, declare in accordance
with the Provisional Constitution that
the Nice-President shall exercise in
an acting capacity, the authority and
power or the Great President OF Chung
iiua Min kuo (repubiic Of China).
The Fice-Prcsident being q man or
courtesy. good nature. benevolencc and
wisdom, VIII certainly be capable OF
greatly lessentnE tho difficulties OF
the day and place the country on tho
foundation OF peace. and so remedy
the defects Of me, the Great President
and satisfy the expectations OF the pco.
pie OF the whole country. The civil
and military officials outside Of tho
capital as well as the troops. police
and scholars and people should
douoiy keep in mind the difficulties
and pcrilS of the nation. and endeayor
10 maintain peace and order to the hest
oil their ability. placing before every
thinS else the welfare of the country"
oihcial medical reports concerning
the late Presidents sickness are still
hacking, and there arc many state
mcnts as 10 what caused his death He
mad serious intestinal trouble which
was followed by nervous collapse.
but immediate cause OF his death is
SAID to have been uraemia. produced by
strangulated hernia. Many wild re-
ports have been circulated to the effect
that he took some sort Of drug to kill
himself. and there are also MANY
rumors about poison administered by
>rsons in the employ of his enemies.
None of these rumors is in any way
substantiatcd. and the poisoning and
inc suicide theories are not widely
credited by foreigners
UNDER GREAT STRAIN
FOR MANY MONTHS
For many months President Yuan
Hhi kai had been living under terrible
strain He was very heavy cater
ana took little exercise Several at
tempts had been made upon his life,
even within the palace grounds. and no
was unable to move with freedom 1t
had been many months since he left
'he walls inclosing the palace. and
within the last month he had attended
many all-niGht Cabinet meetings and
conferences. which were q very great
strain upon his strength.
Plans had been made to provide Yuan
SIN Raj safe refuge and escort in cas-
it should become necessary for him to
resign tho presidency. Consequently,
there was every reason to believe that
nc could have made safe escape No
man was ever fonder of life than Yuan
ON MAI lie was also very fond of
power and was very unwilling to give
up inc presidency. But the men who
hhe" MIN best scout the idea that he
would have chosen suicide in pref
erencc 10 refuge.
Immediately after Ii Yuan Hung was
ADVISED OF the death of Yuan Shi Kai
ana ms elevation to the presidency,
ne paid personal visit az the balance
10 ian koting. the eldest son of Yuan
ON NAL and conveyed TO him his con-
ooiehccs and the assurances that he
was ANXIOUS to do everything within
nus power for the wives and children
VI inc tate President. Yuan Shi Eai
ndu sixteen wives and thirty-onc chill
dren.
GENERAL LIQUIDATION