Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
New President Not Given Sup
port Expected Of Ma
.tionaI Leaders.
THREE-FACTION FIGHT
TO DOMINATE SITUATION
No Money in Treasury and Govern
eminent Disorganized-Li Yuan
lungs Position Is Difficult.


PEKING, June 20-Chinese public
opinion has been in a strangely un-
formed state since the death of Yuan
shi Kai. The passing of the would be
emperor-president was hailed with re-
5oicing rather than sorrow, and efforts
to enforce mourning have been some
what farcical.
Every day it becomes clearer that
many leaders of the revolution In the
south, who declared Yuan Shi Kafs re-
tirement was the chief end which they
sought. had personal ambitions and
are not giving Lii Yuan-Hung the sup
port which might reasonably be ex
pected of them Many provinces have
refused to rejoin the union. and new
demands are made upon the president
almost daily by political leaders in the
rebelling provinces.
Resign Under Fire.
LANG Shi-Yi and Chow Tzu-Chi.
members of the government who have
had most to do with finances in China,
have both resigned under fire. The
former was head of the financial coun-
ell and director general of the Bank
of Communications. The latter was
formerly minister of commerce and
agriculture. but had for a short time
served as minister of finance. Both
these men were close advisers of Yuan
Shi Kai, and are regarded by foreign
ers as the two ablest leaders in China.
LANG Shi-Yi has been the storm CEN
ter of criticism for many months. Re
Gently the republican press has assailed
him bitterly. The board of censors
has made an adverse report on his ad
ministration. charging misfeasance and
malfeasance in office. He is accused
Of various financial irregularities and
is blamed with the shortage of hard
money, which made it necessary to
suspend specie payment on the notes
the Bank of China.
Premier Is Criticised.
Tuan Chi-Jui. the premier. is also at
tackled by the republican press and
charged with an unwillingness to have
President Lii Yuan-Hung issue a man
date restoring the old Marking pro-
visional constitution and reconvening
the national assembly provided for by
that constitution.
While bitter criticism has not been
directed as yet toward President Ii
YuanHung, there are many rumblings
in the native press concerning his fall
ure to take Immediate steps to elm
mate all the Yuan Shi Kai crowd from
the government and restore the repub-
lie to the condition it was in before
Yuan Shi Kai manipulated the Marking
provisional constitution.
Ii Yuan-Hung's position is extremely
difiicu1t- He has inherited a depleted
treasury and thoroughly disorganized
government Three factions are en-
deavoring to dominate Chinese affairs:
one is controlled by the Manchus of
north China. the Yangtze valley section
is dominated by military leaders along
the Yangtze and the far south domi-
mated by Canton leaders. All these men
are playing at cross purposes and ef-
forts to harmonic them are extremely
dificult.
Old Assembly Unwieldly.
The old national assembly. which
Yuan Shi Kai abolished and which ii is
now suggested should be reassembled.
contained about 500 members, divided
into an upper and lower house.
This body was extremely unwieldy
and turbulent. Consequently its recon-
vention at this time is dreaded by many
temperate leaders. The republican press
is daily publishing lists of members of
the old assembly who were prominently
identified with the monarchical move
ment and consequently are regarded as
unfit for membership in legislative
body of the republic
Should the old assembly be reconven-
ed. il will probably be done so tempo
rarily and for the purpose Of having it
enact laws which will make IL possible
to convene smaller legislative body.
Premier Tuan Chi-Jui has taken the
position that President Ii Yuan-Hung
should not attempt government by man.
date, after the manner adopted by Yuan
Shi kai. The premier has not enunci-
ated his position clearly, but is appar-
emily unwilling to have Lii Hung
declare the constitutional compact or
Goodnow constitution. void by mandate
thus restoring automatically the Nam
king provisional constitution. the origi-
nal constitution of the republic.
The premier's view is that a legisla-
tive body must pass upon constitutional
questions. His policy. apparently. is one
which contemplates long delay. This is
extremely. distasteful to the extreme
republicans. who insist that an imme-
date step must be taken to save the re-
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