Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-02
THINKS REPUBLIC
WILL PREVAIL
Warren r. Austin, Home from
China, Gives Interview of
Conditions There.

st. Adams, July So.-Mr. and Mrs. War |
rem r. Austin of Congress street have re-
turned from Pekin. China. where they |
have been about year. They left China !
June q from Shanghai on the Pacific
mail steamship Ecuador, landing in San
Francisco the 18th inst. On their return
homeward they visited Mr.. Austin's
brother, c. G.. Austin, Jr., in Chicago,
and also visited in New York.
In China. Mr.. Austin was attorney for
the American International corporation of
10 Broadway. New York. and for the
Railway & Canal Co. Of New
York and Pekin. His mission to China
Is understood to have involved among
other things the making Of loan con-
tract to the Chinese republic Of sufficient
amount to build 2,600 miles CT railways
and another to dredge and improve the
Grand canal, one of the seven wonders
Of the world. These contracts were ex-
ecuted and will 60 into effect as rapidly
as locations can be established and ma
terials and machinery removed to the
ground. In both enterprises the Ameri-
can International corporation does the
financing and the Railway & Canal Co.
is the contractor. The work is under
stood to be done under American SUPER
vision and by American skilled labor. the
unskilled labor being furnished by the
Chinese.
When Mr.. Austin left China crisis in
the government had occurred by virtue
Of the contest which has existed for some
time between the civil and military de-
partments Of the republic. The premier
Of the republic. being also minister OF
war, had presented to Parliament reso-
luton. unanimously passed by his cabi-
net, declaring war on Germany. Presi-
dent Ii Yuan Hung had indicated that
he would approve bill passed by Par
Lament declaring war on Germany. The
sentiment Of Parliament was strongly In
favor Of such action. but before passing
the bill insisted that the cabinet should
be reformed in such manner that the
civil side of the administration should
be fairly represented in the cabinet.
Members Of Parliament expressed fear
that II such reorganization were deferred
until after the passage Of the bill the
premier would reform his cabinet SO that
the military department Of the govern
ment would completely overshadow all
others.
Involved in this situation was the posi-
bility that with the government wholly in
the hands Of the military governors, or
tn chuns. the efforts then being made
toward the establishment Of a constitu-
ton which would guarantee to China a
| republican form Of government might be
frustrated by these tn chuns terrorizing
Parliament or otherwise influencing 1t to
make the constitution in effect II not in
form that of a monarchy in which the
military would predominant politically.
Some tn chuns were believed also to favor
restoration Of the boy emperor. AS a
consequence Of this situation Parliament
refused to act. the premier threatened II
and mob attacked Parliament without
other effect than to cast suspicion on the
premier of having melted the mob. The
premier promptly gave orders to quel
the mob and no real damage was done
other than one person suffered some in
dignity.
President III sided with Parliament
and dismissed the premier from office
In the meantime. all of the cabine
ministers resigned and the resignation
Of all except that Of WI Ting Fang
minister of foreign affairs. were &C
cepted. On the dismissal Of Tuan Oh
Jul, WI Ting Fang was made actin
premier and Tuan Chi Jul departed L
ITEM Tsin, where he gathered aroun,
him military tn chuns from II differen
provinces who declared their indie
pendence Of the central government
and UNDERSTOOD to establish provi
sional government.
In this situation Chang Hsun. VIII
has been described by Samuel Blyth
as the war lord of China and who
the military tn chun Of Anhwei prov
ince. rendered his services as mediate
between President Ii and the ex
premier. In this guise Of peacemake
he was admitted to the Capital an
brought with him as a military body
guard 5000 pig-tailed ruffians who en-
! camped in the Temple Of Heaven prob
ably for the purpose Of using 1t as
pawn to protect them against attacl
No sooner had this tn chun arrive
than he demanded the dissolution c
!, Parliament.
In the mean time, Pekin became isc
lated from all sides by the cutting o
: of communications and revenue
President Ii. after q sincere effort
:: retain Parliament. dissolved It. but
, the rescript Of dissolution called for
new election and a reconvention OF Pal
: Lament. Other terms were negotiate
without success. and the parliamental
ians withdrew to Shanghai where {
, the time Of Mr.. Austin's departure the
I were assembled and engaged in III
business of raising republican arm
At the time OF Mr.. Austin's departul
! the central government was pract
l cally in the hands of the So ALE
I peacemaker. Since his departure
appears from the public press thi
President Ii was forced
nnd sanctuary in the foreie
3 concessions; that the boy emperor was r
: stored to the throne and within a fe
: days afterward abdicated on learning tn
n republican troops were marching on Peki
s and that the ex-premier and his associa
ed tn chuns had gone over to the repu
a lican forces against the peacemake
II Moreover. that Chang Hsun again compe
J. ed the boy emperor to accept the thro
y whereupon the republican forces attac
I ed the capital, firing some shots into t
Q imperial city; that the. war lord. Cha
Q Hsun, was defeated and sought refuge
y the Dutch legation and the young emps
or again abdicated. In this 5uncture Pre-
= ident Ii requested the republican fore
.. to accept his resignation and elevate
>, vice. president. Feng Kuo Cheng. to (
presidency. This was done at provisio
sr al capital created In Marking.
To The new president rapidly organix
Q, his cabinet with some very stro
" Chinese. including the former premi
m Tuan Chi Jul. as premier and minister
war. Tsao Jul Lin as minister of commul
70 cations and LANG Hist VI as minister
ss finance. Very soon the newly formed &c
~ eminent moved into Pekin and order "
restored. Conditions politically are 81
unsettled. but speaking generally Mr. A,
tin says ne thinks the republic will p
n vail.
= The railroad contract 10 not ssriou'