The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-15
FORMER PRESIDENT
NOW 4 PRISONER
Ii Yuan-hung, Once Head Of the Chinese
Republic, Now Has Less Power Than
the Lowliest Ceolie.

tho hoWncol SEpiics
Picking, Sept. Correspondence OF
the Associated Pressl Iii Yuan-hung
once president Of the Chinese Republic
possesses to-day less power here than
the lowliest coolie. He is a prisoner in
the capital of the land over which he
once ruled, and for the first time IN many
years he holds no Office; and except for
that of Prince WI vi, he holds no Ii.
tie.
IL Is III Yuan-hung's desire TO leave
Peking and seek rest in Tientsin, but
the government has repeatedly denied
this request. Premier Tuan Chi-iui and
Acting President Feng Kwo-chang appar-
emily have no intention of allowing the
veteran warrior TO depart for any set
Element where he would be in position
to communicate with the revolutionsits
in the south. The government is said
to realize how potent the name of III
Yuan hung would be were he to be made
president of a southern republic such
as Sun Yat.sen, Tang Shaggy, C. T.
Wang and other Kuomintang leaders are
endeavoring TO establish in Canton.
Since he surrendered the presidency n
lhoHtH uSp anu dHOWeu hPHtIdl 1Hdng
Elsun to take over the central govern.
ment, Ii Yuan hung has divided his time
between the French hospital and his
home in Tartar City, without the walls
of Forbidden City. He also took refuge
for short time in the Japanese legation,
and he handsomely rewarded the Japa-
nese soldiers and officers who protected
him in the trying period when the Re-
publicans were BUSTING the boy emperor,
Hsun Tung, and overthrowing the short
lived monarchy set up by Chang Hsun.
Ii uan-hungs illness was not serious
enough to make his retirement TO the
hospital necessary But the French hos
pital is in the legation quarter. 1t is |
under the protection of the foreign guard. |
And Ii Iuan.hung was not the only Chi. |
nese who was ailing at the time eondi-
tons were so unsettled outside of the |
foreign settlement. Hotels, hospitals, le
cations and private houses within the le
cation quarters were filled to overflow
ing when Tuan Chijui's troops moved
against Picking on July II.
During the years that Ii Yuan-hung
served as vice president under Yuan
Shin kai his position was much the same
that it is at present. 1t is true he then
held the title of vice president, but it
was a shallow honor. He had no power.
He had no freedom. Most of those years
were passed in an isolated palace on an
island in the Forbidden City He was
seldom permitted to leave the walled
No visitors saw him without
he permission of the allpowerful. Yuan
Shin kai who lived on the mainland in
| palace Ii Yusn-hung could see across
he lotus covered lake.
The central governments power to-day
apparently grows stronger every hour
t has the support of the great foreign ,
powers. They have no thought of rec
,gnizing a struggling band of parliament
arians in the south who have only the
ukewarm support of the provinces !
outh OF the Yang-tze. =
All hope of recovering in a legal way
he parliament which Ii Yuan hung dis
olved under pressure has apparently
disappeared The Kuo min tang, or par
v which is opposed to Premier Tuan
'hi-iui and President Feng Kwo-chang {
nd their government, controls far less
han a quorum of the disbanded parlia
lent Consequently, even if they could
luster their complete strength at Can e
on under Sun Yet-sen and Tang Shao- y
J. they would not, it is declared, have I
nough to satisfy their demands for n
oyernment strictly under the conditions I
f the Marking provisional constitution. n
Compromises have been suggested v
4 BY various leaders who are endeavor- a
10 to harmonic the north and the c.
1uth. Guilds, chambers of commerce c.
nd other commercial organizations are
red of the political strife. Ovrseas 81
hinese are not liberal in their gifts TO q
lie southern leaders and lack of money Ii
ay prevent the southern movement p
ON taking on great proportions. a
The action of the Japanese banks in =
iyancing the Picking government So,
10000, Mexican money, on a possible
an of 500 100000 Mexican, to be made
' the old quintuple group of bankers,
rs relieved the temporary financial EN-
of Premier Tuan Chi-jui
ID steadied the political situation in
e north.
Within two months President Feng
wo-ehang is expected to be able to con I
me provisional national council, or :
gisative body, composed Of five mem
rs from each province. This ma>s shift
will arrange for an election
ID the drafting of permanent consti
ton.