The sun., 1919-11-05
URGES AMERICAN
METHODS IN CHINA
Student Says People Realize
That Much Is to Be Learned
From United States.
YANKEES ARE WELCOME
Son of Mine Operator Tells of
Difficulties in Using Labor
Saving Devices.

Americans in China should stand on
their own feet and use their own meth
DDS as far as possible instead Of relying
on tho British or other people, says Lau
Eau Ding. son Of Lau King Kee. one of
the wealthiest mine operators in China.
also comprador for a big English trad
ing firm In China, who has Just returned
from China to compete his course at
Lehigh University.
Mr.. Lau-snid that the sending of
young Chinese to this country to LEARN
American methods Of business and en-
sineerins work might be somewhat dis
counted In China by the fact that Amer
leans there do not seem to follow out
their practices The Chinese people
realize that there is much to be learned
from the American people, and their
failure to use their own methods in
China has caused considerable comment.
In spite of this fact, however. Chinese
arc coming here in greater numbers than
ever before. They are advocating The
Interchange OF young men of college or
university training for a period OF sew
eral years. China, too, has always well
coined the appearance Of Americans who
come there to follow out the same poll
| cies that control good business in Amer
lea. General Industrial conditions in
| China are quite different than those that
prevail In the United States Skilled
mechanical labor may be had for so
cents a day. Common labor Is cheaper.
In spite OF the fact that in several mines
modern machinery has been installed, the
greater part OF the work is still done by
hand labor
The Chinese have not as yet been
able to grasp the necessity for mechani-
cal labor saving devices. Labor Is so
cheap and 30 plentiful that there Is no
need for being careful Of It There
are SO few men educated to the point
where they can even grasp the operation
of the machinery and the necessary re-
pairs that are simple to the average
American workman that in many places
the devices are unused simply because
there is no one to operate them. In
one Of Chira's largest coal mines 5000
miners get out 5000 tons Of coal a
day. That is sufficient for them de-
spite the fact that in an American
operated mine quarter of that num-
Der would turn out twice as much work
Mr.. Lau's father In his capacity as
comprador attends TO all the business
y.
He, arranges for everything connected
with It's business in China, has full
charge Of the sale of the product, ex-
change. credits. sales. and in fact repre-
sents the company in every capacity.
He IL one OF few men IN China to-day
who are able to tackle such a problem
and handle Il successfully. It is for
this reason that Americans should train
their own men to deal with their own
problems in China, and not put them
through the u,iddleman. There are at
present thousands of men in China who
do nothing but tell foreign business men
where to do business and how to do It as
quickly as possible. This Is possible
because OF the woful lack OF informa-
ton In the hands Of the people who are
trying to do business there.
The Chinese do not approve Of the
procedure because It raises the price
Of commodities and makes II possible
for all sorts OF combinations that do
not result in the Strengthening OF trade
relations Mr.. Lau says that It is
entirely possible for Americans there
to learn al that is necessary in this
regard. and that the Chinese people
as a whole, led by students returned
from this country. would be glad to
mako the institutions that are needed
conform more nearly to American
methods.
Some OF the banks in the larger cities
already have opened departments where
necessary information may be gained
by the newcomer. In this connection
Nj. Lau said that the plan Of having
a resident representative for large In
terests in China was almost essential
because OF the fact that busienss in
China depends 50 largely on the per-
sonal elemeI-- Americans are received
well and are well liked in China. Very
few of them have Conducted themselves
In such manner as to arouse any
widespread dislike. The feeling toward
Americans is more cordial t!.an toward
any other nation. and to Mr.. Lau It
seems out OF place that a nation favored
as We are should depend on advice.
for which we pay well, TO conduct
business with a friendly people.
Mr.. Lau IL a graduate OF NanyanE
College and has another year at Le-
high, when he will return to China TO
work with his father On the compile
tton OF his course here,