Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-27
BY FREpER1c J. HAsKIN

Washington, d. c., Nov. 24.-That
the Chinese are prepared to withdraw
from the Washington conference. un-
less they get what they consider
square deal. is the opinion of some
well-informed observers.
1t has been repeatedly stated that
the Chinese demands are for the most
part merely trading points, and that
China does not expect to get them ALL
There is reason to believe. however,
that China is determined TO get due
recognition of her rights as nation
or else refuse to sign any agreement
whatsoever.
In this bold stand the Chinese are
supported by two considerations In
the first place, they made distinct
gain by refusing their sanction to the
treaty of Versailles. Their refusal to
sign that treaty left the Chinese prob
lem entirely unsettled. and now 1t has
come up for International considera-
ton again with much better prospects
for a solution favorable to the Chi
nese. In the second place, some solu-
tion of the Chinese problem is neces-
sary to the success of the conferences.
China's withdrawal would be a serious
matter. Public opinion weighs heavily
with the conference and public opinion
demands a fair deal for China, which
Is perhaps the one genuinely peace
full and peace-loving nation represent
ed at the conference. While other ma
tions have piled up arrhaments and
cherished imperalistic ambitions, the
Chinese have peacefully gone their
way. Stronger and more belligerent
nations have sliced their country up
into spheres of influence. and more
progressive" nations have exploited
IL commercially, and yet China is to-
day one of the most distinctive and
unified nations in race and culture on
earth. Furthermore, a1tho it has not
adopted all of the machine technology
of the western civilizations. 1t has
civilization of its own which COM
mands world wide respect. The Chi
nese have shown that nation which
tends to the business OF raising crops
and babies may retain its individuality
In spite of all sorts of military ana
commercial aggressions on the part OF
other nations. China Is an experiment
In peaceful living. Leave her alone
and give her a chance. That seems to
be about the gist of the more intelli-
gent popular demand.
CONDITIONS IN CHINA
In order to stimulate this demand
the Chinese are making earnest ef-
forts to explain the actual condition OF
their country to westerners. The cas-
uaI reader of newspapers is apt to
think of China as nation torn by
condition As matter of fact, the
civil war in China does not amount to
as much as did our recent coal mine
war in West Virgiria. There are two
national governments in China and
they occasionally make military eS-
petitions against one another. YET
extremely few men are KILLED or
wounded in these wars. Telegraph
lines, mails and railroads are not
molested. The so-called civil war IN
China Is a political quarrel which does
not affect the life OF China as a whole
In an appreciable way.
China Is governed today. Just as 1T
has been governed for some 1900 years.
by its numerous provincial govern
ments corresponding to those OF our
states. Some of these provincial gov
ernments are highly efficient and just
and others are more or less corrupt, as
Is the case in this country. Thc chiet
difference Is that In this country the
central government for over half
century has been slowly usurping all
tho functions OF the state govern
ments, until local government has been
of minor Importance. In China, local
government is still the real govern
mcnt, and national government Is
farce.
In their strong instincts for local
government the Chinese probably have
"A political asset. A strong national
government has some disadvantages
Too much national government, in the
opinion OF many political economists,
is lust now what afflicts most OF the
western nations. 1t is the national
governments that pile up great arrna-
ments and that make necessary heavy
taxes. At the same time, these CEN
tral governments tend TO take politi-
cal affairs out OF tho hands OF the ciu-
gen and remove them to great dis-
tance In country where the chief
governmental power was vested IN
town councils. nearly every man would
have such share in the government
of his country as he was capable OF
bearing. In u country like ours, where
nearly all of the real power Is vested
in a national congress and national
executive, government gets utterly be-
yond the control and comprehension OF
the common man. He has TO support
1t, but 1t is mere fiction that he con-
trois 1t.
WHAT CHINA NEEDS
China, therefore, Is not altogether to
be pitied for not having strong ma
tional government. She needs better
one than she now has. to be sure. She
will never have stable currency, for