The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-23

government. WI Ting Fang possibly
did more to cement the cordial rela-
tons between that country and this
than any other envoy from the Orient,
with the possible exception OF Ii Hung
Chang
Doctor WI had a sharp tongue. was
breezy. frank and unconventional. and
his keen epigrams, even at the ex-
pense of important personages in Of
fetal life. were constantly finding
their way into print, som etimes to the
en- harrassment Of the administration
He was an ardent baseball enthusiast
and bicycle rider when bicycling was
80 popular He was a vegetarian and
had predicted he would live 100 years.
Mas sympathetic to United States.
His sympathies with the United
States during the Boxer uprising in
1900 led to his recall The intimation
by the state department that his be-
heading would be offensive to this
country only prevented his summary
execution During the troublous times
Of the rebellion Doctor WI got thru
a message to the American minister.
Mr. ConEer. who. with his colleagues,
was in the legation compound, Picking.
and whose fate was a matter of grave
concern to the state department. The
empress dowager and her advisers
were dissatisfied with Doctor Wu's
activities and his recall, which was in
the nature Of a rebuke. quickly fol-
lowed He was given an inferior post
sequently reappointed, which was con-
sidered in the nature of a personal
triumph
Doctor WI was active in bringing
reforms to China and he favored the
open door policy. His spirit of
progress was symbolized in a memoir
iaI he presented tc the imperial throne
favoring the abolition of the queue.
a number of prominent Chinese gath
cred at Wu's home and publicly had
their queues cut off He started the
work OF codifying the laws of China
and instituted a number Of legal re-
forms, one of which was jury trials.
The revolutionary movement begun
in 1911 found a strong sympa thizer in
Doctor WI, who advised the prince
regent to aodicate- Two years later
WI issued an appeal TO the world for
recognition of the Chinese republic.
Doctor WI appreciated the impor-
lance of railways in the development
OF a country and he was instrumental
in having built the first railway in
China He became the promoter and
company and later was appointed by
the imperial government co-director
3n the Railway bHreau. constructing
railways in northern China.
He Was War Premier.
AItho Doctor WI always had been
stauncn advocate OF peace, in the
stormy era thru which China passed
in 1917. when President Ii Yuan
Hung dismissed his premier and the
cabinet for opposing a declaration of
war against Germany. he named WI
acting premier, empowering him to
form a new cabinet to break the dead
lock and to sever relations with the
Tsutouic powers Doctor WI had been
appointed minister for foreign affairs
in November, 1916. resigning in March.
1917. later suggesting his government
follow the example of the United
States and break relations with Ger
many In July. 1917. Doctor WI re-
signed as premier owing to i'll health.
and II was believed then that his re-
tirement would be permanent. as the
republic had weathered the most seri-
Gus crises
Doctor WI was born in Singapore
IN 1912. He was educated in the
Chinese classics at Canton and studied
English at Hong Kong He enrolled
as a student at Lincoln's Inn. London.
IN 1874. where he studied international
law and other legal subjects two years.
when he was admitted to practice at
the English bar. He returned to China
in 1877. passing thru the United States.
making a study OF national institutions
and colleges. On his arrival at Hong
Kong he practiced law until 1852.
when he was appointed legal adviser
and deputy for foreign affairs at TEN
tsin. On the establishment of the
Tientsin university in 1895, he was
appointed chief director.