Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-08
Il DEN0UNCES
TUCHUN REGIME
AMONG CHINESE
Former President Says
He Is Old and Cares
Not for Leadership.
Before Taking Office
Demands Governors
Resign Their Jobs.

Tien Tsin, June 7.-(By The Associ-
festo telegraphed throughout the coun-
try Wednesday, ~denouncing scathingly
the military cliques that have reduced
China to political impotency, Ii Yuan
Hung laid down the conditions under
which he was willing to accede to the
request that he assume the task of at
tempting to head a new centralized gov
eminent in Picking. LII was president
OF China in 1917, when the pressure
OF mllitarists forced him out of office.
Referring to the numerous requests
he had received to resume the presi-
dency Ii said these petitions had not
left him unmoved. He then recounted
what he termed his "sin against parli-
ament' for giving in to the ~militarists
and dlssolving it in 1917. He spoke of
the ceaseless fighting in China in the
last decade, fearing it was not yet
over. Wherein lay the root of all this
strife? He answered that it could be
found in the tuchun. or system of
provincial military governors.
Leads in Poverty
He declared that China excelled all
other nations IN poverty-and in the
size of its armies. DISARMAMENT, he
added. invariably had been far reach
The people cry aloud for ven-
geance on the militarists." The tuchun
he termed "the negation of
financially" Eff
forts hitherto made to abolish the
tuchun had been futile; they merely
emerged under other names.
Either, he said. the tuchuns must
sacrifice themselves or the nation itself
will sacrifice them. There must be no
delay.
Taking up the various arguments
against immediate abolition of tuchuns,
insisted that if the militarists were
'lncere IN their desire to unite the nation
{ could be accomplished in 10 days.
While warning the tuchuns to see the
slgn of the times, he CAV assurance
those of them worthy of conside-
-ation would receive liberal treatment
grateful countrymen.
Wants Tuchuns to ResIqn
Ii declared himself reluctant to re-
urn to Picking but said he would under |
axe the responsibility if all tuchuns
high inspecting commissioners
would resign, Immediately accompany
ng bin to the capitol to confer on the
of China.
Il am willing to sacrifice myself"
le added, but if this program be not
the extinction of the nation ia
'efore our eyes.
1T is my inclination to stay until
Ieath in Tien Tsin, my home. / have
10 more desire t. see the people of
he world. | am old.
Reunion His Only Ambition
What ambition / have is only that
long to see reunion and would Law
my life to bring it about a day
~
If because you cannot bear to mart
nth your own power and privileges
nd continue TO deceive Yourself as TO
our W good intentions toward your
ountry there are other methods than
one which you have suggested which
Will lave to adapt to your program
GU may GO your own way, but / will
o mine. l say this with tears in NV
a."
(This appeal evidently was addressed
the tuchuns.l
While the ~tuchunships have been At
for years. Ii Yuan-Hung's de-
was altogether u~nexnected
nd has created a sensation. The results
it are awaited with the utmost in
rest.