Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-06-27
WI TING-FANG DEAD
Had Been an Outstanding Figure in
China Politics Many Years.


China Politics Many Years.
WI Ting-Fang. former minister TO
Washington, more recently foreign
minister for Sun Yat Sen in the dis
ru,rtcd southern republic government
ot Canton. died at Canton last FRIDAY
morning. according to Reuter- dis
patch.
WI. an outstanding leader in. the
politics and Jurisprudence of emma
for many years. remained, at last re-
ports. loyal to Sun Vat Sen and was
believed TO have fled Canton with the
6eposed south China president. The
Reuter- dispatch gave no details.
Known as the most picturesque fig
urc in diplomatic circles at Washing
ton during his two terms as minister
from China to the United States gov
crnment, Wu Ting Fang possibly did
more to cement the cordial relations
between that country and this than
any other envoy from the Orient, with
the possible exception of Ii hung
Chang.
DR.. WI had sharp tongue, was
breezy, frank and unconventional and
his keen cpigrams, even at the expense
of important personages in official life,
were constantly finding their way into
print, sometimes to the embarrass-
mcnt of the administration. He was
an ardent baseball enthusiast and
bicyclc-ridcr when bicycling was so
popular. He was a vegetarian and
/ had predicted he would live 100 years.
His sympathies with the United
States during the Boxer uprising in
] 900 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 DR.. WI got through
u message to the American minister,
| Mr.. Conger, who, with his colleagues,
was i'm the legation compound, Pcking,
and whose fate was n matter of grave
concern to the state department. The
Empress DowaEer and her advisors
were dissatisfied with DR.. Wu's ac
tivities and his recall, which was in
the nature of a rcbulc, quickly follow
cd. He was given an inferior post
and later altogether retired, 10 be
subsequently rcappointcd, which was
considered in the nature OF a personal
triumph.
DR.. WI was active in bringing re-
| forms to China and he favored the
''opcn door" policy. His spirit Of
! progress was symbolizcd in memoir
| iGl he presented TO the imperial throne
| favorinE The abolition of the queue.
! \. number of prominent Chinese gath
cred at Wu'S home and publicly had
their queues cut off. lie started the
work OF cOdifying the laws of China
and instituted Il number Of legal re-
forms, one of which was jury trials.
The revolutionary movement begun in
! 1911 found Il strong sympathizcr in
!
gent to abdicatc. Two ycnrs later
Wa issued an appeal to the world for
recognition of the Chinese republic.
DR.. Wa appreciated the Importance
of railways in the development of II
country and he was instrumental in
having built the first railway in
China. He became the promoter and
| chief director Of the kai Ping Railway
! company and later was appointed by
! the imperial government co-director
! in the Railway Bureau, constructing
! railways in northern China.
Although DR. Wu always had been Il
staunch advocate Of peace, in the
stormy era through which China pass
! cd in 1917, when President Ii Yuan
! Hung dismissed his premier and the
cabinet for opposing Il declaration Of
war against Germany, he named WI
| acting premier, empowering him to
form now cabinet to break the
| deadlock and to sever relations with
! the Teutonic powers. DR.. wa had
been appointed Minister for Foreign
Affairs in November, 1916, rCsigning
in March, 1917, later suggesting his
government follow the example of the
United States and break relations with
! Germany. In July. 1917. DR.. Wu re-
signed rs premier owing TO i'll health
and ii was believed then that his re-
| tircmcnt would be permanent, as the