Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-11
GRAFT GOVERNMENT

What splendid material tie
Chinese would be for orderly govern
ment IL they only were able to insist
on having It. Here are five hundred
million of them living without a.
government worthy the name ana
committing comparatively few rue
tons.
Apparently most of those people
have to devote their utmost eHort 10
obtaining a living. Those who don
or who prefer to get it without work
resort to graft and brigandase.
Manifestly one Of the first essentials
10 any progress which might be
made would be restraint upon this
class of Chinese. Instead of that
however the powers assuming over
sight, directly or indirectly-those
for instance that discussed China's
condition at the Washington Con-
ference-seem to be doing nothing
effective in the way of checking the
Chinese rascals. rather are playing
into their hands.
- In the territory where the bandits
raided a railroad train few days
ago the restraint maintained by
Japan had been withdrawn with the
resulting increase of Chinese ban
ditry. The people are divided into
political factions, leaders Of which
are out for plumber. Indeed their
acquaintance with the foreigner may
too frequently have suggested that
this is the proper procedure. The
hatred Of the foreigner which is
noticeably increasing may be the
sentiment of those who resent being
swindled.
The Public Ledger has a COM
munication from Picking. Referring
to the contracts payment of which is
being urged on China by the powers
he writes:
1.-THE total amount of these con-
tracts, whether they concerned loans
or material, is in the neighborhood
OF not less than 37o.Ooo.0OO China
dollars. OF this amount, not less
than $685. 100000 was for secret con-
tracts, 1. e., contracts made by
stealth, by interested sellers of
money or goods, with peculating Of
ficials whose responsibility was
wholly personal.
Hence during the last six years
China has been sold airplanes, wire
less sets, locomotives. cars and what
not at very high and non-com-
petitive rates; she has amassed
stores OF electrical instruments,
many of which have not in three
years been taken out of the cases;
she has a fleet Of airplanes and parts
that few IL any countries in the
world could use commercially sue
cessfully. and all of these goods she
has accumulated in order to benefit
. few ofYicials and a few European
and American statesmen.
"As regards the loans made China
during this period, the less said the
better. Japan is the chief culprit,
and these loans were made during
the Anfu regime for the most part
when Japanese nominated officials
controlled nearly every spending de-
partment in the Government of
China. Not 10 per cent of the money
loaned has ever reached the national
Golfers, but II the four-Power note is
any indication Of the intentions of
the Governments of the Powers. then
right or wrong, these Chinese peo-
pie have got to pay for these most
nefarious contracts and the four
Powers are not only going to con-
done business" of this description
but they are going to aid and abet 1t
by lending their aid to compel the
Chinese people to foot these bills"
Why wonder at what happens in
China. assuming this no more than
half true?