Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-21
By FRANK G.. CARPENTER.

SHANGHAI, China.
II HAVE just returned from a talk
with one OF the elder Statesmen
OF China. He Is Tang Shao vi
who for the past 40 years has
been a great man in this country.
He represented the Emperor in Korea
before the Chino-Japanese War. was
one Of the chief lieutenants of Ii
Hung Chang, and served for time
as vice president of the board OF
foreign affairs. In 1908 he went TO
the United States to thank our gov
ornment for giving back its part OF
the Boxer indemnity, and was pre-
mier of the Chinese government
after the rule of the Manchus was
overthrown.
All his life he has been connected
with big things in China. and today,
although living In retirement, he is
one of the leading thinkers of his
country. He was educated in Amer
lea and speaks English f1uently.
Although he is now 65 years old, he is
tall and straight and does not seem
10 be more than so, With his cultured
face and specialized eyes. he is a
splendid type Of the best men in
China.
met Mr.. Tang at his residence in
the native city of Shanghai. He was
dressed in a. long Chinese gown and
Chinese classics inscribed upon the
walls of the room where we talked,
but otherwise our surroundings were
foreign. said I had called on him
because / felt he could give me a
message to the American people about
the present chaotic conditions in
china, and could help me get at the
exact truth of the situation. Mr.. Tang
talked frankly, and I found him full
OF optimism regarding tho future Of
this disordered country.
But first let me- picture to you the
condition of China today. 1t Is a
land Of chaos and anarchy in which
the authority Of government has al
most wholly disappeared. l can best
describe the state of affairs by max
ing a comparison with the United
States.
Let US imagine that our Federal
Government had become so weak that
it influence extended no farther from
Washington than Baltimore, 40 miles
away. Suppose 1t were powerless to
make our citizens pay income taxes or
to levy a toll of millions of dollars
on tobacco, Injuries and inheritances
Suppose also that instead of the pres
emit high tariff. we had customs du.
ties on imported goods fxed by for
eign governments at very low rates
and that these foreigners had put In
their own collectors at all our ports
and took out what they said we owee
them before turning over any receipts
20 our National Treasury.
Now, magine further that the ma.
Sor generals commanding United
5tates troops at New York, Ell Paso
Ano other Army posts refused tn take
orders from the Secretary Of War oil
even the President himself. Suppose
that the governors of our variou.
Etataa were collecting revenues a.
they pleased, nominaliy for the Gov
eminent at Washington. but actually
to lire their own pockets, and laying
t&xsA on goods passing through theu
respective territories.
Think what would be the situation
ta our country IL goods In transit
ACROSS the United States were taxed
every time they passed over State
boundary line. Let US say, for ex'
ample, that a trainload of corn wers
started from Kansas City for New
York. II the conditions in the China
OF today were to prevail, the gov
errors of Illinois, Indiana. Ohio and
New York would probably each de
mand the payment Of a tax befors
they would allow the train to cross
their States aad they might also hell
themselves to some Of the corn be-
sides.
But even this Is not all. TO com