PEDLAR TO PRESIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 12

PEDLAR TO PRESIDENT

STORY OF A CHIKESE RISE AMD FALL The adventures of Alice are dull compared to those of Tsao Kun, one-time street pedlar, former President of China, now a retired old man pondering the mysteries of Buddhism (writes “R.R.,” in the ‘Manchester Guardian’). A few months ago_ he was a prisoner in a small palace in Peking, impotent but still nominally, for one faction at least, the chief power in China. Now he is free, but he is.bersit of official rank and, but for the courtesy of his former military arm, Wu Pei-fu. he is as powerless in the affairs of China as ne was when he wandered along the streets of a small village near Tientsin calling, out in his resonant voice his cotton wares. Tsao Run’s rise was as spectacular as his fall. Ho rose on his voice and on his sister’s beauty. Born the son of a street pedlar, ho would have followed faithfully in the steps of his father but for the odd fact that Yuan Shih-kai, the powerful lieutenant of the Imperial Household, was sensitive to the harsh sound of trumpets. Ambition was born in the heart of Tsao Kun on the day that Yuan Shih-kai, frenzied by the shrill calls of the trumpeters giving orders to the new army training outside his window, ordered his servant to call in the cotton pedlar, who was voicing his bargains in such clear and pleasing tones. The tale is told of how Tsao Run, the humble street merchant, came before the mighty commander and began to untie his bundle of cotton cloth. Yuan stopped him, told a servant to take the cotton cloth away, gave Tsao Run a uniform, and put bun out on the drill field. His clear voice gave commands to the young recruits, and the chief worked on at the rebirth - ot China undisturbed by the jarring sounds of trumpets and bugles. That was the beginning of Tsao Run’s career. He climbed rapidly up the ladder, and ended in the President’s chair. His second step he made on the virtue of his beautiful sister, who, according to all reports, was as alluring in face and manner as her brother was in voice. This sister Tsao Kun brought to Yuan Shih-kai, and gave her to him as a concubine. She became the favorite of the household, and step by step Tsao Kun climbed up the ladder of military offices until he was holding some of those positions of high command which are so lucrative that even to-day they are the cause of China’s wars.

Yuau Shih-kai died from overweening ambition, but Tsao Kun remained among fixe handful of doubtful leaders of China. His power was now dependent upon the strength of his protege, Wu Pei-fu, win had become one of the two contendants for control of North China. In 1923 Tsao Kun was made President of China. The manner of his election was such that,to this day the members of the Parliament which elected him, and which has not yet been dissolved, are divided into two groups — the bribed and the unbribed. Tsao Kun was President for a year. He fell when Wu Pei-fu fell from power. One morning the President woke to discover that hero had been a shift of fortunes on the very eve of a great victory, that Wu Pei-fu had been stripped or power by his subordinate, the “Christian General,” Feng Yu-hsiang, who bad thrown the battle to Wu’s traditional enemy, and’had appeared suddenly as the conqueror of Peking. Tsao Kun was hustled out of the, President’s palace, and was locked array from sight and mischief oil a sumptuous estate. There for over a year he was held prisoner, recognised by the. party of Wu. Pei-fu a-s the chief of the land, but supplanted in power by. Tuan Cliih-jui,- the • figure-head of the war lord of Mukden. Many storie.s are told of - the way Tsao Kun' spent his time as prisoner. He was denied concubines,'. wine, opium, song. And always there was the possibility that some day .a. sudden shift in fortunes would add to these goods of life the stimulant of political power. It did not happen that way, however, The shift of power came a few months ago: but Tsao Kun was not restored to the Presidency. The 'situation had become too involved, with two pretenders to the office, both distrusted by the people and only; half-heartedly supported by their military backers.

So - when Tsao Kun came out of his luxurious prison a proclamation was issued in nis name, in which he renounced all power and ambition and declared that he would retire to Ms private residence at Paotingfu. In Paotingfu the impotent patron and the powerful protege had a ceremonial meeting. Loyalty was pledged and, acknowledged, but there was_ no mention of high position in Peking. Tsao Run retired to a quiet life. He rides through the streets of Paotingfu dressed in the garb of an ordinary civilian. Ho calls occasionally upon Wu Pei-fu, and there is the most meticulous courtesy. And most of hjs time he spends in the study of Buddhism or attending the performances of the Kuang Yueh Temple Theatre. _ Long hours, it is reported, he sits with the monks, talking of the Buddhist mysteries or practising spiritism with the necromancers, who can show the way into an unknown world. He has become known as the patron of the local Buddhist priests, and lately inaugurated a now Buddhist society. The inauguration was the occasion of great pomp and ceremony. One thousand high military officials in dress uniform attended. They listened respectfully to an eloquent speech by the aged marshal, and later were lavishly entertained at a special theatrical performance. For, even now, Tsao_ Run can command as much as he desires in the way of lip service, attendance, ceremony, and money. Wu Pei-fu is still his avowed- protege. Nor does Tsao Run’s absorption in Buddhist prayers entirely debar a respect for worldly things. But he does not talk to visitors any more of riches and glories. The higher one goes on the .'adder of success, he said recently, the more difficult it is to keep a good it at ;or work and achievement._ He is very happy now that he has retired. He has no further interest in the political muddle that has left China once more without a President. In fact, he says, though his heart bleeds for rudderless China, he has now learned to look upon these affairs of men with the detachment of the very weary, the very wise, and the very old.