On this report being received the proposal was put forward that a general "strike should be proclaimed throughout Shanghai on the morrow, the proposal being supported enthusiastically by a lady member in particular. Another deputation was suggested, then it was proposed that the whole meeting should force its way into the building, but finally it was resolved that a demand should be made for one of the officers to come out and see them.
A major answered this call, and after hearing the case promised to telegraph to the Military Governor acquainting him with the situation. He also arranged for a deputation to meet with the Amalgamated Association of the Street Unions next day to draw up a telegram which they wished sent.
This was the concluding episode of the afternoon, but it was intima ated that if the Governor refused to send the telegram they would meet again to consider future steps.
Who Really Composed the Crowd Further details of the meeting which took place on the City Recreation Ground on Monday to protest against the treatment of the Tientsin students are of much interest. We stated that the proceedings at the yamen to the Defence Commissioner at Lunghua had terminated with an arrangement under which the Association of Street Unions and the Defence Commissioner were to appoint delegates to consider the drawing up of a telegram to send to the Government. As a matier of fact, however, this did not appease all the protesting parties, and the leaders urged that all should remain at the yamen to await the appearance of the Defence Commissioner_who was reported to have gone to Hangchow. They were not prepared to believe that he was at Hangchow. and so about 1,000 of the crowd hung about the yamen precincts until 10 o'clock. By this they had tired of their vigil, so forming a procession they turned citywards, and as they passed through the streets they raised the cry, "Shut the shops to-morrow."
Tue Mercaants Unwituina.
In response to this call it 's reckoned that about one per cent of the shops in the City were closed on Tuesday. It was ap-* parently not a popular form of protest with the commercial classes, and it failed utterly to spread to the French Concession.
While undoubtedly many societies were represented at the gathering at the Recreation Ground, it could by no means be said that the crowd was in any way representative Shanghai. A great many of the students who have been in the habit of taking part in these pro dings were at their studies, and paratively for of the responsible shopkeeper class were in attendance.
Of this there are many explanations. Apart from the usual belief that the shopkeepers are more interested in business than politics,.t is said that they are showing a considerable weariness with these proceedings. But above all, the present time is one when they want most of all to be at business. The China New Year is at hand, and to square accounts and conclude the financial operations for the year they desire neither to take part in such functions as this nor to shut their shops.
Birps or Int Omen.
Probably the most important feature to be noted about Monday's proceedings was the class people present. As already stated the merchants were not largely represented, and there are believed to have been fewer students than usual. Those conversant with local crowds and able to judge of their composition express the belief that it continued a largo percentage of unemployed, including many from south China. It is said, in fact, that the crowd bore a striking resemblance to those which used to assemble in the troublous times of 1911 and 1913.
If this be correct, the warning issued by the Civil Governor of Shantung that the student demon strations would inevitably gather crowd of undesirables seems to be none too strong. For apparently there are those taking part and swelling the attendances who are probably doing no more than deliberately helping to make trouble for their own behoof.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.