The elections took place oni Vediesday. without question terruption of any sort and the harlot box was opened—by of the Shanghat rior tothe: opening of the ox, the formal question was asked whether or not an body desired to make a statement with reference to the legality of of the unsuccessful candidates are expressing their dissatisfaction and demand the of the elections, with the result that a bitter fight is process.
The include, we formed, Fock Siu-hua, Fung Si chairman of the Street us; Zah Chih-chun, Chen Yutne Chen Chang.
The extremist actions of some of these men are well-known to the authorities and last Friday ft was whispered that there would be a free fight at a meeting which they demand should be called to consider the matter.
In the meantime, they have sent in a formal demand for the annulment. of the election and despatched telegrams to the Peking Government, and to Marshal Sun Chuan-fang de-_ manding that he should abide by their decision.
This of course, has brought forth considerable criticism, from the merchant body as a whole.
When interviewed last Friday, several merchants, who took part int the voting and who were not interested results, informed a representative, of the North-China Daily News that the voting was quite anier and that only a few dissatisfied candidates were trying to cause trouble, Even some of the unelected candidates expressed them. selves in stronger terms.
They said that this was an attempt of the Bolsheviks to destroy the peace and order which has prevailed in the Chamber and to dictate a Bolshevist policy to the merchant body of making uso of the Chamber for illegal purposes.
The balloting was very fair, they: said, and the best men won; it would give the Chamber now blood and the new members would have a chance of proving their ability.
We publish below a translation of! a report which appeared Journal of Commerce" of hold at the Chamber when appointed ones put forth their arguments:
Thursday's Meeting "At the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday afternoon some persons questioned the legality of the elections.
There was a large attendance of members, including the ch rman (Vu Ya-ching), the vic chairman (Fong Chu-pah) and a representative of the Tat Nan-kung, Fung Siu-san and a number of others brought the matter up bj making the following, allogati '—1. that the qualification of members and the provisions of} article G of the Chamber's regulations are contradictors members had two tion or firm which also had membership in the Chamber of Com-cast own vote, other wi merce. Surely a man was able
there would be no neod for his being a voting member. Surely he could legally represent such firms or organizations by proxy and vote on their behalf, even if he did vote for the same persons. They had a perfect legal right to elect such candidates as they thought fit; the may be the same but that was in order and they could not} Be disqualified for that' t sucha voter admitted that he east such votes which bore his signature, surely that was quite legal. What was wrong with it? If the present Sections were illegal then all previous elections were illegal. If previous elections were illegal, the regulation should have been changed before. Why did some of the members Who are now opposing the elections allow themselves to be elected and hold office?
"Pung Siu-san made a suggestion that the dispute should be belt over for the next regular meeting of members which would decide and settle the matter, This met with the opposition of Wen Lan-ting, one Of the oldest members of the Chamber, who was not re-elected to the Committee. Mr. Wen's idea was that the matter could be settled by the present gathering, without waiting for the regular meeting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.