Hsiong Keh-wu is to Szechuan what Chang Tso-lin is to Manchuria. Were the cause Szechuan for the Szechuanese" his true goal, instead of, it is feared, "Hsiong for Himself," he might even rank with the heroes of oppressed states. Still a comparatively young man, his dominant personality at once impresses, and this not only the foreigner but also his compatriots who, when Hsiong speaks, remain silent. As governor of Chungking a few years ago, he was undeniable popular with the Chinese, and, though nominally retired into private life, his influence has never wancd,-nor their faith in, him diminished. For this reason I have wrongly purposely called him the Tuchun of Chengtu; in actual fact one Liu I-chin holds that place, but the power behind the throne is Hsiong and well the people know it.
Enormously wealthy, te naturally controls many by the power of his money bags, but, at the same time, it must be admitted that Hsiong Keh-wu is a man who gets his own way by reason of the belief of the people ina strong ruler for a disturbed province. He will win against tHe Northern troops because he has the backing of an easily subjugated people' behind him, who fail to understand the desire for modern methods as enunciated wy Wu Pei-fu and Yang Sen, but who, by reason of their ancient Pondage, will readily accept the rule of a forceful man, be it never so hard.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.