The main interest of the story of Peking polities during 1914 begins with the second session of the Administrative Conference and ends with the publication of he Presidential Election Law. Taken as a whole, the connecting links between these two events form an instructive study in Chinese make-believe. Theoretically, all that President Yuan Shih-kai has done during the past twelve months has advanced the cause of constitu' practically, he has killed constitutionalism and immensely improved the efficiency of government. Each event has fitted into the next with the polished smoothness of a conjuring performance, the progress of which has been watched with feelings divided between admiration for the aplomb of the conjuror and speculation as to the real sentiments of the ap: parently highly gratified audience.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.