"One of the most interesting political changes is the attitude of the merchants toward the Govern-mont and politics. Nowa-days, there scorns to be a keen interest in politics and a desire to participate in. Government by all classes of the people. When I was here 25 years ago,. the merchants had only one desire and that was to be let alone by the Government and to keep as far away from the officials as possible, can recount an interesting experience. "When I made my proposal for placing China on a gold basis, the suggestion was made that National Bank should be established. Tt was part of my plan that the Board of Directors should eon-and two appointed by the Imperial Government, When I discussed this question with in Peking, one the representative of the Shansi Bankers Guild, the other the compradore of the Hongkong Bank, they both suid that the presence of officials would make the whole proposition impossible. The Govern. ment might appoint inspectors or supervisors but they could not expect merchants to sat on one board cnemis the mer ants would be ofMcials, for, in the presence
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.