Uncle Chen

Like Democratic nominees in Mississippi, Kuomintang nominees on Formosa are sure to be elected. Last week, on restless, frustrated Formosa, 32 members of the Kuomintang's Central Committee were gathered to choose nominees for the presidency and vice presidency of Nationalist China for the next six years. The men they chose would be certain winners in next month's elections.

After a seemly show of reluctance, aging (66), indomitable Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek consented to succeed himself as President. All interest then focused on Chiang's choice for Vice President: he would be, in effect, Chiang's choice as his successor, and the man who would automatically succeed him if Chiang should die in office. Chiang's own choice: Premier Chen Cheng.

The committeemen gladly concurred. After the Nationalist defeat by the Communists, Chen was Formosa's first governor (January-December, 1949). Encountering near chaos when he took over, Chen restored order, tightened discipline, eliminated "paper soldiers," fired generals by the score. He sent troops to central and southern Formosa for regrouping and retraining--and saw that they were paid. His land-reform measures caused Formosa's small farmers to call him, affectionately, Chen Cheng Po (Elder Uncle Chen Cheng). Since he stands 5 ft. 5 in. and weighs only no Ibs., he is also known, without disrespect, as the "Little Premier."

A teacher's son, Chen was born 56 years ago in Chekiang province. He attended the Paoting Military Academy, met Chiang Kai-shek in the early '203 and has been a trusted lieutenant and devoted friend ever since. During the wars against Japan and the Communists, he held important military commands (including chief of staff to Chiang in 1946-48); not even his foes ever accused him of the slightest personal corruption. He is polite, considerate and sincere, but his geniality is not softness. Once he had an army driver executed at the very spot in downtown Taipei where a pedestrian had been killed through the soldier's reckless driving. Chen's mother scolded him for so severe a sentence. "I must enforce discipline," he replied.

In 1931 Chen married Tan Hsiang, comely daughter of Nationalist China's first Premier, and they now have six children, all attending school at Taipei. Tan, a Christian, has tried to convert her husband to Christianity, but he remains loyal to Confucius.

Last Christmas Day, Uncle Chen said to a meeting of Assemblymen: "My creed is the common good instead of personal self-interest, fellowship and cooperation instead of ill-will and intrigue, mutual trust instead of mutual suspicion, and encouragement for one another instead of blame."

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