The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-06
On TURKISH PAPERS
They are Not Allowed to Print
Everything.
IN JUST SIX LANGUAGES
Are the Journals of CONSTANT
nopIe Printed.

Constantinople April 5-winiam z. Cur
us fthe Chicago Record-HeraId write
as follows.
The editor Of a Turkish newspaper i
surrounded BY numerous embarrassment
and yet Notwithstanding the strict cen
sorship to which 1t is subjected, the pres
exercises a much wider influence than
is given credit for, considering that To
first newspaper was not published ant
that no private printing Office was al
lowed in Turkey until during the Cri
mean war. There are daily papers Il
all OF the large towns OF the interior
Each viliyst or province has an oficia
journal IN ConstantinopIe the newspa
pers are iunumerable. political. literary
scientific and commercial. and are print
ed in more different languages than II
any other city Of the world. There ar,
papers in Arabic Armenian. Bulgarian
English Hebrew. Italian, Syriac, Persian
Spanish and in three different dialects
Of the Turkish language
During the Crimean war papers sprane
I'D n Constantinople like mushrooms
and were free so far as formal regula-
tons were concerned until a press Law
vas promulgated in 1861. under which
the publication Of articles rejecting upon
the sultan, the government the church
the police and other officials was prohib-
tied and certain political and religious
topics we're tabOoed. IN case of violation
Of the law the responsible editor was pun
ished by fine. imprisonment OF the sus-
pension Of his newspaper.
A few years later the minister or the
interior assumed arbitrary authority over
the press. and when an article ap-
peared that displeased him he punished
the editor, suppressed the paper and
c0nfscated the property at his pleasure.
This continued until about 1855. when a
preventive censorship was adopted and
press bureau was addSd to the private
cabinet Of his majesty the sultan.
Representatives of this bureau are de-
tailed 10 assist the editors or newspa-
pers and are paid by them. LiJerality
IS matter Of mutual agreement. The
more they are paid the less trouble they
cause. and if they do not receive as
much as they want they generally ffnd
means TO revenge themselves. The cen
and proof slips of every article must be
submitted for their approval. which is
indicated by a rubber stamp that it is
genuine signature. The proof slips thus
marked are carefully filed away for the
protection Of the editor. The censors
are usually Incapable OF forming an opin-
Son as to the merits or effect Of politi-
cal or economic article. but have a quick
eye for prohibited subjects and words
Editors very soon get TO understand
them. and by exercise Of q little tact are
able to handle them without much diff
fculty
But there are certain rules that must
be- observed. Nobody. Of course. dare
speak Ill Of the sultan or of his govern
fnent Everything done by them must b
approved. foreign relations cannot be
touched upon. and religious discussions
must be avoided SO far as they effect
Nohammedans Nothing can appear
which relates TO political revolutions or
Instructions or disturbances Of any kind
n other countries. IF all the cabinets
in Europe should resign. If political
revolution should break out in England
and King Edwards throne should be
overturned the fact would never be men
toned in a Turkish newspaper. No re-
ports Of the assassinati0ns OF King Hum
bert and Of President Mckinley were
printed-only the announcements Of their
deaths which the readers would infer
were due 10 natural causes. K is not
safe 10 let the DISCONTINUED element in
Turkey know that kings or presidents
can be killed. They might take a hint