Rock Island Argus., 1903-10-03
KIND WORD FOR TURKS
DR.. Harper Discusses Conditions
In the Sultan's Country.
NO DISORDER OR DRUNKENNESS.

President of Chicago University Says
He Did Not See "a Single Intoxicated
Man-Trip In Quest of Permission
to Excavate Ruins OF Ancient Cities
Declared Highly Successful.
The Turk does not deserve all the
opprobrium that has been thrown upon
him" This statement was made by
President William r. Harper of the
University of Chicago the other day
in telling of his experiences in Con-
stantinople, where he went for the pur-
pose of securing a frman giving the
university the right to excavate the
ruins of ancient cities in the neigh
borhood of ancient Babylon, says the
Chicago Tribune.
THE Turks have received much un-
Just abuse" continued DR.. Harper
There are many things we should
take into consideration before passing
Judgment OH Turkey as a governing
power in Europe. We are accustomed
to think that Turkey has made no
progress. If we compare the cOndi-
tions in Turkey today with those
which existed twenty-nine years ago
when Abdul Hamid came to the throne
it is found that the progress made is
amazing.
1--WE were in ConstanunOple for the
celebration of the sultln's birthday an
niversary. The streets were crowded,
but 1 saw no disorder and no drunk
enneSs. l did not see d single man in
tod .a1f h. | N
key. l cannot say that Abdul Hamid
is popular with all the people. There
are two parties, and that is where all
the trouble lies. The officials are afraid
that members of the younger and rad
icaI party will assassinate the sultan
If this happens no one will be safe in
Turkey, and anarchy Will prevail"
DR.. Harper would not say whether
he believed there was ground for in
reference by Christian nations in
Turkish affairs because of alleged
atrocities against Armenian and Mace
DOMAIN Christians, but said that his
sympathies had changed greatly.
Dr. Harper considers that his mis-
sion 10 the Turkish capital was sue
cessful. lie expects TO receive Il cable
gram soon telling him the sultan has
issued the necessary firman.
We were accorded the best of treat
ment in official Constantinople," said
the president. I'VE first met Hamdi
Bey, director Of all the imperial mu-
seums. He aided US greatly, and, with
his help, our petition to the sultan was
properly framed and presented. We
received assurances from Turkish Off
cials that our requests would be grant
ed We were there while the Amer
lean war ships were in the harbor as a
result of the AIagelSSen affair Our
petition could not have been presented
at 4 more opportune time. The gov
ernment was then disposed to show IA
vorS to Americans Permission to
make the excavations viii carry with
it the guarantee of safety for our par
ties. Soldiers viii be sent by the Turk
iSh government with each party to pro-
tect it from the Bcdouin Arabs"
Or. Harper said that about $4,000
annually had been guaranteed for ten
years 10 carry out the research work.
He intimated that the money had been
promised by Mr. Rockefeller.
While in Germany President Harper
visited DIR. Herman Z. Won Hoist, for
merly head professor of history at the
University of Chicago. Professor Won
Hoist is critically i'll. He sent by Dr.
Harper messages to the board of truS-
tees. the faculty and the students of
the university. DR. Harper will de-
liver the messages at the unveiling of
the oil painting Of Professor Won Hoist
now on the way to the United States.