Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-17
CHEERED BY HIS PEOPLE
Great Crowds Celebrate Granting of
the Constitution.
SCENE A REMARKABLE ONE
All Creeds and Races Represented
Among Delegates Gathered in the
Hall of st. Sofia.

L.
After an interval of thirty-two years
Turkey today entered upon a second at
tempt at constitutional government with
the Inauguration in Constantinople of
the new parliament elected under the
constitution promulgated by the sultan in
July of this year.
The sultan opened parliament in per-
son with elaborate ceremony fashioned
after the customs of older similar as
semblles. The new legislature met in the
same chamber where the short lived par
lament Of 1876 assembled-a moderate
sized hall i'll building facing the square
OF ST. Sofia. The scene was, perhaps,
one of the most remarkable in the DO
lltlcal history of the world. All the creeds
and races of the Turkish empire sent
their duly-elected representatives. and
the varied costumes of the delegates.
some in flowing silk robes and others in
the fashionable frock coat. formed a gor-
geous and multi colored picture never be-
fore witnessed in legislative gathering
in Europe
Albanians Syrians and Arabs were
among the Moslem representatives, while
Greeks. Armenians and Bulgars repre-
sented the Christian nationalities. Mem
bers from Jerusalem and Mecca rubbed
shoulders with their colleagues from the
European provinces and the far-off kurd-
ish. Armenian and Arab districts on the
confines of the Indian ocean.
So far as can be judged from surface
indications. the new parliament has en-
tered upon it's duties with united deter
mination to carry out successfully the
aims of the bloodless revolution which
made possible the Inauguration of con-
stitutional regime in Turkey.
Sultan Parades Through City.
Sultan Abdul Hamid paraded through
the city at the head of an elaborate COR
tege to open the first session of the body.
cheering and there was no semblance of
disorder.
The sultan left Yildiz Palace i'm state
coach at 11::O o'clock to drive to the
building adjoining the ministry of justice
and facing the great square Of ST. Sofia,
where the new chamber convened. He
was accompanied by the first secretary of
the imperial chancellery. Ali Bjevad Bey,
and larg number of aids and at
tendants.
The entire line of march of the inn
perial party, distance of five miles, had
been swept and spread with fresh sand
for the passage of his majesty. These
are the same preparations made every
time the sultan leaves Yildiz Palace, and
particularly when he attends the Selam-
lik. Every regiment in Constantinople
was out under arms and lined up along
the route of the procession to guard the
progress of the sultan. Triumphal arches
spanned the streets, and as the occasion
had been made a public holiday the city
was crowded with people. Thousands
came in from surrounding towns and vii
lagos, as we'll as from more remote parts
of the empire. and almost the entire local
population turned out to witness the cere-
monies.
Foreign Diplomats Attend.
All the ministers of state. senators
and the new deputies of the new legis-
lative body assembled at the ministry of
justice preparatory to marching to the
hall of parliament. The foreign diplo-
mats in Constantinople assembled at the
British embassy and proceeded to the
hall in a body. They were al. clad in
their full official uniforms.
The enthusiasm Of the people is keyed
TO a high pitch. and their reception to
the sultan and their cheers for the new
assembly are an evidence of the deep in
terest taken by Turkey in this first step
toward constitutional life. Tne first
Turkish parliament was assembled over
thirty years ago. bat ITS existence WAS
very brief. and it was dissolved before
any definite results we're accomplished
Ta1ohrofol of Co
SALONIkI. Eurpean Turkey, December
1.-THE whole of Saloniki turned ont to-
day to celebrate the first meeting OF the
new Turkish parliament. The streets of
the city were filled with people marching
i'll procession and otherwise expressing
their joy at this first step toward a con-
stitutionai regime. Many persons came
IN from the surrounding country for the
occasion. and the day was declared a gem
eral holiday. \ feature of the celebra ton
was review of the local garrison.
Congress Sends Greeting.
The Senate today agreed to a resolution
directing that best wishes and congratu-
latfons be sent to the newl. convened
parliament Ct Turkey.
VICTIM OF SNOWSTTnE