Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-03
BY
Frederic j.
Haskin

pockets OF the sultan. Inc country mas
never been accurately surveyed, and its
actual area and population are unknown,
but roughly speaking. 1t is about as large
hammedan capital of his highness Ibra-
him the Tolerant has its uses. Therefore
its wickedness may be the means of safe
guarding its political integrity.
The sultan is an up-to-date prince. He
drives a high power French racing car,
and has a love of sports equal to that OF
any of his British acquaintance. He Is
monogamist despite the fact that his
religion allows him TO contract plural
marriages. He wears European clothes
and lives like wealthy gentleman OF the
Occident. He is especially fond of racing
and of backing his judgment at the track.
but he has settled down" considerably
under the wise advice of persons who
have pointed out the dangers that lie la
sowing oats while occupying the throne
OF a country unable to defend itself. and
which is desirable as a tin mine ard rub
Der plantation.
One evidence of the willingness of the
as three or four counties of an average
size in the middle west 1t is. sparseiy
populated and most of 1t is jungle, yet
the sultan's official income is more than
twice the salary Of the president of the
united states. AS there are no EOd0S IA
Johore, save in the vicinity of the prin-
cipal city, the few farms upon which
the Chinese produce pepper, gambir. and
other crops are situated on the coast or
along the rivers so that transportation
to market is possible. Tracts that would
readily be settled IL there were roads are
lying idle beneath the primeval jungle.
Johore maintains treaty relations with
the British government and British
agent Is appointed to reside in the coun-
try. few European officers and NUM-
Der of Malays assist in the management
of the sultans governmental affairs. but
there Is little system in the routine work
of the government, and no vigorous effort
to improve the country has been made.
In the federated states, where native sui
tans still sit upon their thrones, but have
little to do with the conduct Of affairs,
allowances 70 the titular rulers have been
reduced In order that the revenues Of the
states may be applied to their develop
ment. The maximum salary of a sultan
In British Malay is $4,000 year. The
result has been that these states have adj
vanced In prosperity. His advisers have
limited to the sultan of Johore that he
should make personal sacrifices for the
benefit of his people, in other words give
up a part of his princely income, but up
to the present time he has not consented
to do so.
In the hands of an energetic executive,
Johore presents as many attractions as
any toy kingdom In the world. Its ag-
ricultural and mineral resources are Of
considerable Importance, and although It
lies near the equator 1t boasts an equable
and comfortable climate. II is rolling
country of beautiful landscapes clothed
with all the verdure of the tropics. Road
building Is comparatively easy and eco
nomical. II II were properly opened up
by transportation facilities its population
would increase by leaps and bounds and
II converted into a model kingdom there
would exist no excuse for any other coun-
| try taking II over. Few young men In
the east or west have such magnificent
opportunity as the sultan of Johore, who
is still upon the sunny side of middle age.
Personally the sultan is well liked both
at home and abroad. He is unassuming
in his manners and not given to insistence
upon the observance of formal etiquette
BETTING the magnitude of his title. His
friends hold that he is acquiring balance
with increasing years. and that the pubic
should be indulgent enough to forget his
early pecadilloes. including an event in
! Calcutta where he was charged v
| having entered purse winner In the
maiden stakes. Time will tell whether he
viii go down in history as the first pro-
gressive sultan of Johore, and the father
OF his country, or as the last real sultan
OF Malaga.
Rubber and tin have made many large
| fortunes in the federated states. The tin
mines are historic yet unexhausted. The
growing Of rubber is a new industry out
OF which large and comparatively quick
returns are to be made. With his hand
about a country that win produce both
rubber and tin, and unrestrained by che
| laws that hamper captains of industry
| where representative government exists.
| Sultan Ibrahim might easily become ia
mousiy rich and at the same time greatly
increase the wealth of his subjects.