The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-28
TURKS ESCHEW SECRET ORDER Union And Progress Com
 mittee Open. MUCH DUE TO BODY Committee Members Accept Im- portant Positions. ! Constitational Government In Turkey Adjusting Itself to Task of Re- form-Preminent oMciaI Ad-
 vises Circunspect Be
 Aavier.
BY W. B. LrrTLEToN.

Constantinople. Nov. 27.-The Com mittee of Union and Progress have taken an important decision which the friends of Turkey abroad will heartily welcome. At the general meeting held in Salonika they have resolved that their organization shall cease for the future to be secret society. It will be directed henceforrh by a responsi- ble executive. and the names of some of the members of this body have been made public. The difficulty of recon cling the free working of a, consti- tutional system of government with the continued existence of an all-powerful and Irresponsible association, who as- serted the right of Imposing their own views upon the Ministry and the Lesis lative alike. has always impressed peo- pie abroad, G.
 Turkey owes everything to the Com mittee. and the services which they have done her entitle them to claim her confidence in the sagacity as well as in the patriotism of their policy. They have an intimate knowledge Of 1her internal situation. to which no for eigner can pretend. and their chiefs doubtless look anxiausly forward to the day when the institutions. which they have revived and inspired with a vigorous life. will he able to stand alone. When that day has come, 1t will be for them and not for foreign observers, however well-informed to say; but every step which they may think it prudent to take that shows they believe the time to be drawing nearer when the Ministry and the Par liament can walk alone will strengthen the confidence of their friends abroad tional regime.
 The acceptance of office by two im- portant members of the Committee was such a step. The abandonment by the Committee of their secret character is another The Committee will stiil re- main much more than powerful party organization. of the kind which exists in all constitutional countries, and 1t may we'll be necessary that they should so remain. But by placing Djavid Bey at the head of the finances and Talbaat Bey at the Ministry of the Interior, and by making public the names of their executive, they have excepted a position which to some extent resenl- bles that of sus'h a party, and which may make it easier for them to develop Into such a party. as the Ministry and < the Parliament acquire the necessary experience and habit of rule.
 p Reform Movement Grows.
 All Information goes to show that the confidence which their action indi- cates fs tustifed by the spirit with which the Constimtional Government Is addressing itself to the task of re- form. Honest and capable manage ment of the finances such as Djavid Bey seems determined to secure is. of course. the first essential of good gov ernment. So long as officials are com pelled to resort to corruption in order to live, there Is not much chance of reform in any branch of the admfnfs- tratson.
 But hardly less important for the welfare of Turkey than the Ministry of Finance Is that of the Interior. which controls the vast machine of internal administration throughout the Empire . Its local representatives the valis Mutessafifs. and Kaimakams. are not only responsible for the maintenance sof order and security in the districts committed to their. charge; they con stitute the points of contact between