Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-26
SULTAN PREFERS STATES
IN CASE HE is DEPosED
Not Likely That He Will Be Compelled
to Become World Fugitive, Like
castro-Much Criticism of Admin
stration for Timber Lands to Public
Domain.
Especial Correspondence.l

causing some inquiry which may later
develop real concern at the state de-
partment. The United States has been
very free with the right of asylum, tho
not SO free in come cases as Great
Britain has been. But there are rea-
sons just now why it might be en-
barrassing If the Turkish sultan were
deposed and should come to the I'm
would do.
Abdul Hamid is we'll known to be
immensely wealthy, his great private
fortune being invested in various parts
of the world. The private yacht, which
is more like an armored cruiser than
any other yacht in the world, lies at
Constantinople ready to sail at any
time. It is commanded by Americans in
whom he has entire confidence; and
should the sultan leave Constantine
ople, either after abdicating, or as a
refugee from his own capital without
formal abdication, it might cause some
difficult questions to develop.
There is always difficulty about har-
friendly power; and the relations be-
tween the United States and Turkey
are friendly, and presumably will con-
tinue so no matter whether Abdul shall
continue at the head of the govern
ment or not. The sultan is said to pre-
fer an asylum In the United States to
remaining in Europe; but why, is not
understood. 1t is believed in diplomatic
niro1aS a IA Abdul To
mally abdicates or merely fees the
country, he WILL as soon as he is es-
ia blished elsewhere, set about intrgu-
ing to restore himself to the throne.
He is one of the most skilled diplomats
in the world, and he has for many
years planned for such a crisis as Is
now seemingly confronting him.
1t is difficulty, some diplomats say,
to conceive why he should choose to
come to the United States as an asyl-
would not harbor him, and that France
is feeling no more kindly. In such
event he might prefer the United
States. But it would be a much more
difficult matter to conduct his intri-
CUES from so distant an establishment
Ordinarily, London and Paris are the
/
either of those cities the possibility Of
being assassinated would be more seri-
Gus than in the United States, and
this consideration might weigh heavily
with the sultan, who is a great physi-
cal coward
There is no likelihood, it is said, of
Abdul Hamid becoming a world-fugi-
tive, after the fashion of Castro. He
will find a refuge without much diff
| ficulty; but his problem will be to find
the most valuable one for his purposes.
If he is ready to resign all hope of re-
tanning the throne, and if he will give
| proper guarantees, there Is unlikely to
be any objection to his becoming res
ident of the United States.
The department Of the interior has
announced the restoration to the public
domain of extensive areas of lands in
the west, which We're withdrawn short
ly before the close of the Roosevelt adj
ministration because they constituted
| the key to control of valuable water
powers.
President Roosevelt became con-
WINGED that great movement was on
foot to organize concentrated control
of the water powers of the country
/ and was anxious to defeat 1t. Accord
I ingly he withdrew these lands In order
to protect water powers, precisely as
he withdrew others to protect coal de-
posts, and still others to save forest
areas. There was question about the
legality of the action, but it stood until
Secretary Ballinger rescinded it.
Among the people who have been
active in the conservation movement
there has been disposition to find fault
vigorously with this action, on the
ground that it will result in some cases
at least in powerful interests selling
power sites of great advantage and
value. These are in various parts CT
the west, where power development. is
going on at present with much rapid
ity under the direction of aggregated
interests which President Roosevelt de-
clared were working together, and con-
stituted a water yower trust. The con-
servation people believe that this
charge was not overdrawn, and 1t is
known that a detailed investigation
was made for Mr.. Roosevelt as a result
of which he took his action. There is
some disposition to criticism of Secre-
tary Ballinger for issuing the order
restoring the lands to the public do
main at LllS tlllle. NMI. fbOOScVctt
wanted legislation passed, under which
it would be possible effectively to deal
with these water power problems, but
could not secure it. It was inten1ed
| to be made one of the important feat
ures in the future conservation pro-
gram. The action now taken has caused
wonderment whether the. new admin
istration may be expected to take a
new position on conservation. Follow
ing recent restoration of coal and for
est lands, Forester Pinchot issued a
statement sustaining the action and
saying it was not hostile to the con-
servation plans. Whether he will givs
like endorsement to the restoration q.
these power sites is doubted.
The senate is at last to be muck.
,, raked in a new fashion. 1t is going t,
be told all about just how bad 1T is
and why.
A famous psychologist and student
of criminology, who has lived lons
g time IN Washington, is daily attend.
> ant at the senate's sessions, ant
= watches and takes notes Of proceed,
: ings. He is likewise a constant reader
), of the Record and of the newspaper
stories about members, indicative o
personal peculiarities:: these stories