Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-26
GLIMPSES OF PERSlA'S SHtH.
Nationalist Chief Opponent Is Larye.
ly Russian In Taste and Looks.

Nationaiists Chief Opponent is IaTJe.
ly Russian In Taste and Looks.
Mohammed Ali, the present shah OF
Persia. who is said to have taken
refuge in the Russian legation at
Teheran from the attacks of the Ma
tionalists. succeeded the late shah
Muzaffar- ed-Din. in January. 1907. He
was born in 1872 and was the favorite
son of his father. When the Nation.
alists in the latter part of his fathers
reign started a movement for con
stitution the heir apparent was theii
chief opponent. The display of force
made by the Constituencies how
ever. forced the late shah to grant
their demands.
During his fathers reign Moham
med Ali served first as provincial gov
ernor over part of the Persian domin.
ions and subsequently as regent. His
father had practically given up ruling
the domain during his last illness. and
the affairs of state were handled by
the son. In these posts Mohammed
Ali showed keen intelligence and abll-
ity.
Mchammed IS largely Russian in
taste and appearance. He has kept
Russian counseIors around him. and
he appointed Lieutenant Colonel Liah-
koff. Russian officer to command his
troops. In doing So he evidently look
ed to the Russian government for sup
port to keep bin In power. He made
treaties by which Russia and England
were pledged to act in unison in a.!
matters concerning Persia and as
result found both countries ready to
help him with loans.
Mohammed Ali has always feared
Turkish aggression and The movement
for constitutional government alike
He allowed parliament to meet but
soon got into trouble with it. Accord
ing TO the Persian constitution. tho
parliament had the right To choose
and dismiss all cabinet officers. Ac-
cordingly. after some trouble the
shah's ministers. mich against his
will. were dismissed for some act
which did not accord with parlia-
ment'S views.
The quarrel between the shah aud
parliament was aggravated by u plot
in which one of his brothers was in
plicated. together with several impor-
tant members of the ConStitItiona'iSt
parliament. Two bombs were thrown
at the shah while he was riding in
February 1908 but both missed him
He considered parliament accessory to
this attack and called upon it to give
up the guilty members. This demand
WIS met with open defiance. and thr
advisability of tho shall's deposition
WIS openly discussed
The shah withdrew from bis palace
and intrenched himself on the out
skirts of Teheran. sending Colonel
Liahkoff with body of royal troops
to lombard the parliament building.
Parliament was dispersed. and the
constitution was withdrawn.
Chinese to Study Modern Methods.
Bent upon learning American Gus
toms and business methods. 100 Chi
ncse students. young business men
and sons of wealthy Chinese mer-
chants. arrived recently in Los An
geleS. Cal. on an excursion conducted
from Pckiu. China. TO the United
States. The excursion is in charge OF
board Of Chinese commissioners
which includes many of the leading
thlncse commercial men. who are
Eager for the younger generation to
atudy the modern methods Of agricul-
ture and manufacturing.
GAL ~
Among the latest activities of awall-
ening China is To be service of motor
cars across the Cobb desert to replace
the tea caravans of old. The service
Will cross the desert between Urga