Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-21


persuaded to remain and accept a COM
mission as captain in the Turkish navy.
He has had many interesting experiences
and is said to be the first Christian to
have actual command of Mohammedans,
a distinction which even Hobart Pasha,
the British admiral. who occupied SINH
lar position for many years, did not
enjoy. There are many foreign officers in
appear before the public. 1t is customary
to place beside them in every instance
Turkish officer of equal rank as a
fieurehead to furnish the show and en-
joy the glory while the foreigner does
the work Admiral Buchanan has had
the tact to maintain his position and re-
tain his influence through the radical
changes that have taken place in the gov
eminent here.
Haiku Pasha, the grand vizier Of
Turkey, an office which corresponds with
that of prime minister in other European
countries, will be well remembered in
Chicago, where he was commissioner from
Turkey during the worlds Columbian ex-
position in 1893. Since returning he has
occupied several important posts in the
department of education, the department
of justice and in the diplomatic service
and was an active figure in the revolution
which overthrow the autocrat. When
the present sultan was enthroned Haiku
Bey was appointed ambassador to Italy
and was called from Rome few months
ago to occupy the highest position in the
administration. he Is universally feCOS-
niZed as an able. honest and patriotic
man, and although he has most difficult
problem to solve his administration
promises to be a successful and brilliant
one
Another gentleman who will be we'll re-
membered in Chicago is Robert Levy, who
had the largest and most attractive ex-
hibit in the Turkish section at the EXPOSE
ton. and is the largest rug dealer in the
world. He has an enormous establish
n
Turkey. Persia and Turkestan and fac
tories where he makes rugs to order. Mr..
Levy is a very important factor in diplo-
matte life in Constantnople. because he
is depended upon to furnish the legations.
provide the servants and to do everything
that is necessary to be done TO make
foreigners comfortable and happy.
Another figure who was familiar to
royeni Bey. When Turkish minister to
the United States he was great favorite
in society at the capital for several years.
He has since been governor of the Island
Of Samos and is now member of the
Turkish senate from that constituency.
There is prevailing opinion that the
Turkish government is. anxious to have
foreign capital come over here and de-
velop this country, and that many good
things are lying around loose to be had
for the asking. That, however. Is a seri-
Gus mistake. While the new government
realizes more fully than Abdul Hamid and
his conservative officials the necessity of
porgress in Turkey, everything is moving
very slowly. Although parliament has
authorized the construction of railways
and the Introduction of modern improve
ments, people who come here in search or
concessions and contracts must always
bear in mind that they will have to deal
with orientals, who are always very slow
to arrive at a decision. and are possessed
of suspicious and distrustful natures. This
is due more to education and experience
.-y.. but
foreigner has discovered to his sorrow
what Kipling describes in his we'll known
poem that You Cannot Hustle the East
Seeking Concessions in Asia Minor.
Admiral Chester and his associates.
who are Charles D. Moore, the well
known republican leader of Brooklyn;
Walter Laidlaw, the New York banker.
and other men/of large capital. are trying
to obtain a concession for the construc-
ton of "a system of railways extending
throughout Asia Minor and giving the
interior provinces access to the MedlteF-
ranean and the Black seas. They offer
to construct, equip and operate the pro-
posed railways, which are estimated tG
cost as much as S6OOO,ooo without suo,
sidy or guarantee of any kind. provided
the government will give them the ex-
elusive right to develop either for them
selves or through other individuals and
corporations the mineral deposits winch
lie along the lines.
There is not the slightest doubt that
the interior of Asia Minor abounds in
coal, copper. iron. marble and other min
erals and building stone. for which there
is a great demand in the east. This nat
ural wealth has never been developed be-
cause the policy of the government has
been against such progress. The late sui
tan never did anything to encourage his
subjects to acquire riches or DO any any,
wants. Admiral Chesters syndicate has
made a general survey Of the territory
and it's experts are satisfied that an enor-
nous business can be created with great
profit, provided transportation lines are
built.
After Concessions in Constantinople.
Other Americans are here for the pur-
pose Of obtaining contracts for electric
lighting street car lines, telephones and
other modern improvements which have
been prohibited in Turkey because of the
superstitions Of the late Sultan Abdul
Hamid concerning the mysteries of the
electric current. He would never pass
under telegraph wire. If he came to
one in his movements about the country
it had to be taken down before he would
resume his journey. He would not per-
NIT an electric light or a telephone or
any other improvement that involved
electricity anywhere IN MS common,
although two private electric lighting
plants were installed here some years
ago to supply the foreign hotels and the
embassies
Constantinople is the only city in the
world of Importance that has no tee
phones, and several applications have been
made to install system here. 1 under
stand that the rivals for this concession
have pooled their issues and have formed
a single company. but they have not been
able to get final action on the part OF
the government.
Another syndicate. which wants to in
troduce trolley cars, meets with similar
procrastination. There is an antequated
system of horse cars in Pera, the foreign
section of the city. and l notice that the
tracks are being extended. but although
influential members of the government
have repeatedly declared themselves in
favor of modern system of trolley lines,
which are an absolute necessity. because
of the bad pavements and the steep hills.
1t is impossible to bring matters to
conclusion. The responsible men in au-
thority simply will not act. The members
Of the cabinet and the officials of the de-
partment of public works, which have