Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-04
Council Bluffs
l. R. WALLACE ON WAYSOUTH
Iowa Man Going to Martinique to Be
United States Consul.
HAS SERVED WELL IN JERUSALEM
Him 60 Take Post I'm Region
Soon to Become Important
Through Canal.

Thomas r. Wallace of Atlantic who
has just completed a three years term
OF service as consul to Jerusalem. spent
the day In Council Bluffs yesterday as
the guest of Congressman Walter l..
Smith.
Mr.. Wallace returned to his home in
Atlantic a few days ago after an absence
from Iowa of nine years, due entirely to
the splendid success In the consular ser
vice of the United States. His first APP
pointment was to Crefield, Germany where
he filled an obscure but difficult post so
successfully that 1t won him promotion,
under the merit system that now prevails
in the State department, to the very de-
sirable post OF the American representa-
tive to the Holy City, His three years
work there was so successful that il won
him promotion. to the still more important
and responsible post of diplomatic repre-
sentative to the earthquake-torn and vol
cano-shaken island in the Caribbean sea,
whose capital city and metropolis, ST.
Pierre, was totally wipeo out and every
one of its 1900 people killed by the erup-
ton of Mount Pelee in 1904
A rather grewsome coincidence that does
not in any measure shake the confidence
OF Consul Wallace in the stability of the
island is the fact that IL was an Iowa man
who was filling the consular post there
when the city was blotted out in a few
seconds and who persisted with all OF
the others.
The new capital of the island is located
at the extreme northern END, more thar
forty miles distant from the vengefu
Pelee.
City Yet a Ruin.
The ruined city is stin desolate ruiz
and will probably never be rebuilt, al
though it occupied the fairest site for g
city on the face of the earth. The climate
of Martinique is the most delightful II
the world, and Consul Wallace looks for
ward to his residence there With the
greatest pleasure. The island Is a French
province. 1t quickly recovered from thu
Pelee cataclysm and has become of grea
| commercial Importance Its Importance II
the diplomatic affairs of the United States
will be still further enhanced by th'
opening of the Panama canal, and it Il
for this reason that seasoned and trained
diplomats such as Mr.. Wallace, are beini
selected for all OF the Antillian ports.
Mr.. Wallace thoroughly enjoyed hi
duties at Jerusalem and further increased
the respect of the Musselman for America
He was of invaluable assistance to tn
tens of thousands of American tourists VIII
constantly swarmed through the gates o
the ancient city, and 1t was through hi
energetic action last spring that the Afgal
fanatics who fired upon crowd of Amer
lean visitors and seriously wounded a.
Iowa school teacher received swift an
merlted punishment and the Turks
authorities prompted to take the extremes
precautions for the protection OF all Amer
lean interests in Palestine,
i Zion Movement.
Mr.. Wallace says the Zion movement
a complete failure and the 'back-to Jt
rusalem" slogan is unheard OF in the Hol
City. Jerusalem is now a commercial tow
OF some Importance, due wholly to moder
western civilization. 1t has railroads. telt
phones, electric lights and modern cor
, veniences, but they are all the product c
: western enterprise. The old Turks. as vi
progressive as the limestone hills upo
which the city rests, are being displaced b
the young Turks, and they are Joining wit
Americans, Englishmen and Germans l
advancing the commercial interests of tn
whole country. Underneath the surfaC
1t Is evident that the Anglo-SaXon spir
dominates, and Mr.. Wallace thinks
win be but short time until the f1nl
lish language will be the common tongu
Of the country except among the low claS
and ignorant peasantry The Zion move
ment has helped to advance the progress
of all Palestine. Thousands of Jews II
turn there annually with the purpose
remaining to end their days, but the cor
trast between the active life they hay
been accustomed to in the United State
and the inert lethargy encountered thei
, is the difference between the ancient pa
! and the best of the modern present. tn
! purposeess life quickly becomes irkson
/ and few months or a year fully sauI
flies them and they rush back to the gret
stream of progressive life again. Bl
each Individual visit makes a little cent,
of unrest which gradually grows into a
awakening. And thus Jerusalem and a
of Palestine is throbbing with moder
! impulses.
Consul Wallace says that when modeI
! methods Of conservation and scientific &C
treatment become universal in PalestiI
! the so-called holy land will again be lar
of milk and honey The soil is detritl
! Of decomposed limestone, and II has la
! idle for more than 1000 years.
Consul Wallace left last evening ovl
the Burlington for Washington, where
a will receive his final instructions for h
new post in Martinique.
Watches for father, mother, daughter
4 son. Every one dependable George &c
: ner, Jeweler, All Broadway,
~