The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-09-01
GnsAAkING
5NAIIONS
Behind the Transformed
Ottoman Empire-The Young Turk
Organization Really a Masonic
movement-The Sultan as a TooI
BY WILLIAM ELLIS


sVery movement must be men. The
transformation of Turkey from a
medieval absolutism to a constitu.
nonal government was not wrought
without human agencies. Who did It?
At the time of the constitution and
the revolution there were stories of a
romantic secret committee in Paris.
with chief POSSESSED of greater
statesmanship and more dictatorial
powers than any crowned head in
Europe. The present Paris commit.
tee is disgruntled and in opposition.
and 1t Is rather generally admitted
that there was considerable romano.
ing about the original committee.
Admittedly the Young Turk move
ment was a bit of successful oppor.
tunism. Its leaders were quick to
take advantage Of favorable events.
which is certainly nothing to their dis.
credit. The men were ready for their
chance when it came.
A German on Top.
But now, after the lapse Of manv
months, who is the top man in Tur.
key? Amid all the personalities here,
which one towers above all others
1t Is none other than Baron Won Bee.
berstein, the German ambassador,
One searches in vain for this omnis-
scient, omnipotent Young Turk of
whom we read SO much at the time of
the passing Of the old order. Instead,
he finds behind the forces at work
here this shrewd old diplomat, the
ablest in Europe, who has within a
year recovered all the prestige that
the German cause lost with the fall of
Abdul Hamid.
In domestic affairs, as we'll as in
foreign relationships the hand of Won
Beeberstein may be traced by those
whose business it is to know the in
wardness of current events here. Since
this wise old German is an extra
Turkish personality, perhaps it is not
| fair to consider him in looking for the
most influential figure in the present
regime.
n GlImPSe OF the sultan.
1t is easier to say who this man is
not than who he is. First of all, it
Is not the sultan. He may be elm
mated at the outset. A high diplomat
who has had to converse with the
present sultan says that the ordeal
Is like talking to a wooden man. One
! encounters vari~ terms in the dip
lomatic circles to describe the nonen-
tity of Mohammed V. Doubtless,
many of these are exaggerated, like the
stories of his devotion to the flow
! ing bowl. The sultan sees no for
eigners, but anybody may see him at
the Selamlik-the weekly function
| when he goes to the mosque to pray
With Abdul Hamid, this was an Or
| deal to be dreaded, and he sat cover
Ing in his carriage in coat of mail.
Apparently his brother is glad to have
this weekly outing, for the poorest
hamal that totters over the Galata
bridge beneath his monstrous load,
sees more of life than does his Royal
Highness. He likes the pomp of the
| lines of soldiers who line the high"
way for the short distance from the
palace to the mosque.
These soldiers are part of the mod
ern army; on the whole, well armed
and fairly well set up. Along with
them one sees the archaic, red-hel-
melted fire brigade, with the long
leather guards at the back OF their
helmets. The lancers, who are the
suItan's bodyguard, are plainly Mongo-
Ian, and fine fellows they appear. The
sultan. himself. stares at the crowds
as the crowds stare at him, or as
countryman gazes at the circus. He
wears a fez, and but one decoration On
his breast. His face is weak, with
puffs under the eyes. His beard is grey
! and rather close cropped. He looks
for all the world like the type OF ge-
NAL old New England neer-do-WeII'
whom one may see summing himself
outside the house, or sitting on
cracker box in the corner store, whlle
his wife runs the family affairs.
The day I saw the sultan an Amer
team girl in the carriage next mine
was aiming a camera at him. He
was attracted by the fresh young hg'
ure and obligingly turned his face
toward her and smiled-and then
kept on smiling and craning his neck
toward her like gay old flirt' 1t was
not very dignifed or royal but II was
decidedly revealing, especially wnen
nne remembers that this man is KING
of kings" Commander of the Faith
frl" and 1.-THE Shadow of God on
Earth Incidentally, he is a pollucai
cipher.
The Prisoner Of saIonlea.
Nor is Abdul Hamid any longer a
possible factor in Turkish aHairs'
Wild rumors fly around occasionally
~ bis escape from his Imprisonment.
IN the garb of a woman servant ana
NJ his being at the bottom OF reVo,
Iuttonary plots. This is the last OF
the contingencies that the present
sovernment has to face. The pest
advised say that, while Abdul Is mo,
rose and sleepless, he none tne leSs
q, too fond of life to take any chaneeS