Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-08-24
1eNMkING
NJ Fl 81
OBSERVATIONS
Personalities Behind the Transformed
Ottoman Empire-The Young Turk
Organization Really a Masonic
Movement-The Sultan as a Tool.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

At the time of the constitution and
the revolution there were stories of a
romantic secret committee in Paris,
with a chief possessed of greater
craftsmanship 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 many
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
bernstein, the German ambassador.
One searches in vain for this omnis-
/
whom we read so much at the time OF
the passing of the old order. Instead
be 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 1t is TO know the in
wardness of current events here. Since
his 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.
A Glimpse of the Sultan.
IL is easier to say who this man is
not than who he is. First of all, il
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 various 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 al
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 a 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 Roya
Highness lie 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 we'll set up. Along with
them one sees the archaic, red-hel
melted fire brigade, with the Ions
helmets. The lancers, who are the
sultan's bodyguard, are plainly Mongo
liam, 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 or
his breast. His face is weak, with
puffs under the eyes. His beard is grey
and rather close cropped. He look!
for all the world like the type of &c
NAL old New England ne'er-do-well
whom one may see summing himself
outside the house, or sitting on /;
cracker box in the corner store, while
his wife runs the family affairs.
The day l saw the sultan an Amer
lean girl in the carriage next mine
was aiming a camera at him. HI
was attracted by the fresh young fig
ure, and obligingly turned his face
toward her and smiled-and theI
kept on smiling and craning his necl
toward her like a gay old firt. 1t wal
not very dignified or royal, but 1t wa
decidedly revealing, especially whei
one remembers that this man is "Kint
Of kings" Commander Of the Faith
full" and THE Shadow of God OF
Earth Incidentally, he is a politica
cipher.
The Prisoner Of SaIonica.
Nor is Abdul Hamid any longer |
possible factor In Turkish affairs
Wild rumors fly around OCCASIONAL!
OF his escape from his Imprisonment
in the garb of a woman servant, an'
Of his being at the bottom Of revo
lutionary plots. This is the last o
the contingencies that the presen
government has to face. The bes
advised say that, while Abdul is mo
rose and sleepless, he none the les
Is too fond of life to take any chances
with this committee. His supreme
passion is to be permitted to die ;
natural death. For generation h
has been haunted by the nightmare
of violent death.
Now he is guarded by the mos
trusted representatives of the commit