The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
AZ A. D. JACoBsoN.
TIE sTRANGIING OF PERSIA: b !

THE sTRANGLING OF PERSIA: By ", Nor
E1n shusteE. Protnse5 ilustnted- Puoiishea
By the Century Company, New 2ork Cty.
II was TO be expected that Mr..
shuster. our fellow-citizen, would make
use Of his pen to draw a graphic picture
Of his experiences in old Iran. The no
toriety given him through the political
miX-up IN that country and his sensa-
tionaI leaving Of Teheran, owing to Rus
sian pressure, not to forget the news
paper notoriety which he gained as
national. perhaps international figure,
made 1t quite plain that publishers would
be glad to have Mr. Shuster's personal
views on all these matters.
As he himself calls his book a per
sonal narrative and not a historical
record Of the events which he witnessed
during his sojourn in Persia, the reader,
the student Of conditions in the Orient,
and the follower OF international happen
ings may Judge as he sees the revolt
against Mohamet Ali and the estab-
fishing of a constitution and the Medjhs
(Parliament)
Readers of the daily papers are fully
acquainted with what led to Mr.. Shus-
ter's going to Teheran. Mr., Mira Ali
Ruu Khan, the Persian charge d'affires
in this city, asked our State Department
for the names OF some men who were
seasoned financiers and Mr.. Shuster's 5
name was one of a small number sub
mitted. From these the selection was
made and Mr.. Shuster drew the winner
the post as treasurer-general Of Persia,
while two other Americans accompanied
him as assistants. Some dispatches later
reported that Mr.. Shuster was made 4 e
victim Of the unceasing jealousy be-
tween Russia and England, both Of
which countries have a certain control
over poor, torn Persia, each in her own
sphere" Others had it that Mr.. Shus-
ter overstepped his authority in trying
to make appointments, TO which the
Russian representative objected, and that
as a result. the Medjlis either had to let
him 90 or that he resigned.
Be that as II may, Mr.. Shuster, in his
prOfusely illustrated book, relates phases
Of contemporary Persian history, which,
we are free to say, otherwise hardly
would have become known here and for
that We owe him thanks. because it en-
lightens US on many things that were
ton The facts he has taken from a
diary which he kept, perhaps for that
very purpose. seeing naturally every
thing through the spectacles of personal
contact and experience. Missing histori-
cal links, Of course, has to be added to
round UP his narrative. 1t is his belief
that the Constitutionalists OF Persia will
cases died entirely in vain. II the de-
struction Of Trans autOcraCy shall have
shaTpened the realization by a civilized
world Of the spirit OF what he rashly
calls international brigandage" that
marked Welt Politik'' Of last year.
Mr.. Shuster has an undeniable right to
say what he pleases about the situation
in Persia. That is as he saw it during
the few months Of his sojourn there, and
as all he says is in favor of a down
trOdden people thirsting for freedom un-
der a liberal constitution after centuries
Of vassalage, he will find that his read
ers will agree with him as to conditions
and the necessary reforms. For this
reason words like international brigand-
age" used in a burst Of human pity
ought not be put too closely in the bal
anCe when Criticising the expression. He
cannot help being biased after his ex-
perienCes there, but this being the. case
IS he in a proper frame Of mind to judge
distnterestedly?
I gladly subscribe to all he says about
Persia's needs, but writing so as TO foment
trouble between nations will never get
poor Iran what it so sadly is in need
OF. On the contrary IL will intensity Ill
feeling. Mr.. Shuster, It appears from
the records, has done his share of that
while in that country, though no doubt
inadvertently, and by the right he be-
ieved to possess as the duly appointed
6EeasUrer general by act Of the Medilis.
But the error he fell into is that he
took himself to be, not an appointed
official, but a minister of the empire.
with the right to judge and tO-if I am
wrong I shall gladly stand corrected
raise issues with other nations, and this
attempted interference, which was duly
resented, may be at the bottom OF Mr..
Sbuster's troubles. In other words while
every word he says about the effect OF
foreign interference in Persia is correct.
as to the causes he is not, nor can he
be, fully posted in so short a time as
he stayed there. He was sent TO Persia
to bring order out of chaos Of the finances
Of the country. but most decidedly he
was not sent there to have words with
the leaders of the Russian army Of oc-
CUpatiOn or 10 try TO create or use the
gendarmerie of the treasury TO fight
them or to protect those whom the Rus
SLAMS had attacked, no matter how much
human sympathy may have dictated such
a strg. and having done all this. Mr.
Shus:er. rebuked without our State De-
partment being in a position to do much,
II anything, in his behalf, gives vent &c
his outraged feelings by writing up his
version Of all that occurred during his
tenure Of Office.
Is it a vindication? No one in this
a call, an appeal to the sympathy Of his
readers in behalf OF the struggling mil
lions Of Persia. firing US to a rightfu
Indignation. seeking the help Of Ameri-
cans? All that has been done long age
by the Persia Society OF London. through
whose work and pamphlets we are well
posted as 10 what IS going on in Persia
II is a we'll written book. finely illu.
minated with scores OF photos and pic
tures. and will make very interesting
reading.
CHAMP CLARK: By W L Webb The Neal,
Publishing Company. New York City.
Just now the name Of Champ Clark i.
pregnant with possibilities, and there
fore 1t was quite a stroke Of diplomacy
in commerce to rush to the presses and
publish a life history Of the Speaker o.
the national House Of Representative
and candidate for the Democratic nomi
nation OF President
The author tells US that Mr.. Clark wal
raised in the old school" Born in tn,
farmhouse OF a Kentucky pioneer, south
os Louisville, and motherless when bu
four years old. Champ" entered upor
his now famous career by tilling the sol
when he was eleven. At the age Of fif
teen he was teaching school in a Ken
lucky country district, and during hii
vacation he hired himself out as a farm
hand or clerk in a general merchandise
store. At seventeen he entered the Ken
lucky University, but after using up al
his money had to go back TO his teach
ing Of rural children
When ready to resume his college worl
he walked from Camden, KY, to Wes
Virginia, tramp.ng doggedly across coun