Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-04

Press corresp ondent some idea Of
what may he accomplished IN Turkey
in event Of the war having a favor
able outcome for the Turks. Although
the banker stipulated that his name
should not be used a this time. his
position and knowledge Of the country
are such that his statements, even ap-
pearinc anonymously, may be consld-
cred as of unusual importance.
Discussing the essentials that would
make Turkey a strong and self-con-
tanned political anti after the war, he
said al the outset that what Turkey
needed today most was an economic
policy that would leave something for
coming generations. In other words
exploitation would have to cease.
The undeveloped resources of the
---77 empire are enormous" he
-,,~'.ov for instance
could meet the entire grain shortage
:. IS sUII We're adequately
..->u ma marketing facilities provid-
ed Turkey could supply all of Europe
with fruit. and ship fully one-half Of
the meat now imported by European
countries from South and North Am
erica Australia and New Zealand. The
intelligent cultivation of cotton would
place Turkey next TO the United States
as 4 producer Of the staple. The olive
oil industry could be increased
thousand times More wool could be
exported Ports OF Anatolia and Syria
are especially suited for the raising Of
plants Of great medicinal value. Even
ccal OF fair value could be shipped TO
The Mediterranean countries
Before any of these things could he
made possible, however said the bank
e.. the Ottoman government would
have to realize that stable economic
policy was necessary. Some OF the
Young Turks had aleardy arrived at
such conclusion, but little had been
done even by them, he asserted.
But We must he patient 1t is hard
~ TWO wears now since the Turks
themselves have taken to work.
lip to that time the Turks held the
erroneous notion that work was not
particularly ennohling, that work after
all was for others-kurds, Greeks and
Arr,lanians With the Turks holding
the reins Of government this view
could lead hut 10 one result-a total
Il. II sound economic thought. What
eyer was done had the meeting Of I'M
mediate needs as its objective. EX
ploit4tiOn Of a most ruthless nature
ensund Under this system the splendid
forests Of Turkey were destroyed; the
Deasart was taxed TO death and given
NJ opportunity 10 improve either him
self or his land honest investors were
Kent out Of the country, with the re-
SUI. that Turkey today has no indus
tres. and is obliged even 10 ship IFS
olive o.1 - Italy for refinement. The
absence Of al! economic understanding
On the part Of those in power under
--e n,7 regime was appalling. Those
wishing II esra hIish themselves in
some industry or business in Turkey
wee usually asked 70 pay for the
privilege in the form Of bride 70 some
Official,
Already conditions have improved,
bur there is much room for better
rnent Vet. But am not one Of those
who maintain. maliciously ! think.
Tia. The Tufk Is constitutionally averse
wv nrpcrcSs. He simply does not. as a
rule. understand that what may hene
fl othe~s. will benefit him The Turk
IS SUSPICIOUS Of all strangers. he is
also cuyetous enough to envy the for
ei-ner whose skill and enterprise lead
IN success He does not understand
that similar qualification and ex-
cr-Iun on his own part would produce
.lHa result
.'SuCn condition could have but one
result. the sragnation one finds in all
parts Of the Ottoman empire. Relig-
ion has nothing 10 do with that. l
have MANY Turkish friends who enjoy
material weubelng along with their
hat
AnatoIian peasant is capable Of relish
ing both caviare and vaudeville, # he
could but secure them"
Turkey needed a rapid extension Of
It's railroad system. SAID the banker.
L needed more roads. though paradox
zeal as il might seem Turkey had new
er had 50 many good roads as had been
huiI- during the war Then, the peas
ant would have to be trained and re-
licyad from much Of the petty inter
ference he is still subject to. Commerce
orcht to be given the opportunity of
developing under the impetus of un-
restricted competition. Manufacture
should he placed beyond the reach Of
governmental interference with the
control left entirely TO the circum-
stance that Turkey as an open mar
ket, WOuIG always enJo! the price reg
ulatipn resulting from competition be-
tween the home and foreign n1anufac-
turer."
Among other informants, the cor
respondent found some who held that
Turkey was incapable of formulating
sound economic policy; elsewhere the
opinion that Improvement was discern
ible and that more could be looked for.
NO Turkish government has yet
gone to the trouble of training men in
economics. or giving the few Turks. SO
trained. q chance Of applying their
knowledge" said one authority. Il
doubt very much whether the first
principle of economics is understood
by a quarter of the men who serve
in the departments dealing with econ
ornic matters in the Ottoman empire
II is all a question Of ignorance-ig-
norance on the part of the men who
manage affairs they do not understand
ignorance on the part of those who
permit them TO occupy such positions
Economic questions in Turkey are not
settled from the viewpoint of the ag-
gregate, but from that Of individual
ism"
1T is all a matter Of getting the
thing started. ] know that all Turkey