davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

city Of the ealiphs had been widely add
vertised an an assured result of Britt
ish prowess, was undoubtedly very
great. The loss of the holy city Of
Mecca to the Turkish government, even
though 1t proves to be only temporary,
IL bound to damage the Turks.
In the first intelligence of the revolt
at Mecca, British lf-complaceney
took all the credit to itself. 1t was
even intimated that the outcome was
the working out of splendid intrigue
of Lord Curzon, who had used his eS-
perience with the Mohammedans OF
India to advantage. Later reports
from Russian sources claimed the
credit for Russia. though in what man
ner was not made clear.
Whatever government among the al
lies may be entitled to the credit OF the
movement. 1t Is certain that from now
on both England and Russia will ap-
pear as the champions of the Shereef
OF Mecca as the only real ruler Of Islam
rifle tragedy of the world war neither
70 them is to be blamed for the failure
to see any humor In its championship
of an alien creed and solicitude over
the preservation of orthodox Islam.
The Shereef of Mecca is useful pawn
in the great game. He is as much en-
titled to seek the guardianship Of
Christian powers, such as England and
Russia, in preserving undefiled the
tenets of the prophets faith as Is the
present Turkish government in the per-
son of the sultan, backed by Germany.
While news regarding the revolt has
been scant, the reports have been spe-
cific enough to afford some means of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

promotion of vocational education
throughout the country.
The farmer is being informed about
his soils and instructed how and when
to plant. He is told. further. where
to sell his crops. and his wife and
daughters are being taught how to
cook. can fruits and vegetables and
keep house. The American agricul-
money out of the Treasury, is rapidly
becoming scientifically competent.
Now the valuable effort in nation
building-and that is how ! view it
should be extended to include
the millions who are not farmers and
never mean to be. A South Carolina
man said in my presence the other
day: John (referring to his SOM is
working for s35 month and is mighty
glad that he has job. But negro
bricklayers whom l know are earning
Sc a day.
John. the mans son. left school.
dare say, with no object in sight. He
just drifted until he happened to find
employment The negro bricklayers.
on the other hand. had a purpose. So
the unprepared white man is earning
S1.50 a day, while the prepared black
man is receiving four times as much.
out of our schools each June is COM
ing a huge army of boys ranging IN
age from fourteen to eighteen, Those
from the high schools think they are
educated-and they are in books-and
is below their standard and dignity.
They want to be dressed uD and get
employment indoors. over counters
and ledgers and what not. and there
they remain. year after year, at from
$50 to $50 month.
LAS carpenters they might be earning
Sc and more a day. They are losing
and society is losing. all on account of
a weakness for white shirts Noca-
tional training in our public schools
will dispel the absurd notion. often
held by the poor themselves. that over
alls. though profitable. are not highly
respectable. Well. they look rather
aristocratic to me- when 7 see men
who wear them riding in automobiles
and living in their own homes.
Efficiency. then, is the first need of
the United States, not only to meet the
strain that will follow when Europe
returns to the ways of peace but all
through the coming years of severe
competition between men, cities, states
and nations"
Copyright. 1916. by James B. Morrow)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
A Bold Spirit.

~ EN-. ASHER TAYLOR of Portland
VI said. apropos of a bold and des-
perate offensive on the part of the CEN
trail powers:
these generals are animated by the
spirit which possessed the young lady
at the shore.
"A young man had proposed to the
young lady. and then, on the moonlit
beach. he suggested that they post
pone their marriage.
"No. dearest, we won't marry now,'
he said. claSping her to his breast with
all his force. I am too poor to marry
you now. But, oh, my own. how I'd
battle with the world in order to gain
q fortune and lay it at your feet! Yes.
dear one, II you'd wait. I'd struggle
how I'd struggle-struggle till
But, withdrawing her lips from his.
she said rather coldly:
"'No. George. I'll marry you now
and then you'll have to struggle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

under the authority of India, always has
taken care not to encroach beyond the
territorial limits which it claims as Brit
ish territory. The tribesmen there resent
British authority just as much as they
resent Turkish authority in central and
western Arabia.
1t also is to be noted that when the
tribes are not fighting the Turkish au-
thority usually they are lighting among
themselves. This does not indicate any
deep pan-Arabic aspirations
These Arabic tribesmen are nominally
Mohammedans. just as are the Bedouns
Of Syria, but this does not prevent them
from robbng their co-religionists Before
the advent of the railway the pilgrim
caravans setting out from Damascus, in
spite of their large numbers. always re-
quired military guard. Similarly. the pill
grims taking the short route from Jed
dab to Mecca had to be protected from
marauding bands.
The governor at Jeddah usually was q
vigorous individual. and whenever pill
grim caravan was starting he would cut
off the heads of few Arab marauders,
caught robbing. an example. When
ever the governor was an individual Of
mild disposition the pilgrims between
Jeddah and Mecca suffered severely at
the hands of their co-religionists, who.
prophet in matters of faith declined to
recognize civil or military authority ema-
mating from his presumed descendants.
The Arab or Bedouin point of view,
however, should be taken into considera-
ton. The tribesmen look upon the Syrian
desert and the Ara bian desert as their
own lands. They assume that they have
the right to collect revenue in their own
land, and the pilgrims are regarded as
legitimate sources of revenue. Where the
tribute is paid peaceably there is usually
no trouble. When they have to exact 1t
forcibly, the Arab tribesmen do not think
that they are making war or committing
robbery. 1t is merely their method of
tax gathering.
This Arab point of view and the lack
of national aspirations must be kept in
mind in estimating the significance of
future news from Mecca regarding the
revolt of the shereef of the holy city from
Turkish rule. 1t does not lessen the ulti-
mate possibility of the holy city of Mo-
hammedanism passing under Christian
protectorate. but ii indicates some of
the prospective obstacles TO such a con-
summation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

Judging the effect on Turkish military
eesstiens, It WAS assumed that In
order to prevent the revolt epreadtng
so az to embrace all Arabia, and ever,
to withdraw large bodies of her troops
from Mesopotamia and thus possibly
leave the way open for the Russian
forces to capture Bagdad.
Reports from Mesopotamia, filtered
through both Petrograd and London.
however. have been to the effect that
the Russians, on account Of tho great
heat and other unfavorable climatic
conditions, have withdrawn from the
plains Mesopotamia to the hills and
are nearly hundred miles back of the
limit Of their first advance. II this be
true. the climate of Mesopotamia
arm Of Turkey and leaves her own
troops free for action in other parts
of Asia Minor.
The real problem for Turkey and
Germany is to keep control Of the
from Reyrout and Damascus to Medina.
a distance of 900 miles. Medina nat
urally becomes their base for recon
quering the holy city.
The distance from Medina to Mecca
over the caravan route. which troops
would have to follow, Is about 240
miles. An army marching over that
route would have to be well provision
ed and well equipped yet, since every
year a hundred thousand pilgrims ira
verse the route, there would seem to
be no obstacle to military operations.
Damascus itself. at the outset of the
war. the headquarters of the
5th Turkish Army Corps. and it was
from this most delightful of all cities.
which has preserved its identity for
thousands of years, that the troops
were dispatched to conquer the wild
tribes of the Arabian deserts whenever
their activities became too pronounced.
Since the beginning of hostilities the
military base has been moved forward
under the direction of the German mill
itary engineers, who planned the
descent on Egypt which has not yet
been accomplished.
There are, without question. consid-
cradle bodies of Turkish troops under
German officers somewhere along the
railway route where the Syrian desert
merges into the Arabian desert, and
it will not be a matter of astonish-
ment If news is received later that a
Turkish army corps is a Medina, with
German officers in command.
In peace times no Christians were al
lowed to take the railway journey as
far as Medina. but war doubtless has
changed all that, and if 1t has not the
German general staff, which plans the
Turkish military operations. would find
some way to sustain the Turkish
troops.
x X
Medina itself, in the first reports re-
ceived by way of Cairo, was said to
be beseged by the rebellious tribes
men. If they succeeded in taking 1t
they would have to have large force
to hold it.
The city of the prophets tomb has
few natural defenses. When the holy
railway reached there it was the CEN
ter of very active speculation in town
lots and other enterprises. just as hap
pens with cities in the western world
when the railway reaches them
The strategic advantage Of the rebels
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
Revolt of Holy City, Islam, Birthplace of Mah0m

THE Recent News From Mecca-Arab
Tribesmen Revolt From Turkish>Rule,
and Other Cities Besides Islam Are Said
to Be in Hands of Rebels-The Pilgrim
Port of Jeddah Claimed to Be the Hottest
Spot in the World-The Rebel Leader
Claims to Be Lineal Descendant of the
Prophet Pan-lslamism Somewhat of a
Dream-Real Problem for Turkey and
Germany.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
TURKS AT EASE IN FAvoRITE CAFE.

Africa want the pure faith restored
and in order to do 1t they are in re-
volt against British rule in Egypt, and
from time to time encounter the British
troops.
The Shereef Of Mecca, on the other
hand. is in sympathy with the British.
The news of his revolt came through
British sources at Cairo. and has been
seduously spread by the British news
agencies throughout the Mohammedan
world The Cairo dispatch also stated
that the British authorities in Egypt
also supplied the Mecca rebels with
munitions
Whatever may be the outcome of
this Mecca revolt, it is pretty convinc-
ing evidence that pan-Islamism is much
more of a fanatical dream than pan
Germanism or pan-Slavism- The Eng
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

lies in their possession of the pilgrim
port Of Jeddah, rather than In any con-
troll they may have gained Of the rail-
way terminal at Medina. The British
feet controls the Red sea and is thus
able to support the grand she-eef and
supply him with munitions.
It Is the common testimony of voy-
ayers through the Red sea, where every
spot Is supposed to be hotter than any
other spot, that the real hot spot is
at anchor there find that the only pos
sible means of getting a breath Of air
Is by revolving as II on pivot. The
port used to be a fearful place for
cholera, but the sanitary conditions
have been improved.
Aside from the material advantage
of controlling Jeddah through the
grand shereef as an instrument, there
is a moral or sentimental gain to the
British. Mohammedans from India,
who since the great war began have
been denied the opportunity of making
their pilgrimage to Mecca and per-
forming their prisons at the kaaba, or
Holy Stone. may now do this in COM
parative safety If, as reported. the
caravan route from Jeddah to Mecca is
in control of Shereef Hussein and his
followers. The distance is about forty
miles and the caravan route is no more
difficult than other desert routes.
x
When the holy railway was projected
and contributions for its construction
poured into the Turkish treasury from
Mohammedans all over the world, the
proposition was preached to the Sultan
of Turkey to build the branch from
Mecca to Jeddah without waiting for
the main trunk line to reach the holy
city. The sultan. however. was sus-
picious that II access were made too
easy his own influence in Mecca might
be lessened, and he treated the project
in the usual Turkish way of putting 1t
OFF until day after tomorrow.
1t was possibly for similar reasons
that after the railway reached Medina
no further steps were taken to prolong
1t to Mecca. The sultan may have
reasoned that If the pilgrims who for
merly started from Damascus in cara
vans could travel comfortably for nine
hundred miles by rail. they need not
mind making the final stage OF two
hundred and forty miles by caravan.
Anyhow. although it is four or five
years since the holy railway reached
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

Medina, nothing has been done to pro-
long it.
The sultan's judgment seems to be
vindicated. II Shereef Hussein's revolt
actually has the support Of the Arab
tribesmen as whole and is backed by
Anglo Egyptian troops. the movement
Of military expedition from Mecca
over the desert sands is a much more
formidable proposition than would be
their transportation over the railway
to Medina.
The caravan journey between Medina
and Mecca usually occupies twelve to fif-
teen days. and a military expedition
would not move much more rapidly. The
at Damascus. under German military di-
rection, would be able to reach Medina
in three or four days, while those intend
ed for the raid on Egypt. with their
nearer base, could be got there in two or
three days There is one reason for as
Stunning that when later news is received
Medina will not be in the possession of
the Shereef of Mecca, though he may be
besieging it.
Aside from the moral effect of the loss
of Mecca, the real question for Turkey
and Germany is how far the revolt may
have spread among the Arab tribesmen
of the interior. The suggestion that these
tribesmen may have rallied to the sup
port of the revolving shereef in order to
preserve the faith of the prophet unde-
filed may crafty the allies, but 1t Is not
apt to deceive them. The Yemen. as the
interior district is known. is not favor
able ground for pan-Arabic movement
or for a religious one
There is some common ground in the
opposition of the different tribes and their
chiefs to Turkish rule. but nobody except
few English writer's. ever has been
able to discover pan-Arabic aspiration
in this perennial state of revolt The
tribes sometimes unite to fight the Turk
ish troops because Turkey represents the
only government that exists, and submits
sion to any government is contrary to the
rugged independence Of the tribesmen.
They are not against Turkish govern
ment merely because it is bad govern
ment. but because it is some sort of au-
thority. and centuries of free. wild life
have prejudiced them against authority
of any kind.
A few months ago the British garrison
at Alden. at the entrance to the Red sea.
was reported to be in danger of attack
from the tribesmen of that region. The
British administration at Alden. which Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23

large and small cities and trade ASSOC
Citations among manufacturers ana
dealers engaged in similar industries
All are members of the national body.
The trade associations are made up
entirely of business men. Chambers
of commerce are not. Their member
ship includes merchants, manufactur-
ers, bankers, lawyers. physicians, MIN
listers. engineers, editors, dentists. real
estate brokers, railway officers. and. in
many places. leaders of labor. They
are the picked men, l might say, OF
their communities. and are banded to-
gether for only one purpose--the vel
fare of the places In which they reside
Years ago il was customary among
men such as l have named to organize
chambers of commerce, and by gifts OF
sites or the payment OF money pre-
miums or bonuses to draw factories
and other business enterprises to their
cities. The policy was bad in several
particulars Furthermore. many con-
Germ IN those days made it business
to move around from town to town,
and most of those that did SO with
honest motives were weak financially
and in other respects.
THE object of those old time cham
bers of commerce was good in itself,
but 1t wasn't worked out wisely. All
of the best men in a city. with no dis
tnction as to their business or profess
sions. heartily Joined in the effort to
develop their community industria1ly
They learned by and by. however that
free land or gift of money was not
the sensible way of doing it. Shipping
facilities low rates of transportation,
clean streets. good houses for labor
and other practical advantages or IKE
character, they found, were infinitely
more dependable for the work they
had in hand.
But the character of the member
ship Of those now obsolete bodies or
city builders did not change. They
continued to be composed of public
spirited and able men in all lines. And
that is the case today. ] am sketching
the history of the hundreds OF cham
bers of commerce in the United states
to show that they have been and are
now representative of the countrys
best constructive energy and thought
When a question is sent to them 1t is
decided, I am sure. conscientiously and
intelligently, and in the highest every
day wisdom of the American people
Before we submit a referendum to
the business and professional men OF
the nation the subject to be voted on
petent committee, with the assistance
Of our own experts. 1t often happens.
naturally. that there are two reports,
one by a majority OF the committee and
another by the minority, The subject,
therefore. as you can see. is carefully
considered from all directions. The
facts and arguments are sent to the
country in printed form.
Each chamber of commerce or trade
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
BEDoUIN TRIBESMAN's FAMILY AND TENT.

commercial fertilizer. Charleston be-
came center of that industry Ten
millions of its money is now invested
in phosphate lands and fertilizer build
ings and machinery. Mr.. Rhett, after
graduating at the University of Vir-
ginia, practiced law for fifteen years.
Then, because the bent of his mind had
always been toward finance, he entered
the banking business president of
the South Carolina Bank He is presi-
dent of q large national bank at this
time, and is not outranked in visor,
ability and success by any other bust
ness man at the south.
Mayor of Charleston for eight years
he has long interested himself in city
problems and modern economic ques-
tions. He has been active from the
first in the debates and management
of the National Chamber of Commerce.
and recently was unanimously chosen
to be it's president. The north Atlantic
and the Pacific are as largely in his
vision, as are the south Atlantic and
the Gulf of Mexico.
The 700 organizations, with their
100000 members, that compose the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States are both in and out of politics.
10 tNem are Inc
action of parties, however, is every
thing. At bottom, of course, the whole
object of chambers of comerce, no mat
ter where they are located, is to i'm
prove local social and industrial condi-
lions.
The national body, in turn. concerns
itself only with national conditions.
It's officers and the members of its
many committees are the big business
men of the CONFERENCE.-The, hanu-
Rr HuYt.
ening quota. at the same time, of col
lege professors, political economists
and statisticians to dig out the ethics,
the theories and the arithmetic appli-
cable to such cases as may be consid-
cred.
Business. it can be said. has at last
found its voice through the organiza-
ton of the National Chamber of Com
merce. The inquiry. What does bust
ness want?' can now in most in
stances be plainly answered. The 300-
900 men represented by the Chamber of
Commerce OF the United States have
found that they are practically OF the
same opinion on the questions that are
paramount. 1t Is Mr.. Rhett's duty to
direct the work of making known the
Judgment of business men, when OBJ
tanned. to the President and his cabinet
and to the senators and representa-
tives in Congress. whether they are
democrats or republicans or a COM
mingling of both
only subjects national in character
are sent to chambers OF commerce and
trade organizations for debate and de-
cision," Mr.. Rhett said to the writer
of this article. Our referendums show
that the leading men in all American
communities think alike. on the whole,
in matters of nationwide Importance.
The reason that they do 80 can be
easily explained. They are men of ac-
tion. experience. observation and re-
Election. We give them a free means by
which to express themselves, away
from politics and all other relations
to which they are bound by sentiment
or long association. Consequently
they speak clearly and independently.
There are chambers Of commerce in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

-EWS from Mecca has become one
IN of the interesting episodes of
Nj the great war. The first INTEL
q VI ligence was very striking and
unexpected. Then there was a lull,
period of expectancy and of uncer-
tainty as to what the later intelligence
would be.
The first real news from Mecca came
IN June, and 1t was genuine news. 1t
was that the birthplace of Mahomet,
the holy city of Islam, was in the hands
of Arab tribesmen who had revolted
from Turkish rule. Other places also
were said to be in control of the rebels.
including the pilgrim port of Jeddah, on
the Red sea, and the revolt was de-
clared to be spreading. Later intelli-
eence is that the rebels have taken
other small ports.
A revolt from Turkish rule in Arabia
of itself hardly could be classed as
news 1t is going on more or less all
the time in peace and in war. But
there was significance in the loss of
Mecca, because the rebel leader is the
Grand Shereef Hussein. the chief mag
istrate of the holy city.
Shereef Hussein is the head OF the
family which claims lineal descent from
the prophet, and the family claim has
been allowed. That is why he is the
boss. so to speak. of the holy city. His
action was a direct challenge to the
claim of the Sultan of Turkey as the
head of the Mohammedan world, and
therein lay the significance of his re-
bellion against Turkish authority.
His defiant course showed what all
along has been believed by those who
are more or less in touch with Mo-
hammedan affairs. This is that there
is no such thing as Mohamme,lan unity
any more than there is Christian unity
when it comes to races. nationalities
and territorial possessions The sui
tan's failure to secure a jehad, or holy
war, had encouraged this belief.
The revolt of the magistrate of
Mecca confirms the holloWness of the
pan-Islamic movement. There are un-
doubtedly various sects Of Mohamme-
dan fanatics In different parts of the
world who, If they could, would purge
the prophets faith of modernism. and
restore 1t to It's ancient militant char
acter, but they do not have any COM
mon basis of action. For instance, the
eenussi tribes OF Egypt and northern