The Washington times., 1920-09-26

Secretly there assembled from al quarters Of the
Empire leaders who belonged to those WHO had been
friendly to Zubayda supporters In Constantinope
in the very shadow Of Ydiz Palace ITSELF these vowed
that they would revenge the murder Of the slave girl
even il the Sultan himself had to be dethroned.
For several years the movement went on gathering
political impetus until court in Europe began to
fear the that had been stirred up throughout Tur
key There came suddenly into prominence . young
Turk not Of the noble classes who seemed to be leader
of the malcontents. His name was Enver and he had
been barber in Salonca, but it rumored that he
brother Of the slain Zubayda and that his barber
shop had been purchased with the money his family
ceved from the Governor Of Scutar when she sold
to him to become q birthday gift for the Sultan.
OF course Enver had not been 80 loving brother
to object that sale Of his sister, refuse
his share Of the money it brought to his family
himself In business But that the friends she had
made the Sultan favore seeking avenge her
DEATH he projected himself into their counsels who
was most wronged Of ALA griefstricken brotheri
In this pose Enver brought into play all that shrewd
and determination which, later, was to make him
virtually the master of Islam and the main influence in
bringing Turkey into the Great War. He found ready
support his contentious and raised standard under
the name Of The Committee for Union and P1ossess.
ment' because Of the youth of Enver himself and many
of his followers began to stir intrigue and rebellion
throughout the empire
The sultan surrounded by his nine hundred wives
and concubne and dependent largely upon the Imperial
Mother and Besmi for his counse ignored the gathering
storm until it was too late.
The events which led directly to the dethronement of
Abdul well known history with which my readers
will be familiar. First the "Young Turks" compelled
the Sultan to establish constitution and to permit the
election Of popular assembly. The Imperial Mother
tried in vain to persuade her to refuse this demand
but the friends Of Zubayda which had been hundred
more numbered by the millions and the Sui
tan dared not defy them For year he plotted however
aided by Besmi and the Mother to overthrow the const
tuition and drive all Of Envers Young Turks into prison.
He aided in this design by the German Emperor but
even this powerful assistance was not enough.
At last came the day when Enver, now known as
Enver Bcy determined upon his master stroke Gather
ing around him the most powerful Of those who answered
to call that may have been somthng like Remember
Parliament. "Dethrons the sultan he demanded of
them proclaim fetva and put the question Of right
eousness' to the Sheikh ul ISLAM
No more revolutionary demand had been made in
the history Of the Turkish Empire fetva u.s. effect
trial Of the chief Of the Ottoman Governmental the
Sultan 1t Is an impressive ceremony old as Islam
ITSELF through which the voice Of all the Sultan sub
jects is supposed to express ITSELF The Parliament
representatives of the people, arrogated to itself the right
to proclaim fetva and, popular sentiment against
Abdul 1lamid, there was none to deny it that right
The question was a ceremony in which the Sheik
u Islam played his part the spiritual adviser the
tual religious head Of all Mohammedansm. The Sultan
merely is Emperor the governmental ruler But Abdul
Hamid had been enthroned, also the representative
on earth of the Prophet No civil power alone could de-
prive him Of that religious calphate. But if to the
"question" the Shekh ul Islam should make affirmative
answer, then Sultan might lose his throne and his
calphate we'll
The followers Of Enver obeyed him. The Senate was
assembled and resolved itself into "fetva." Every
member voted for the removal Of Abdul in the of
the people, under the accusation that he had dehed the
constitution he himself had sworn to support.
Then messengers Of the Senate sent for the
erabe ShcikhuIslam When he had been seated OH the
Senate dais the question put to him.
"What is to be done with caliph who, on several
occasions has infrnged the prescriptions Of the Koran
who has the country yranca who has burned