Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-11-18

Foreigners, or so-called foreigners,
are enjoying great commercial prosper
ity In Turkish cities, especially In Con-
stantinople. Turkish officials have
been easily corrupted. Business men
who were not too scrupulous in their
methods have found Turkey a profit
able field.
In spite of all the propaganda which
has been circulated about the appro-
priation Of Christian property by Mo-
hammedans, the stubborn fact remains
that Greeks and Armenians own dis
proportionate part Of the best business
property on the prominent streets In
COnstantinople, and many Of them have
been more successful at war profteer-
ing than Turks.
Hotel Rates High.
The leading hotel of Constantinople
is owned by Greek, who made great
fortune selling supplies to the German
army. He has invested his money In
hotels In various parts of Europe. The
Constantinople hotel cost him $780,
a year ago In a single year the hotel
has paid for itself He charges So
day for small single room without
bath and the cost of meals is In pro
portion. The only other hotel run on
European lines is owned by an Arme-
MAN, and his prices are equally high.
Turkish officials are not permitted
to regulate prices. The Germans did
IL when they were In control of Con-
stantnople, but the entente high COM
missions make little attempt to check
profiteering, because such efforts only
intensity thc friction which exists he
,ween the various missions.
Constantinople Is really group Of
religious municipalities, which are more
political than religious. and acknOwl-
edge the authority Of no government.
The Greeks are under their patriarch,
the various religious faiths Of the Ar
menIans have their patriarchs, and the
Jews have grand rabbi.
All these races hate each other
nearly as much, apparently. as they do
the Turks. Westerners are unable to
comprehend the hatred In which the
rival nationalities Of the Levant have
stewed for centuries. Entente high
commissioners now have some appre-
citation Of the task Turkish officials had
In trying to administer such mixed
populations
Every nationality has to have Its
own churches, its own schools, orphan
ages and hospitals. Even small chill
dren Of different nationalities cannot
be put together without serious fric-
ton.
American relief workers who have
been trying to assist refugees OF all
races, regardless of religion, find the
task almost impossible. Armenians
complain If Turks are fed. Greeks al
iege favoritism to Armenians and the
relief committees Of the various races
and religious heads take up the walls
of individuals and waste time of relief
administrators In considering petty
Quarrels.
Pin Faith on Children.
Broadly speaking. foreign relief
workers have little to say for the
adults Of any race in Turkey. but pin
their faith to the children and urge
child welfare work and education as
the most hopeful fields in this land Of
hate. Foreign relief workers who
came to Turkey expecting to find gentle
Christian minoritfes had a rude awak-
ening.
The Greek and Armenian bandits
and outlaws are just as wild as the
Mohammedan bands. Relief workers
have learned that christian" means a
man who is not a Moslem. 1t is po-
litical term, and does not necessarily
imply that the man so designated prac-
tees the Ten Commandments.