The Washington herald., 1922-04-21


= is one of the most interesting men now
alive. " t-..
He is asbriIliant soldier. This was demon
strated to the sorrow of King Constantine and the
Greek army when they tried to step his toes last
year. He is briiapt statesman. Allied leaders
thought they had corpse to kick arodnd when
they set to work on the Turkish problem after the
war. Instead they found coffin filled with dyna-
mite.
Mr.. Kemal displays, although not in excess,
a number of Turkish characteristics. He is re-
puted to be partial to massacres when they serve
his purpose. But he is a moderate man. Never
has he ordered the population OF city slaughtered
for the pleasure of hearing them scream and
watching blood flow.
Latest reports from Angora show the plumed
knight of Islam in still more favorable light. In
fact he has done we'll that if it can be arranged
conveniently, favor importing him to the District
OF Columbia, deposing the District Commissioners
and Congress, and making him dictator for two
weeks.
At Hngors Mustapha Kemal has accomplished
the unaccomplishable. He has enforced prohibition
with thoroughness dreamed of by Mr..
Volstead by Wayne B. Wheeler His capital
city is model dry" town. If John D. Rockefeller
was dying for drink in Angora he has not enough
money to buy one.
effective.
They would accomplish the same result in Wash
ington in Asia Minor
"Bootleggers" have opportunity to commit
second. ohense. Mr.. Kemals executioners keep
their scimitars sharpened at all hours Within a
half hour from the time anyone is caught peddling
intoxicants he is passed to the chief head and
neck specialist with instructions to operate at
After several hundred had been executed, reports
from Angora state, liquor running" became lost
art.
With the jolly good fellows of Angors who
like a little nip" occasionally Mustapha Kemal has
been more nlerciful. gentleman arrested with
the odor OF alcohol on his breath is given an op-
portunity to repent and reform his life before fac
ing his Maker. For the first offense the cuIprit is
lashed to a post in the public square and whipped
until he is unconscious. For the second offense he
is beheaded
OF course such methods might not please
Washington people indefinitely We do not think
they would be necessary. In two weeks it is
reasonable to suppose the terrible Turk could
change this city into another Angora. His methods
may be harsh but they effective. They have
accomplished more in that provincial town in Asia
Minor than the combined forces of police, courts
pulpits and good citizens have been able to bring
about in any community in the United States in
three years.
Prohibition is an old law in Turkey 1t was
first, laid down by Mohammed. But, with the pass
ing of centuries, the government grew lax. Not
only was it possible but comparatively easy to OBJ
tain little liquor for neighborhood parties fu-
uerals, weddings, etc. When Mustapha Kemal came
to Angora he found the law practically unenforced
He determined to remedy this condition and has
succeeded
The Turkish nationalist leader is a sincere and
honest man. He believes in prohibition Nothing
would please him more than that the nations of
the world recognize his government and assign
ENJOYS to Angora. But he has served due notice
He meyer will consent to allow diplomatic immunity
to cover violations of the dry" laws. If the
American Minister, for example entertained the
British Minister at Saturday night party both
would be subject to castigation in the public square
for the edihcation of the multitude.
We aware that the suggestion that Musta-
pha Kemal be brought to Washington as chief pro-
hibitiot enforcement officer dictator of the District
government, chief of police for two weeks will
meet with little favor with that large and inauen-
tal element of the citizenry who look upon even
the mild Mr.. Vostead as a tyrannical fanatic But
we have law. Here is one way to get it en-
forced Mr.. Kemars methods would prove bene-
ht to .th; District at least until the present supply
of hall distilled liquor is exhausted With bet
ter intoNicants available they might be too harsh.
We pass the idea along to William Jennings
Bryan for what it is worth. In passing We wish to
congratulate Mr. Bryan for his stand that it should
be capital crime for any write an editorial
on prohibition while he is drunk
How sweet and brotherly is the conversa-