Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1920 — ALLENBY STOPS GRAFT OF TURK [ARTICLE]

ALLENBY STOPS GRAFT OF TURK

Persecution of Armenians and Confiscation'of Property Prevented by English Officer. , The most arbitrary city boss in the world, it seems safe to say, as well as the most unscrupulous politician of modern times, has turned up in Alntab, Armenia, to judge from an official report recently made by Major Stephen Trowbridge, under Gen. Edmund H. H. Allenby’s orders. He is a Turk named Besim Bey. Until the Near East Relief agents stopped him, he practiced upon the terrifled Armenians such forms of super-graft as might well make every other corrupt politician in the world green with envy, and such cruelties as make all other heartless rulers, from Nero down, seem sweet and gentle characters. His office was that of Municipal Chief Accountant of Alntab; but, as all dishonest office-holders know. It isn’t the job that matters, but the sugar-plums that go with it Besim Bey plucked sugar-plums with both hands, night and day. Even inspired city bosses have their day. Besim Bey’s came when the Near East Relief agents found that nd thorough Armenian relief work could be done In that city while such conditions of terrorization existed. General Mac Andrew ordered the arrest and removal of the six worst Turks in the ring that ruled the city, and Besim Bey qualified, as usual, for first place,