The Young Turk Period, 1908-1918 - PSI424

300 The Rise of Modern Turkey, 1808-1975
penetrating intelligence, forceful when necessary but never fanatical or vengeful." 99
Cemal's role in suppressing the opposition stamped him as a skillful professional
soldier, absolutely ruthless and without pity when dealing with enemies. Enver,
finally, was the soldiers' soldier, the people's hero, quick, energetic, courageous,
loyal to his colleagues and friends, honestly patriotic and devoted to the nation, a
good soldier and an extremely able administrator. Together their talents brought
them to almost absolute power within the councils of state, particularly after the
empire was once again engulfed in war.
The program of the CUP was clearly set out in its congress declarations made
almost annually until 1913. Government was to be made more efficient by the
"extension of responsibility" of individual bureaucrats, giving them the authority to
act without having to secure authorization for every move from superiors, and by
the "separation of duties" among the different bureaus, departments, ministries, and
individual officials of the central government and between it and the equivalent
provincial bodies. The nation was to be given economic independence, the Capitulations
abolished, and foreigners made subject to the same laws as Ottomans so that
the government could develop financial and economic policies related to the empire's
good and not that of the foreign powers. The Parliament was to be given more
power, and both the deputies and notables were to receive higher salaries. Deputies
who were members of the administration or the police would have to resign before
entering the Parliament to ensure their independence in policy making. Greatly
increased low-interest loans were to be made available to cultivators to help the
advance of agriculture, and they were to be allowed to form their own cooperatives
and other organizations to protect themselves in marketing their goods. Artisans
were to be allowed to protect themselves by developing their guilds into craft
unions. The tithe was to be reduced once again to no more than one-tenth, with the
surtaxes ended and education and public works financed from other sources. The
tax farm system was to be abolished once and for all and the profits tax extended
into a full-fledged income tax so that all would share in the burden of government
according to their means. The animal taxes were to be reduced and imposed only
when the cultivators could pay in cash rather than being forced to surrender their
animals in payment. Efforts also were to be made to improve animal husbandry, to
develop industry and trade, and to facilitate the formation of corporations. Above
all, the government would have to be reorganized and systematized. All corruption,
favoritism, and protection were to be ended. The communes (nahiye) would be
allowed to develop their own police, education, and public works according to local
needs. Strong efforts were to be made to develop public health and to wipe out the
diseases that had so troubled the population. Municipalities were to be given sufficient
money to meet local needs without calling on the central government for help.
Private, religious, and foreign schools were to be supervised by the government and
elementary education made free and compulsory, with Turkish used in all schools
in order to promote the unity of Ottoman society. More teachers were to be trained,
and they would go where they were needed in the countryside rather than remaining
in the big cities. Students and teachers who excelled in their work were to receive
salary supplements and bonuses as further encouragement. The religious schools
were to be reformed to meet the needs of the modern world and new arrangements
made to support the religious and cultural institutions previously maintained by
foundations. Foreign experts would be brought to the empire as needed to help
develop the higher technical academies and schools. 100