Atatürk's attitude toward businessmen

He was an elderly peasant.

It was not like a workshop; he was producing syrup from sugar beets in his home. He wanted to meet with Atatürk and ask for capital for the sugar factory he was planning to establish. 

The Chief of Staff, Hayati Bey, bypassed those waiting in the hall and brought the elderly peasant into Atatürk's presence. When Atatürk saw him, he stood up and approached him. This was an expression of the respect Atatürk showed to the peasant. Atatürk invited the peasant to sit across from him.

The peasant's name was Molla Nuri Ömeroğlu.

Hayati Bey, in his excitement, introduced him as “Nuri Şeker” (Nuri Sugar).

He was Nuri Efendi. Nuri Efendi explained the purpose of his visit;

-“I am from the village of Kalfa in Uşak. I inherited a halva and poppy oil workshop from my father. I did my military service in Istanbul. I opened my eyes and ears; I learned many things in Istanbul. I had sugar beet seeds brought from Europe in a letter envelope. I planted these seeds in the soil of my village. I grated and boiled the beets. I made molasses. I obtained sugar. I made foam halva with it. I believed that we could make sugar from beets. 

Under the leadership of Mehmet Hacim Bey, fifty-one of us joined together and established a company called the Terakki-yi Ziraat Turkish Joint Stock Company. We have a capital of 600 thousand liras,” he said.

Atatürk was listening carefully. And Nuri Efendi got to the point.

-“My Pasha! Give us a hand. Let us establish our sugar factory. The peasant will either grow beets or work in the factory. Uşak will flourish. Will you give us a hand?” As soon as he said this, Atatürk sprang from his seat. He stood up from where he was sitting and embraced Nuri Efendi;

-“May you all prosper! This determination, this desire, this enthusiasm will save Turkey. I will send you to the Prime Minister with an aide-de-camp now. He may also have you speak with one or two ministers. Explain everything you told me to them thoroughly. If there is a problem, do not worry, come to me. My door will always be open to you,” he said.

He kissed Nuri Efendi on his cheeks. He sent him off. But he did not leave it hanging in the air. The next day, he gathered the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers and also invited Nuri Şeker to the meeting.

At the meeting, Celal Bayar explained the subject. Atatürk, turning to Prime Minister İsmet İnönü and the ministers, said, “We must support such initiatives.” And he told them to buy shares.

However, İsmet Pasha gave 10 liras and bought five shares. But this was insufficient. 

This situation made Nuri Şeker thoughtful. He fell into despair. Later, he went to Atatürk's wife, Latife Hanım. Latife Hanım was his fellow countrywoman.

He clarified the work he wanted to do to her as well, and as a fellow citizen from Uşak, he asked her to buy a certain amount of shares. Latife Hanım;

-‘I do not keep money on me,’ she said, and bought 25 bonds with fifty liras she received from the cook of the sleeping car. Nuri Bey was not very pleased with this either. Because this support was insufficient. Upon this, half-jokingly and half-seriously, he said to Latife Hanım:

-“Gazi Pasha did not have money on him either. It seems you are living off the fat of the land,” he said.

This was a heavy accusation, even more than a criticism. Moreover, it was an accusation made to the President and his wife. There was already nothing in hand, nothing in the pocket. Could this be said?

So, what happened next?

The factory was opened in 1926 despite all the difficulties. Atatürk led the way for its opening.

This was Atatürk's view of businessmen. Even if they made an accusation against him, he would stand up to greet a businessman.

Now, let alone an accusation,

they even arrest those who offer justified criticism.