“universal suffrage.” To-day we see that this universal suffrage actually reduces the relative representation of the non-Magyar peoples in Parliament. The new Bill assures to the Magyars 62.6 per cent., to the Germans 12.5 per cent., and to the other nationalities together only 24.9 per cent, of the total electorate; while a skillful project of electoral “geometry” is in preparation. The best indication of the new Bill’s tendency is the excuse by which the Suffrage Minister, Mr. Vázsonyi—leader of the “democratic” party—defended himself against the attacks of the jingoes (Neue Freie Presse, 16 September):—
“I can demonstrate that, even in the event of the vote being granted to all literates above the age of twenty-four, there would only be four out of the sixty-four constituencies of Transylvania where the Roumanian element would have a majority. In these four there are two where the majority is so insignificant as to make it impossible to speak of its Roumanian character. Surely it is grotesque to hear the opponents of electoral reform describing these four Roumanian mandates as a danger to Magyardom. Is Magyardom so feeble? My reform will prove the contrary. The basis of the franchise reform of the former Premier, Mr. Lukács, was to increase the number of constituencies by twenty-two—all pure Magyar free towns—as a counterpoise to dangers from the nationalities. I propose to augment still further the number of seats among the towns where the Magyar element predominates.”
To this statement it must be added that in eight out of the fifteen counties of Transylvania the Roumanians are in an overwhelming majority. The total Roumanian population of Transylvania—according to Magyar statistics which favour the Magyar element—is 55 per cent, as against 34.3 Magyar and 8.7 per cent. German. Thus Magyar democracy proposes to allow to the 1,472,021 Roumanians of Transylvania a total of four seats, of which two are doubtful.
I have contented myself with a brief summary of the principal “reforms” contemplated by the Hungarian government. Our survey proves that the Magyars, feeling themselves free of immediate military danger, are trying to settle the racial question without regard for right or liberty. The only goal which they see is that of completely Magyarising Hungary and rendering it loyal to the idea of the Magyar State. But their victims are very numerous, and it is certain that they will not submit to being deprived of their national traditions and individuality. Persecution has already bred a desperate hatred which foreshadows new dangers for the future peace. To leave the oppressed peoples of Hungary in the clutches of their present masters would merely be to sow the seeds of fresh conflicts in the Dual Monarchy. Their situation is aggravated by the knowledge that while Western Europe and America are talking of the liberty of nations and their right to live as free members in the human commonwealth, they are deaf to the groans and sufferings of the non-Magyars. Have not, then, the Serbs, Croats, Roumanians, Ukrainians and Slovaks of Hungary the right to share in the free Society of Nations? Must they perforce submit to the brutal suppression of their mother-tongue, to the destruction of their national consciousness, to proselytism and expropriation, to exclusion from all political rights and from any influence upon the destiny of their native land?Dr. P.
Current Topics.
ORGANIZATION CHANGES.
Delegates elected in February by the conventions of the Bohemian National Alliance and the Slovak League met at Cleveland on March 9 to carry into effect the vote for a closer co-operation of the Czechs and Slovaks in the United States. The work which is to be done in common was placed in charge of four committees. One committee of which Charles Pergler is the executive head will look after the political and consular interests of the Czechoslovaks. Headquarters have since been opened in Washington, 717 Fourteenth St. , N. W. Publicity work which has been carried on heretofore by Mr. Pergler and Mr. G. H. Mika from the Slav Press Bureau in New York has also been transferred to Washington and will be under the charge of Mr. Mika. The remaining two branches of the work have necessarily been located in New York. One is the recruiting activity for the Czechoslovak Army in France, in charge of Captain Zdenko Fierlinger and other officers who are expected from France at any moment. Closely connected with it is the relief work on behalf of the soldiers and their families. This work is carried on under the direction of Mrs. Caroline Motak.
The concentration of the political and press work in Washington has made it advisable to move there also the press bureau of the Bohemian National Alliance which has kept the readers of the Bohemian papers in this country in close touch with events in Bohemia and the progress of the move ment for independence in the Allied lands. Mr. Joseph Tvrzický who has been secretary of the Alliance almost from its foundation and has acted in addition as the director of the Bohemian Press Bureau has moved to the headquarters of the Czechoslovak National Council in Washington to continue his work from there.
LOYALTY OF BOHEMIANS TO AMERICA.
A few months ago we noted here a statement by Attorney-General Gregory that of all the diverse elements of the American population the Bohemians have made the best showing in the matter of volunteering for the army. The following quotation from a recent editorial in the Cedar Rapids Republican bears on the same point:
