Social and Political Reforms
By CHARLES PERGLER,
Commissioner of the Czechoslovak Republic in the United States.
Social and political problems faced by the Czechoslovak Republic are not dissimilar to those found in the other new states formed as a result of the defeat of the Central Empires—Poland and Jugoslavia, as well as in united Rumania. In approaching these questions the American public must remember that the situation in Europe differs fundamentally from that prevailing in America. One can defend very plausibly the individualistic school of political economy, and equally so, and even with perhaps more plausibility, what may properly be called the co-operative school of thought. But the most beautiful theories frequently collide with hard facts, and it is hard facts European statesmen must deal with. They must satisfy, first of all, the demand of their peoples for decent livelihood. It is only too obvious that to permit matters to drift as the extreme individualist so frequently demands would be worse than suicidal. When we think of the density of population in western Mid-Europe, and the comparative scarcity of population in the United States, we realize in a moment how fundamentally the situation differs, and how fundamentally different must be the approach to solution of social questions and problems of social reform.
As indicating how thoroughly democratic the new Republic is, permit me to call your attention to the fact that one of the very first acts of the National Assembly was the abolition of all patents of nobility. Thus the new nation, through its duly authorized representatives, with one stroke gave earnest of its intention to do away with everything savoring of mediaevalism.
Of the economic and social problems perhaps the most important one confronting the new state was that of the large landed estates. You will remember that hesitation to deal with this question was perhaps the fundamental reason why the Russian provisional government was wrecked, and why Bolshevism gained the upper hand. Czechoslovak statesmen do not propose to be caught unawares in this fashion. These estates in most cases are held by alien nobility and the late imperial house. More often than not they came into the hands of these various clans during the carpet-bagging period of the Thirty Year War, when Bohemia was plundered right and left by the Hapsburgs and their retainers. On April 16 the National Assembly adopted a law expropriating all large estates exceeding 150 hectares of land under cultivation, or that can be cultivated (a hectare is a measure of area containing ten thousand square meters, or 2.471 acres) and 100 hectares of woodland. Under this law the state will take over 1,300,000 hectares of cultivated land, and 3,000,000 hectares of woodland, which will furnish livelihood to 430,000 families. In the case of estates of the imperial family, estates ilegally acquired, and estates of persons who during the war had been guilty of treason against the Czechoslovak nation, no compensation will be paid. There will be compensation to all those who have not legally forfeited their right to it, or whose possession was not based upon robbery, theft, or fraud.
What about the labor question? Immediately following the abolition of all patents of nobility, and making private citizens of various princes, dukes, and counts, the National Assembly passed a law establishing the eight hour day. According to latest advices, the National Assembly is about to pass legislation aimed at doing away with unemployment, and insofar as this may not be possible, to alleviate the condition of the unemployed. No doubt ultimately this legislation will include some sort of a scheme of insurance against unemployment, against sickness and accident, and similar features of what is known in Europe as social legislation. The establishment of workingmen's chambers is being contemplated. This should not be confused with the Soviet institutions. In Europe chambers of Commerce and similar institutions have a legal status, and, logically, if there can be chambers of commerce, there is no reason why there should not be workingmen’s chambers, which shall be the legally authorized representatives and spokesmen of the workingmen, even as the
