The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
AUsrH1A's 100000 NEW Voters.

An Experiment In Universal Suffrage on y
Limited Scale New Goins On.
Austria Is making the experiment OF universal
suffrage. This medieval state, that had resisted
almost az stubbornly as has Russia the onward
march of the people, yielded nearly u year ago
to the inevitable and formulated the plan Of SUI.
frage reform about to be tested at the polls.
The Austrian Parliament, which was dissolved
in January. consisted of 353 members chosen by
three classes Of voters. About 5000 great
landed proprietors elected S5 members; tho
Chamber of Commerce, 81; the 10000 o male
taxpayers. 247. To these three classes of voters
has been added a fourth, with 5000, 900
males, entitled to send 70 representatives
to Parliament. 1t Is evident at q glance
that although suffrage in Austria may
be universal under the new law 1t il far from
equal. To an American or Englishman or Ger
man 1t must seem monstrous that one great
Austrian landow ner should be allowed to exert
as much influence at the polls as nearly 1000
other Austrian citizens; ti6o 1t should require
but sixty landowners to choose a representative
to defeat the will OF one elected by so, 1000 voters
of a less privileged class. Nevertheless, such Is
the meat and substance of universal suffrage in
Austria; such the conditions under which the
elections are held. These elections began on
March 4 and will end on March "a.
1t is doubtful II the Austrian Government has
helped itself much In the eyes OF Austria's com
mon people by this caricature OF universal sur
frage. The men who have agitatOd most per-
sistently for suffrage reform are far from being
content, with the concessions already granted to
them; They are the socialists, tho Democrats,
ana me extreme Liberals. They have been led
by Or. Adler, an orator Of Unusual power, under
whose guidance they have met and rioted In
vienna for years In the name OF reform. Any
body who has read the cable news from Europe
encounters between the universal suffragists
SnSs ,s bs. Vienna sn,5 RoSitr sn on the prSter: HgndTsds
IN the encounters, SO determined and desperate
have been these latter day advocates OF popular
appears merely in the light OF a partial payment.
Of "a concession granted on the installment plan.
Dr. Adler.s newspaper has, said: This small
serve merely TO whot the appetite OF the work
ing people and TO make them feel more keenly
the special privileges reserved for the rich.".~
fourih-classvoters have carried the campaign can
not give much comfort to the Hofburg Statesmen.
Inc social Democrats nominated more than
lowed to the ~fourth-class voters. They have NOT
given Up their old methods OF riot. Reports OF
Vienna daily from all parts OF the Austrian EN-.
pire; The Social Democrats predicted that they
Would elect twenty or more representatives TO
now allow them about ten. The Cier.
tsals who had forty men in the last
aftylfRs. The G s6e 5 il6s sSc,a tH 81. return With
Ollie Tories in theory and Jew baiters in prac- |
uce, are expected TO enter Parliament with
twenty-five deputies, thus doubling their rep |
and the reyolutionists are certain OF the greatest
gains under the new law, while the Moderate
Liberals VIII 90 well II they hold their own. In
oIhef Worns, the men who try Ia occupy middle
ground in Austrian politics appear doomed, as |
are their associates in Germany, where the Rad,
Tibsr aasS sE sns slnn 10 q handful and the National
ana Social Democrats wax stronger and louder |
In their Partisanshin