Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-29
Demanded by 0rgani1'd
Labor Men in Vienna.
Demonstration BY 100000 Be-
fore Parliament Buildings.
Petitions Are Received SympaiheticaIly With
Promises Of Immediate Consideration.


new epoch in Austrian history, for the
Austrian people throughout the entire
land made known to their crown their
imperial demand for equal suffrage,
and even as this demand was being
voiced the crown, through Premier
Baron Gautch Won Frankenthurn, in
Parliament, was assuring the people
that their will would be done. The
premier promised to bring in by the
end of February a bill providing lot
full and free universal, equal anu
direct suffrage.
The people made known their de-
mand by series of monster demon
STATIONS in all the principal cities anu
towns of the country. From only one
town, Austerltz, are serious dlsoroers
reported. There the troops hred Oh
disorderly demonstrators, killing TWO
and wounding 80.
Parliament opened at IL o'clock, ana
at noon Premier Baron Gautch Won
Frankenthurn announced the grant
ing Of suffrage to the people. Between
10 A. NJ. and p NJ, fully 175.oOO men
and women marched past the Parlia-
ment buildings, each person wearing,
on an arm, a red band bearing the
granting of equal suffrage.
The demonstration has made a deep
and serious impression upon the
country at large. The premier's words
in, Parliament relating to suffrage
made a favorable impression, particu-
larly upon the Germans who are graft
fled because of the governments prom
Use to protect the various nationalities
composing the population of the en-
pire. In this they see an assurance of
the continuance of their national pre-
dominance.
Vienna, Nov. 2S.-The Austrian Par
lament opened, today, one of the most
important sessions in its history as it
will have to decide the questions of suf-
frage and the nations attitude to-
wards Hungary. AS the members took
their seats, monster popular process
sion variOusly estimated at from one
hundred thousand to two hundred
thousand workmen was filing past the
Parliament buildings in SILENT orderly
impressive array, thus voicinS their
universal demand for equal and unlver-
sal suffrage. Disorders had been freely
predicted for today. Practically every
store in the city was closed. The au-
thorities had strong forces of police,
cavalry and infantry ready to main
tain order, but the day has, up to the
present, passed quietly.
The demonstrators We're forbidden by
their leaders to cheer, sing or shout
and obeyed orders strictly, but their
demand was emphasized as hour aftetr
hour tens of thousands marched past
the Parliamentary buildings with red
flags and banners bearing inscriptions
imperatively demanding equal direct
and universal suffrage. Emperor Fran
els Joseph passed the day at the Vien-
ma palace from the windows of which
he could witness the silent deflling OF
his people. Premier Baron Gautch Won
F'rankenthurn in the meanwhile was
laying before the deputies the govern
ment's bill providing for equal suffrage.
Every Austrian male over q years
of age has a vote, but the voters are d.
vidcd into five classes and the votes
cast by certain classes. notably the
landed proprietors, various Chambers
of Commerce and urban jewellers, are
infinitely more effective in securing the
election of deputy than the votes cast
by the ordinary people, to the extent
even that sometimes dozen land own
ers' votes count as much as 100000
votes cast by the ordinary people. AS
a result. the wealthy classes can secure
parliamentary protection and favorit
ism at the expense of the masses, con
sequently the masses are strongly de
manding the abolition of all suffrage
privileges enjoyed al their expense. The
movement applies only to Austria. Suf
frage In Hungary Is provided for by thu
recent Fejervary Kristoffy program
and only the refusal to grant the us'
of Hungarian words of command in thu
Hungarian section of the army, today
Stands between the HungarianS AM
the enjoyment of suffrage.
There is much fear in Austria tina
the new suffrage may deprive the Ger
man element in Austria or Its 1ong-hel'
political leadership in national affairs
On this basis there is reason to believ
that the suffrage bill will be bitterly ut
tackled by the German deputies VIII
constitute 206 members out of a total o
423.
Vienna. Nov. 2S.-Some 100000 rep
resentatives of organized labor mad
demonstration before the Parliamen
buildings. today, and paraded tn
streets of the capital in support @
their demand for the election of mem
bers of the Reichsrath by the univer
sal, equal and direct suffrage.
The demonstration was under tn
auspices of the Social Democrat
Most of the factories and many of til
shops and offices We're closed. TIL
procession mustered on KarlspIatz an
headed by banners marched to III
parliament buildings where a deputa
uon presented petition for univers,
suffrage to the premier and president
OF both houses.
The presidents were both symnatb.
TIC. They said they recognized tb,
the foremost duty of the Legislatu
was TO listen to the cry for an exta,
sion of the suffrage which was raac,
: ing Parliament from all classes of g
ciety. AT the same time they noint,
out the difficulties of DEALINGS wi
so far reaching a reform in the n
cuhar political and national conditio