Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06

n by Curtis Brown. All Rights Strictly Reserved1
alities of the Austrian half of the dual
monarchy, but as regards the broad basis
of the franchise the bill IS simplic-
ity itself In one short paragraph 1t
pi Divides that the right of voting Is to
be enjoyed by every male Austrian citt-
zen who has reached the age Of twenty
-four years and has resided in the electo-
raj district at least one year before the
day OF election. Excepted only are per-
sons who are criminals or Idiots. The
condition of one years residence Is not
entirely satisfactory to the socialists, but
they are not making any fight upon 1t.
The chief opposition to the bill comes,
OF course, from the great landed pro-
prietors, and the chief obstacles in the
way of its passage arise from the strife
between the Germans and the Slavs over
their proportionate representation.
The mobiles and great landlords are
positively furious over the Introduction
of the universal suffrage. entailing, as
IT does the loss to them not only of d.
rect representation, but also of much
prestige and power. Prince Schwarzen-
berg, whose family once owned one-fifth
of Bohemia, and who still has vast pos
sessions there. told the former Ameri-
can ambassador Bethany Storer, that
universal suffrage would ruin the coun-
try utterly. So angry are many OF the
aristocrats over the matter that they
refused to entertain in their usual man.
ner this winter, and the carnival was one
OF the dullest on record SO far as the
highest classes Of society were CON-
cerned. But the mobiles will have to sub
nit to the curtailment Of their ancient
privileges and recognize the coming of
the proletariat.
The obstacles from the inter-race con-
ficts however are much more serious. The
new bill increases the total membership or
the house from 425 TO 455, and according to
the apportionment proposed of the new
seats the German party finds themselves In
a minority to the Slavs, which they natur-
a The Poles far the strongest
single party in the house. are also much
dspleased because, though Galicia Is given
more members under the bill. the increase
goes TO the Ruthenian districts there and
not to the Polish. The government Will
have all its work cut out to get the blu
through. But 1t certainly will be passed
and by the present parliament, 100. r or
the Germans and Poles know full well that
the longer the measure Is deferred tho
worse their plight will be, as the Slavs are
in great majority in the country.
The probable solution of the whole matter
will be that the government Will increase
the total number of deputies still further.
adding twenty twenty-five seats and CIV
ing them to the Germans, Czechs and Poles.
There will certainly be good deal of trad
ms In votes before the bill can be adopte1,
especially as a two-thirdS majority OF the
parliament is necessary before any sucn
! change can be made in the Austrian con-
stitution.
| The introduction OF universal suffrage
into Austria came as a great and almost
| dramatic surprise to all classes of the COM
munity, to the socialists as we'll as TO the
landed proprierors. Ii was precipitated by
| the exigencies of the political crisis in Hun
| gary, where the emperor-king, after long
| hesitation, yielded to the persuasions of hts
ministers TO meet the opposition OF the
coalition party with the threat OF universal
| suffrage. When this WAS seriously proposed
| in Hungary the extended franchise could
| not, OF course, be denied to the people or
| the Austrian half OF the monarchy. And
| just at this moment, too. came the revoiu-
| tionary upheaval In Russia, with the car 5
| concession OF the duma and popular repre-
| sentation. which greatly stirred the social
| lists In the adjoining empires OF Germany
and Austria Hungary.
| But altogether apart from these external
| influences was the urgent necessity of par
| liamentary reform In Austria. For q long
! time the reichsrath assembled in Vienna
had done no legislative work, the budget,
| recruiting bills and other absolutely essen
| tial measures being passed under the emer-
| gency paragraph Ii OF the constitution,
| which enables the crown to do certain
| things without the aid OF the parliament.
| The situation was fast becoming intoierable
| and some radical reform had TO be intro
| duced. And thus after many years OF
| patient and unwearying labor the socialists
| suddenly md one Of their most cherished