The Washington times., 1906-01-07
AUSTRIA IN MIDST
OF SUFFRAGE FIGHT
"NatiOnalities'' Would Ex-
tend Political Franchise.
-GERMANENTUM" IN DANGER
Predominant German Element Will
Fight Battle to the
Last Ditch.

LONDON- Ian. 6.-Ihe campaign for
and against the suffrage bill of the
Austrian government continues with un-
s5ated vigor. The real opponents are
the Pan-Germans. who are certain that
whoever else wins they must lose by
the extension Of equal franchise to the
agricultural population. Hitherto the
preponderance Of members from large
towns, where German influence is pre-
dominant. has enabled the German ele-
ment tc keep the whip hand OF the
'nationaliues." but If the vote is given
10 the villages and distributed equally
over the entire population. the natural
consequence viii be a considerable loss
Of seats. The term "nationalities" COW
ers all the subjects OF Austria who are
not Pan-Germsn. 1t is an objectiona BILE
discrimination. since the Germans are as
much a nationality as the CzeChs
Poles, or any other group. But the
German element has so long enjoyed
supremacy that il cannot endure the
notion of the 'uationalities" being put
upon an equal footing which may lead
10 their eventually climbing into a posi-
tion OF more than aqIaiitv. As ore
speaker put il. they object To the par
htmeHt being m-,le $3.50 L..t,- win
which German supremacy is to commit
haT-kau.
German Supremacy.
The expression German supremacy
does not. perhaps, exactly give the
sense Of the "Germanentum." which is
now considered 10 be in peril. German
entum in Austria is not only official
welding OF power. but subtle pervad.
Ing German influence Grel5lv priced Ly
Pan-Germans. kept alive by German
scholars and education. and by an al
most completely German Nienuese press,
seduously fosteFed from Berlin This il
quite conprehensible. as is also the re-
luctance 70 contribute in any way
toward weakening ''Germanentum" on
the part OF its members.
But II is equally COMPREHENSIVE that
the uauonaAues who C0nstitulionally
are entitled 20 the same rights and priv
neges indentlcally as the Germans
should object TO perpetual domination
by the latter. The claim Of the ma
uOUalities' is so strictly constitutional.
and so reasonable, that the Germans can
find no better objection To il than TO
try and pcryert attention from the issue
by accusing the Jews of being prime in
stiSators of the movement. and by
vaguely shrinking from what they call
"a leap ia the dark. They affirm that
the masses are the dark" into whose
arms the government proposed 10 lean.
and that they are too ignorant TO be
given any share in politics
Germans Responsible.
To this argument the ''nationaIities"
Tetort that the Germans themselves are
responsible. in a large measure for the
ignorance OF their fellOW-sUbjects. both
by preventing the foundation of Czech
and Italian schools and universities.
and by an oppressive and antedIuvian /
press law. They declare that the best
way TO nj the masses for participation |
in politics Is 10 instruct them. and that /
the onlN. way &c teach them is by news }
papers. Al present the press law con 1
tains two Objectionable provisions. name /
~ what is called objective procedure. % /
which resembles Russian administrative 1
process, except that It's applied 10 the 4
paper. instead of TO the editor and pro- 1
hibitiou of street sales. BY objective 1
procedure any newspaper can be CON I
hscated or stopped without trial though /
latterly this has seldom been done i'm 4
Austria, As regards street sales, it is 4
absolutely absurd to keep up the veto, /
and the commit -ee now sitting on the /
press law VIII probably abolish il.
As 10 the main question OF universal /
suffrage opinions are very much divided
as 10 its fate. There is little doubt that
IL Will ultimately be Introduced. bur
it is thought that Baron Gautsch Will
fall and hat it viii require a good deal /
Of agitation before the Germenentum
and the landed interests submit TO such
an oveTthrOwaI OF their position