Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
SOCIALISM IN AUSTRIA
Growth Viewed With Alarm by
State and Church.
THE POLITICS OF VIENNA
Interesting Description of City's Three
Glasses.
VARIOUS BODIES AT VARIANCE
Former Countess Festetics Disinherited
for Marrying Gypsy Violinist.
American Woman Arrested.
VARIOUS BODIES AT VARIANCE


Special Cablegram to The Star.
VIENNA. June 1.-The growth of So
cialism in Austria, and especially of Chris
tian socialism, which a high Catholic dig
nitary has pronounced to be neither Chris
tian nor socialism,, has certainly been
viewed with alarm by state as we'll as by
church, and there are many different
rumors as to what is likely to be done
toward the checking of movements of this
nature.
1t is undoubtedly true that the politics of
the ancient city of Vienna can hardly be
grasped even today without some idea of
its history. 1t was at one time strongly
liberal, but it is now the home of Christian
socialism. which controls its municipality
and predominatcs everywhere. There will
probably be a strong leaven of social de-
mocracy for many years to come. but lib
eralism appears to nave almost ceased to
exist as factor to DE reckoned with when
it comes to questions of parliament and
questions of government.
The population of Vienna should he di-
vided into three Cla5seS-the rich and once
influential bOurgeoiSie the small tradesmen
and the working men. There is no great
Industry. and but very few manufactures.
1t Is the nome OF tne Sllidil SlOpheepeF anu
the man who works at his house for the
middleman, either on leather, in Jewelry,
or in fancy goods Their work Is of the
very best, and commands high prices, but
they do not always a full profit, and
are therefore intensely bitter against the
middlemen, who organize the trade for
them and secure a large share of the gain
to themselves. Most of these men are Jews,
and this fact undoubtedly accounts for the
strong feeling of anti-Semitism that has
helped to create Christian socialism.
Rich Had Their Own Way.
When the constitution was given in 1861
the franchise was high, and the richer
bourgeoise had everything their own way.
They were liberals. and the corporation was
liberal The smaller tradesman was only
partly represented, and what there was in
the town council belonged to what was
then called the democratic party and in
cluded Karl Lueger among its members;
for the small tradesrnen never would have
anything to say to the liberals. and until
1850 the fight was between the liberals and
the democrats. But in 1880 q reaction had
begun to set in in central Europe. Prince
Bismarck threw over the national liberals
and governed with the help of the con-
servatives and the center party. This not
only broke liberalism in Germany, but 1t
produced a corresponding reaction In Aus
tria.
In the meanwhile Baron Won Vogelsang
a Mecklenberg convert from Professionalism
had started the anti-Semitic movement in
Vienna, and the democrats gradually were
weaned from their old party to anti-Semt-
ISM a sentiment which was thoroughly
within the comprehension of the Viennese.
BY 1886 there was thorough break up OF
the party Kronawetter remained true to
his democratic principles. but Karl Lueger
was able to carry the majOrity with him.
The real turning point had, however, been
the reform act of 1881. The liberal party
had become hostile to Count Taafe, and
he destroyed their power by the extension
of the franchise. Until then the limit was
the payment of ten guldens per year in di-
rect taxation.
Influence of Small Tradesmen.
The reform gave the vote to those who
paid five guldens per year and the influ-
ence of the small tradesman became the
most predominant factor as he gradually
realized his power. In 1899 Prince Alois
Liechtensten decided on joining the Aus
TRAN socialists, with the object of secur-
ing the small bourgeoise for the Catholic
Church, whose strength had been much in
creased by the eloquence of Father Abel a
Jesuit who could speak to the people in
their own popular Viennese dialect. The
great change was affected in 1895, when
Karl Lueger was for the first time elected
burgomaster of Vienna, but Christian So
calists were not very popular with the
authorities. They had been very violent in
their language and in their methods Of
procedure, and this election was not finally
ratified until ten years ago. since when Karl
Lueger has held undisputed sway in the
town council, assisted by an able body of
men, among whom Albert Gessman is the
representative of his leader during his
present illness, while DR.. Wesskirchner
as chief Of the vice burgermeisters, is dis
charging his duties at the town hall.
1t can be understood that there are many
possibilities of future troubles between the
social democrats, the Christian socialists
nd liberals In the camDdlgQ through
which Vienna has just passed one great
subject for disputes between the Christian
socialists and the liberals is the vast change
which has come over Vienna, now trans
formed into one of the most beautiful cities
of Europe through the elimination of the
ramparts and the substitution of the Ring
strasse. Both of the parties have claimed
this as their work, but the fact remalns
that these improvements were started by
the liberals and carried out by the Chris
tan socialists.
Former Countess Now Penniless.
The former Countess Festetcs, who mar
ried the gypsy violinist Nyary, has been
disnherted by her father the ground
that her marriage makes her unworthy of
the family.
Just before her marriage her father had
made her present of house In Budapest
worth $4,000, in anticipation of her mar
riage with Spreti. to whom she was then
betrothed The countess on her marriage
presented the house to MARY. This gift
has been revoked now by the father of the
countess, and according to Hungarian law
this really cancels the settlement of the
house on Nyary. The countess is, there
fore a penniless bride. She is stated to be
seriously i'll.
Since the excitement over the affair
Nyary has been promised an engagement
at 500 per night to play in a New York
theater and the manager making the offer
has stated that he has no doubt but that
he will be able to find a place for the
countess at a salary equally as good.
though her line Is not specified. This has
caused no end of speculation here. especial
ly as the countess is not gifted and tai
ented.
A Tilted Lovers Revenge.
Mrs Marie Wowanka the wife of Chi
cago engineer, has been arrested at the
home of her parents at Radwanits. in ST.
lesia on the curious charge of having COM
mitted lese majestic in love letters written
two years ago.
Mrs Wowanka was Miss Barta before
her marriage, and was first engaged to
young Pole named Strobowski. In their
correspondence they discussed politics as
well as the more personal emotions.
The engagement was then broken off by
the lady, who emgrated to America where
she married her present husband. A short