New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-15
THE POLES In GERMANY
Further Agitation Erpected-The
Governments Efforts.
oconespondenee Of The Assoeiated Press0

Correspondence Of The Associated Press)
Berlin. July 4-Although excitement over the
question Of the Germanizaton of the Poles has for
'ne time being diminished, it is far from being
settled. and when the problem again comes before
the Prussian Landtag, in the autumn. recurrence
OF trouble is expected in the frontier provinces Of
Posen and West Prussia, the chief seats of agta-
ton.
For the moment. without doubt. the Poles
main Poles and continue speak Polish. despite
the efforts of the government and the fact that the
school strike is practically ended. II is asserted
by their spokesman that the national sentiment is
stronger than ever and that the recent repressive
measures have given an impetus TO the Polish idea
which viii be felt through several generations
on the other hand. the authorities are Of opinion
that the solution Of the problem is only matter
OF uIne. they are determined to enforce the law
as TO instruction being given in German IN the
primary schools. and all those who refuse to COM
ply to be fined heavily. this has been found
far more effective than imprisonment
An Idea Of the extent OF the recent agitation may
be gathered from the list of convictions this year
No fewer than thirty-hve Polish clergymen have
been found guilty by the courts. their punishments
aggregating twenty months Imprisonment and
ers, incurred q total Of fortyfve months in prison
and $3.50 marks fine: parents were fined 1900
marks account of their childrens non-attendance
at school and other persons. including the leaders
Of the agitation. sentenced IN all to i've years
and six months imprisonment In addition. go
chaIrHlen OF parish councils and education assessors
were deprived of Office 80 educational committee
men were dismissed and 50 high school pupils were
expelled.
CLERGY MASTERS OF SITUATION
The clergy are for the most part Poles. and
naturally strive to maintain the Polish language
and national feeling among their parishioners. AS
they have under the Church regulations the right
70 decide in which language they shall instruct the
children IN the church and Sunday schools they
are virtually masters Of the situation. In many
districts whore only church primary schools exist
large number Of German children even against tho
wishes OF their parents, forced 10 obtain their
instruction in Polish, and often IN this way are in
huenced by Polish ideas The Landtag will. in all
probability Introduce some changes in this respect,
so as 10 provide for the children German parents
instruction ir their own language.
In dealing with the economical situation. which
also bTistes with difficulties, the Prussian authori
ties have attained success than in their educa-
tonal campaign, THIS side of the question is be-
ing met IN efficient manner by the Roya! Settle
ment Commission for Poland This commission
has, in the last twentyone years. carried out some
remarkable work. 1t has had 10 fight against much
opposition, Polish lRndhoders in many instances
refusing to sell their land although unable 10 cult
vate It, owing to their lack Of ready money. Yet
the commission has succeeded in acquirinC-at a
cost Of S2S.co.o"0 marks taken from the 35o.0poC0
appropriated for the purpose by the Landtag-no
less than $500 hectares Dust $1,000 acres) Of
land. on which about 10000 German peasant farm
ers have been settled IN 35 purely German villages,
containing altogether l2.415 farmhouses These set
tiers have received from the commission loans at
cases in an exceedingly prosperous condition. II IS
Landtag will q further appropriation 70 con-
tinue the work. which has shown such good results.
ADOPTION OF GERMAN METHODS.
Against the influx Of Germans however. must be
calculated the natural increase OF the Polish popu-
la,ion. which far outnumbers the German resi-
dents In the larger cities the Germans gen.
orally in the majority. but in agricultural districts
they constitute only one-third Of the inhabitants.
In many instances the Poles quickly grasped tho
fact that the German settlers methods better
than their own and they therefore set TO work %
learn from the unwelCoTne iutVuders. and soon be-
came equally ski!fUl both IN industry and aEri-
culture. Tens OF thousands OF Polish harvesters
fall 10 the German provinces TO Work ana
return home with estimated total Of Vp"DHp
marks. which they employ in improving their own
plots. The whole country IS on this account rap
idly assuming a more prosperous appearance
With all this. however, the solution OF the orig
!nal proberl-the CierHanization OF the two prov
!nces-appears far or The Poles hold
steadfastly both their land and their language.