The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-24
Hungary's Masterful Prime Min
lister Puts End to Gam
bling Casino.
nN ID MAmouIsE Dh EoNIENoY.

Hi IA MAHQUisE DE- FONIENoY.
4 HUNGARYS mastcrful Prime Min
istcr, Count stephen Tisza, and
one Of his most notable prede-
cessors in office. Count Khucn- licdcr-
vary, have put an end to the Lul<acs
bribery scandal in Il manner calcu
lated TO close tho mouth of all those
who have cudcavorcd To mako political
capital against tho government in the
matter. For they have repaid out of
their own pockets the Royal Hungarian
Traffic Bank the sum OF 100000. which
the bank in question had advanced to
tho former Lukacs administration, In
consideration of receiving "A concession
FOR tho establishment OF a gambling
casino on tho Margaret Island. which
lies ia the Danube. at Budapest. oppo-
site the royal palace. and which is
state property.
The Cabinet OF Premier Lukacs need
cd the money for electoral campaign
expenses. having exhausted all the
party ard government funds available
for the purpose. 1t was the discovery
or this transaction that brought about
the downfall of the Luliacs administers
ton and the return to tho premiership
OF Count stephen TiSZa.
one ~ the iirst things that Tisza
old was 10 cancel this gambling con
ccsaion OF his predecessor in Office,
as not only immoral. but also as ultra
wires Thcrcupon tho Royal hungarian
Traffic Bank sued tho hungarian gov
crnmcnt for the return Of tho 100000
which II had advanced.
1t is doubtful whether the bank could
lave recovered tho money. ~ the
former Premier had no right TO sell
any such concession. No matter which
way tho suit had gone, IT would have
been or very protracted character.
and as long as II lasted il would have
been used by the foes of the present
ana past administration for political
purposes. besides damaging the pres
tigo OF the national government OF
Hungary, both At homo and abroad.
Premier Tisza did not feel that 1t
would be lawful FOR him to stop tho
suit by paying the 100000 out OF the
funds OF the national treasury: 80 he
rut his hand into his own pocket, and
paid two-thirds of tho amount out OF
his own purse the remaining third
being paid by his friend, Count khucn-
IIodcrvary. who held the office OF
Premier OF Hungary some years ago.
There arc few statesmen in Europe
holding Office who would have been
willing to make so patriotic a sacrifice
OF their own means. for tho sake OF
the good name OF the national govern
ment, and in order 10 repair wrong
Tor which they were in no%iso person
ally responsible Perhaps It would
have been stll fairer TO say that there
Ia hardly any statesman now living
in Europe who would have had the
means to compromise Il suit against
his government in this fashion. True.
Count stephen Tisza is fairly rich
man. possessed OF extensive HUNGARIAN
estates, which have been in his family
since tbs reign of Empress Maria
Theresc sim, at the Same time, 5000
Geo is no mere ilea-bitc.
There Is Il curious story attached to
these estates Of Count Tisza. II scems
that during the Turkish INVASION in
tho early part OF the sixteenth cen
tury, the Turks seized tho 1isza cs-
tatcs. When the Moslcms were drivcn
out Of tho country, the lands. instead
OF being restored TO their original
owners. were cooiiy appropriated by
one of tho imperial generals, tie Royal
Duke OF Alodcna. The Tisza OF the
day. Ladislas by name. sought redress
In the Hungarian courts. and obtained
judgment in his favor.
Tho case. like that OF Jarndyce VS..
Jarndyce. WAS carried from ono tri-
bunai to another Oh appeal. until after
having obtained at least two dozen
decisions each in favor OF tho Tisza
family, the grandsons OF old I.adislas
after over u hundred years OF ltga-
lion, finally brought tho matter before
tho so-called Royal Cur.a. which In
those days constituted tho supreme tri-