New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
COUNT STEPHAN TISZA,
HUNCARYS FIGHTING PREMIER
Austrian Emperors Trusted Political Lieutenant Selected
Because He Could Use Sword Pistol and Brain
Has His Back to the Wall in Supreme Struggle

I Hungary before him Count Koloman
! Tisza was al the head OF the Hungarian
government for fifteen years. Through his
! sword arm. his reputation as a duellist
and his ability TO uphold that reputation
| and add 10 IT, the elder Tisza broke all
records for the length OF time that one
man remained Premier of Hungary. But
| unlike his son. his face showed the rec
ords Of many a battle where razor-edged
swords in skilful hands left him souve-
mir
| Hungarian duels are not French
"duels" They are bloody affairs Dur
| ing a sabre duel between Count Kolo-
man Tisza and Count Gyurky, the for
mcr was blinded by slash which
| dropped the skin Of his forehead down
over his eyes The seconds wanted TO
stop the duel and declare Count Gyurky
the winner. The elder Tisza, then
Young man. insisted on continuing the
duel. In the next round he received
blow from Gyurky's sabre which cut out
four teeth and split his tongue and lower
lip For weeks the physicians feared
Tisza would never be able to use his
tongue again. But he did. When he be-
came Premier twenty years later he APP
pointed Count Gyurky TO a high govern
ment post.
Count Stephan Tisza, the present
Premier. knew what was before him. lie
went to Germany and practised and
learned all there was TO learn under the
best masters in the German duellinS
schools. In England he engaged the best
pistol shots to teach him how TO shoot
He studied at the French and Italian
duelling schools.
When Count Tisza became member OF
the Chamber of Deputies he trained with
NJ Caiara, editor-in-chief OF Budapest
newspaper. who up to that time was
Hungary's champion duellist. Tisza soon
won that title from his master The Pre-
mier is as 1.-the as an Indian and as quick
as n cat I'm his movements. A large horn
trimmed pair Of spectacles, which he
wears since cataract operation on one
eve last year, gives him rather an old
and benevolent appearance. lie Is hfty-
two years old. The Premier's duel with
Count Michael Karolyi, which was fought
shortly before his duel with Marquis
Pallavicini. and in which the latter was
one OF Karolyi's seconds, was Tisza
longest battle. IL was fifty-fve minutes
before the Premier was able to put ha-
rolyi hors de combat. Immediately after
ward he fought with Count Alauar
Szechenyi. n relative OF the husband OF
Gladys Vanderbilt. The Premier laid
Szechenyis cheek bone bare and split MS
cheek with his sabre. lie has now re-
ceived a new challenge from Count IA
rolyi and is TO fight him again soon.
Fiahts for tho Old Order.
Count stephan Tisza, as Premier OF
Hungary. is fighting for the old order Ok
things which even in Hungary is passing
away as fast as democracy can make
Roadway against obsolete customs anu
timeworn political traditions. Tisza is the
last bulwark OF reactionary government
I'm Hungary He believes In the RUE VI
"blood and iron" When he could not get
his laws passed last session because Oh
the obstructive and disorderiy tactlcs OF
the opposition, tie Premier concentrated
90 900 troops in Budapest surrounded the
parliament building with soldiers, posted
cannon In the street and then had the OPP
position Deputies thrown out OF Parlia-
ment Then Parliament. or what was left
of II. voted as he directed.
Tisza hit upon the scheme OF organizing
a special PARLIAMENT guard composed
of soldiers and army officers. to be on
duty in and around the Parliament build
ing. They are subject only TO the orders
of the Premier. Their duties are to main
tain order during sessions, prevent fight
ing. safeguard the Premier and throw out
any disorderly Deputy