New Britain herald., 1915-03-19
RUMAN|A HAS four
POLITICAL PARTIES
D.
Conservative Democratic. AVoWta|y
PTo-RuSSian and ABti-CtIm1Q.

Correspondence of the Associated pressD
Bucharest, Rumania, March 16.-
Rumania has four political parties, the
Liberal, now in power and headed
by Prime Minister Bratianu; the Con-
servative, lately in power and led by
Petre Carp, former prime minister;
the conservative democratic, headed
by Alexander Marghiloman; and the
national party, which is at present a
negligible factor, but whose rather
broad policies are in the main still
advocated by Constantine Mile, pub
Usher and political director of Ru-
mania's most prominent independent
newspapers, Dimineatza and Ade-
verul
Of these parties only one, the con-
sentative democratic is avowedly pro-
Russian and antiGerman. Its leader,
Lake Jonescu is accused by his politi-
cal opponents as being more Russian
than the Car, and more English
than Mr.. Chuchill.' .r
1t cannot be said, however, that the
hoeral party is to any great degree
pro-German. During the life of King
CHARLES L., a Hohenzollem prince, such
IS said to have been the case.
But since the death of that monarch
no definite official expression on the
attitude of Rumania towards the bel
Hgerent nations has come from this
party 1t is claimed, moreover that
the party Is none too strong, and that
1t has already been obliged to look
for the conservative for support. 1t is
known. and Mr.. Marghiloman SO
stated
spondent, that Mr.. Bratianu and he
worked in accord on the war cues
ton.
Students Pest Notice.
One night early In the war, students
posted upon the doors of the Royal
Palace in Bucharest a notice with
the legend: ITO Let King Charles
looked upon this act as an expression
of rank ingratitude. To be thus
served with notice to quit is said to
have broken his heart, and the affair
is now said to be slowly killing Queen
Eliza beth, better known in the United
States Carmen Sylvia, who spends
most of her time at the grave of her
husband
Mr.. Marghiloman is listed.
however, and this quality, it is assert
ed, has SO far assisted Prime Minister
Bratianu in curbing a public sentiment
overwhelming in favor of war against
Austro-Hungry and Germany.
Small Affairs Numerically.
At best the political parties of Ru-
mania are small affairs numerically,
the four groups having a total mem
bership of about 1000 The remain
der of the population about 1000, 900
has no voice in political matters. None
of the political parties has a set pol
icy, and all are governed by oligar-
chial inner circles. From this, so
local-obseervers say. has grown a con-
dition which is largely responsible for
the present predicament of the gov
eminent. While Premier Bratianu
has done everything to preserve the
neutrality of the country, the popula-
ton has been clamoring for war urged
on, it is claimed, by a press heavily
subsidized by Russia.
There seems to be no doubt that if
the present government prevails Ru
mania will weather the present storm
without going to war. But even Mr..
Marghiloman admitted there was no
assurance that the government would
remain firm. In other quarters the
fear was expressed that ultimately an
outbreak of chauvinism in the streets
might place the government in the |
POSITION Of either having to go to war |
orI fire upon the mob. In that case |
the government would go to war, 1t |
was asserted. What the weight of |
King Ferdinand's opinion would be in |
that case is not known. Though he
has become thoroughly Rumanian, the |
Bucharest public does not forget that |
he is a. Hohenzollern. On the other |
hand, the present Queen is an English |
woman and for that reason the King |
Ferdinand might be invited to move, |
as was his uncle, the late King |
Charles.
Mile F'AvOrS War.
ia king the posi- |