The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-08

Amsterdam, May 4.-EmperOr
Charles of Austria has empowered
the Austrian premier to adjourn par
Lament and forthwith inaugurate
measures to render impossible re-
sumption Of it's activities, a Vienna
dispatch says.
A statement published in Vienna
indicates that the closure of parlia-
ment is due to the seriousness of the
iood situation. The statement says:
The government will devote its en-
tire strength to the economic prob
lem and will try to create conditions
required to enable the population to
hold out"
A Vienna dispatch says that the
Austrian premier, DR.. Won Seydler.
speaking at conference of party
leaders declared that the serious eco
nomic and food conditions made it
imperative for the recent government
to be spared parliamentary criticism.
He, therefore, demanded that the
present sittings of parliament be
postponed, adding that unless the
party leaders took this step that the
government would prevent the ses-
sions forcibly. apparently the con-
ference. the date of which was not
given was held by the emperor act
ed).
The president of the lower house
Of parliament said in reply to the
premier that the conditions prevailing
In the country and the demand from
the larger political parties for re-
sumption Of the sittings Of parlia-
ment made a further postponement
impossible. The leaders Of the Ger
man party favored postponement, but
DR.. Victor Adler, the socialist leader,
and other party representatives in-
cluding the Polish group. were op-
posed. Notwithstanding their pro-
tests. the postponement was agreed
upon. Premier Won Seydler admitted
the existance Of many problems
which must receive consideration,
especially the agitation for the Gre
alton of southern Slav state.
IF such, state were created" he
said, "it could be only under the scep-
ter OF his Majesty. as a component
part of the monarchy 1t could not
include those parts Of Austrian ter
ritory which borders on the Adriatic
and are closely connected with dis
tricts where the German language is
spoken.
Premier Won Seydler sounded a
warning against melting nationalisies
against each other. He then said:
"Our entire military and political
situation has reached a climax. The
next few months will bring decision
l am firmly convinced the decision
on the battle field will be in favor OF
Austria and her Allies.
Our economic. especially our food
conditions are very serious, but they
are not at all desperate. To hold on
now to final. happy decision is the
vital question for the State. If there
fore Is necessary that unhampered by
parliamentary confusion the govern
ment be left in a position to devote
all its strength to these tasks"
The premier then recommended the
postponement Of parliament
The Weiner Zeitung publishes the
following statement of reasons for
the adjournment of parliament.
We are in the last decisive phase
or the war. No enemy any longer
threatens in the east, but in firm un-
ion with Germany and our other AL
lies we must force our other on
ponents also to renounce their hostile
Intentions. Despite one or two prom
ising tendencies. parliament. has been
unable to find stable policy. AS
things are. the resumption Of the sit
tings Of parliament would not facili
tate the position. but would only
sharpen political antagonism.
Until the resemblance of parlia
ment, which will take place at the
soonest possible moment. the govern
ment will devote it's entire strength TO
the economic problems Of the day.
especially to the task of arranging .'or
the nations food supply.
Austria had been deep in difficulties.
both political and economic, for more