Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-04
HARD TO CRACK
ANCIENT CUSTOMS
Old Hungarian City, Now Con-
trolled by Czecho-Slovacs,
Yields Slowly

Bratislava, Slovakia,' Dec. At is
only on Czecho-Sloyakian maps that
this ancient Hungarian city'of Press
burg can be located by its name.
Ruled by Hungary for thousand
years, IL passed under the control
or the new Czecho- o-Slovakian repub-
lie by the decision of the Peace Con-
ference and a large part of its in
habitants do not take kindly to the
new order of things. Its people are
dominantly Germanic or Hungarian.
The street signs are in German
and Hungarian characters and now
to them is being added Czech. The
old postal and telephone employees
have been replaced by Czechs and
Czech high officers installed in the
government. Slovak regiments on
duty here have been replaced by
purely Czech soldiers. In a city as
old and conservative and routine as
this, drifting through the centuries
undisturbed in it's social customs,
these things have made feeling run
rather high in certain social strata.
Must Have Legal Residence
Persons, regardless of SEX who
have not acquired legal residence are
being expelled. One man told the
Associated Press he had lived and
done business here for 40 years and
was expelled, few days ago. The
list of those cited for expulsion is
said to contain names of dead per-
sons.
Some Hungarians do not hesitate
to express their resentment over the
employment of CZechs in govern
ment positions here formerly occu-
pied by the Hungarians. CZechs and
many Slovaks of the educated classes
who hold office under the govern
ment, say this feeling is due to Hun
garian and German propaganda and
hos no real strength or extent. Also
they admit the necessity of Czech
officialdom, as Slovaks has little or
no educated class from which to
draw executives of ability.
1t is hard to upset rudely the ira
ditions of 10 centuries and talks with
many persons, both in official and
unofficial circles, would indicate that
the antagonism dis played toward
the Czechs is a natural condition
of this period of transition and not
deeply rooted. Probably it is stron-
ger here in Pressburg than in the
other parts of Slovakia where the
change is not so apparent.
Ban Hun Languages
The school question plays very
prominent part In the SITUATION mere.
The government has abolished the
German and Hungarian languages
in the schools and this means a gen.
eral ousting of teachers and a re-
action in households.
Many Slovakians and Germans
now speak ostentatiously in Hun
garian as do the peasants of this
immediate vicinity as a sign of their
feelings. A political speaker allud-
ing to this development said that the
Czechs had accomplished in six
months what Hungary had tried to
do for SO years.
Well informed Slovaks, however,
do nto feel that the racial question
will result in any serious develop
ments. They say that Slovakia must
hold to the republic and with new
elections and an elected, instead of
a nominated, National Assembly such
as the present one, a more liberal
Slovak representation in offices and
the stabilization of the economic sit
uation, conditions will improve. AS
last argument they point out that
Slovakia cannot exist as an inde-
pendent states and there is no other
country than the CZecho-Slovak re-
public to which she can ally herself.