Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-07
Resident for 40 Years Expelled by
 CZech-SlOvakians

Bratislava, Slovakia, Dec. Ct is
 only on Czecho-Slovakian maps that
 this ancient Hungarian city of
 Pressburg can be located its new name. Ruled by Hungary for a
 thousand years it passed under the
 control of the new Czecho- Slovakian
 republic by the decision of the peace
 conference and large part of its in- habitants do not take kindly to the new order of things. Its people are
 dominantly Germanic or Hungarian. 1 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 have been replaced by Czechs and Czech high officers installed in the government. Slovak regiments on duty here have been replaced by purely Czech soldiers.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 cid and conservative and routine as this. drifting thru the centuries un- disturbed in its social customs, these things have made feeling run rather high in certain social strata.
 Persons, regardless of sex, who have not acquired legal residence, are being expelled. Ore man told the Associated Press he had lived and done business here for 40 years was expelled few days ago. The list of those cited for expulsion is said to contain names of dead persons.
 Some Hungarians do not hesitate to express their resentment over the employment of Czechs in govern merit positions here formerly occu. pied by the Hungarians. Czechs and many Slovaks of the educated class i, es who told office under the govern 1 ment, say this feeling is due to Hun garian and German propaganda and has no real strength or extent. Also ] they admit the necessity of Czech | officiladom as Slovakia has little or no educated class from which to draw executives of ability.
 It is, hard to upset rudely the tra- ditions of 10 centuries and talks. with many persons, both in official and unofficial circles, would indicate that the antagonism displayed to- ward the Czechs is natural condi- tion of this period of transition and not deeply rooted Probably it is stronger here in Pressburg than in the other parts of Slovakia,. where { the change is not so apparent. |
 The school question plays very prominent part in the situation herc. The government has abolished the i German and Hungarian languages in the schools and this means gener- al ousting of teachers and reaction | in households.
 Many Slovakians and Germans now speak ostentatiously in Hun garian as do the peasants of this inn mediate vicinity as 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 50 years.
 We'll informed Slovaks, however, do not feel that the racial question will result in any serious develop ments. They say that Slovakia must hold to the republic and with 1 new elections and an elected, instead of nominated, national assembly such as present one, more liberal Slovak representation in offices and the stabilization of the economic situation, conditions will improve As a last argument they point out that Slovakia cannot exist as an in dependent state and there is no oth- CT country than the Czecho-Slovak republic to which she can ally her self,