Evening star., 1919-01-19

Sloyakia insureS them far more
hopeful future than in either Rus
sian or n Magyar association.
For Czechosloyakia is going
concern" today, with perfectly func-
tioning government. headed by man
OF great ability. of implicit faith In
his people. DIR. 7. G. Masaryk, for
merIy professor at the. University of
Prague 1t has a well ordered ad-
ministration. capable military
force. coalition of parties working
to the end of developing the coun-
try's resources. and, best of all.
definite recognition by the allied gov
srnments.
Czechoslovakia has the distinction OF
having been virtually organized out
side of its own terri
nnnoriuo;fv tory. The army In
Russia and a council
UfdSpeo. in Paris at first con-
stituted this new member Of the
family of nations. while its chief
was on his travels in forwarding the
work OF Czecho- Slovak consolidation
now in France. or in Switzerland, or
in England, or in Russia, or here in
Washington. But back home in Bo-
hemia the Czechs were awaiting the
opportunity they confidently believed
would come in the inevitable break
up of the doomed empire OF the Haps-
burgs. On the 2Sth of October condi-
tions were uropitious. 8 revolution
was started and by the end of the day
1t had succeeded national COM
rnittee took possession OF the gov
ernment at Prague and called upon
the various political parties to nomi-
nate deputies in proportion to the
strength they showed in the last
general elections Of 1911.
1t is a sign of the spirit Of unity
animating the people that this call
good faith Without an election.
which would have taken precious
time. deputies were named TO ma
tional assembly, which met November
IA TIE left" consisted OF forty-sik
social democrats. tweuty-eight Czech
socialists and four centralist social
democrats; the center" of forty rep
rrsentatives of the democratic party
Of independence. six proGressists and
four "old Czechs"; the right" OF
tifty-four agrarians, twenty-eight
Catholics and forty Slovaks--a left
of seyenty-eight mem bers. a center
of fifty and a right of 122. or $50 in
all
At the first session DR.. Masaryk was
named president, though absent. and
q COVER ment was
oHo;oIs chosen. with DIR. Karel
Eramar as premier
Selected. The new state was
declared TO be a republic. Practical
questions were at once attacked.
Food provision for the people was
Immediately undertaken. with excel
lent results both from Czech and
foreign sources. Administrative re-
forms were undertaken. but with
general agreement that they must
proceed slowly. Titles of nobility
we're abolished. An efght-hour work
day was established. Definite sepa-
ration of church and state was de-
creed by unanimous voice. Two boil
shevik agitators who had come from
Isenin's headquarters were expelled.
and steps Were taken to expedite the
departure OF $4,000 Russian prisoners
held in Bohemia CZechoslovakia
win have none of boishevism. though
il is now running rampant in Hun
gary.
A national loan OF billion crowns
$3.50. .0oo, ,00o-was Is
sued and oversubscribed. In other
ways a business spirit prevailed, and
within a remarkably short time. vtr-
tually without bloodshed. save In the
rescue of SloYakia from Magyar grasp.
the republic was set up, ofhcered. ad-
financed, recognized dip
accepted by the people
and functioning in every respect. with
a workable provisional frontier de-
fined by the Austrian armistice COM
mission.
This is one of the most remarkable
Of the war. The new
state has its problems. boundary
questions to be settled. economic re- 4
lations with neighbors to establish
and some internal difficulties to ad-
lust, chiefly the result of the presence
Of unwelcome Germans in some parts
of the republic. But the future IL
bright, for the people are united and
the land is rich. Cxechosiovakta may
80 IN . few years. s.