Evening journal., 1919-12-13
Masaryk Tells u S. Government
Plans of CsechO-SlOUakiG
BY HAROLD +. BECHTOL
Enropean Manager Of n. b. a.

PRAGUE, CzechO-Slovakia, Dec. b.
what are the Czecho-Slovaks doing
and what do they intend to do with
their new liberty2"
Answering that question, President
Thomas c. Masaryk in an exclusive IN
terylew for The Evening Journal sum
married. the new constitution and ex-
plalned the kind Of government they
are going to have.
He pictured some OF the difficulties
attending the birth Of a free nation IN
the very heart OF Europe; he told some
thing OF the progress and hopes OF
CzechO-SlOyakia.
The new republic intends to have:
A president with power.
4 cabinet headed by a prime min
ister.
the Nth degree.
Compulsory voting for all men and
women between 20 and 70, with penal
ties.
court.
Initiative and referendum.
Home rule.
Universal military training under a
militia system.
Freedom OF speech, press, religion and
assembly.
And lots more.
Explaining the constitution and gov
ernmental system toward which the
leaders of the republic are working,
president Masayrk especially stressed
+he electoral system which he termed
"the best voting plan which has ever
existed"
ut is the proportionate system
which is in use elsewhere" he SAID
,.but we have extended 10 TO such a fine
polnt that IL takes in every element OF
The nation, every minority, down to IA
per cent.
Voting is made compulsory FOR every
man and woman between 20 and ~
years with a few exceptions Tor doc
tors. absence and sickness) and penal
ties are provided for failure to vote. MOI
only NAV women Vote--they must vote'
the same as men.
"That system should guarantee as
representative a government as u Is
possible TO elect. And it certainly pro-
tects all minorities.
"The new equal, compulsory proper
tionate voting system will be used lil
the first national election, which Will
probably be held next spring.
"The ministry and constitutional COM
mittee of the present national assembly
are constantly at work on the consti-
tuition"
"The present assembly was not elect
ed hut was formed by party agreement
IN work until the election Of new as
sembly. Nevertheless the present min
jstry-the cabinets representative as
il was formed this year on the basis OF
general local elections.
President Masaryk agreed to outline
for America the plan on which th'
newborn nation will operate, provided
H. he made plain that the constitution
Is far from completely drafted and tha
it must be adopted by the elected as
sembly.
we shall have a president and
prime minister" President Masaryl
continued. our government will EN-
body some Of the features Of the Amer
lean government and some OF tn
French and British. Some also OF ou
own.
"The president will not be a figure
head as in France. He will have almOs
as much power as the president Of tn
United states. He will probably not b.
elected directly as in America, but b!
the two houses Of the national as
sembly voting as one.
"He will be the responsible head o
the government in every sense. He viii
appoint his cabinet, headed by a prim
minister, who will be a sort Of admin
istrative chief.
There has been no discussion OF tn
length OF the presidential term, II Their
Is to be term"
As a matter Of fact Masaryk is likel,
10 be president as long as he wishes
Czechs and Slovaks. party leaders an
business men have all told me this. II
Is a remarkable example Of the uni
versally-loved national hero.
have not heard a single sentenc
against him. personally. although
have heard plenty against most OF tn
cabinet.
The first law ever passed by the ma