Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-20
Election Dag IN Budapest
London Times Vienna correspondence

London Times Vienna Correspondence.
Budapest, under Bella Kun. is full today of
equal to the manner in which the elections have
been carried on. These fell on date when I
was there, and I visited one of the polling
booths
1t was an eccentric sight. Red guards
bloomed in all corners of the room. covered with
sanguinary hue. A couple of them watched the
voters go into the room, couple watched that
they we'll and duly voted, and others sat on
window sills kicked their heels, and smoked
Their rifles, sung on their shoulders, betokened
their readiness for eventualities This is the way
they do it in Central America, one thought.
Across the middle of the room was stretched
deal table, at which were seated one wild en-
thusiast, two stolid men in stained clothes, and
several youths. This was the committee which
recorded the voting. As each voter entered the
room he was given a document which proved
mended by the soviets of Budapest to the free
and independent electors of the city.
The enthusiast, whom l willingly recognize
as sincere soul, probably an exile who once
lived in Paris or somewhere abroad, got up
from his seat and explained the procedure to US
in French. He thought it all wonderful. There
were spgrts of admiration in his voice every now
and then
He began on a disappointed note, though,
saying that this division of the, city was not one
where l would see voting at its best. Many
shopkeepers and the like live here" he said,
who employ assistants, so we have comparative
ly few voters. All those who have people in
their service, shopkeepers industrials, and so
on, cannot vote Nor can lawyers, idiots, min
inters of religion, officers, or criminals"
| may not have seemed as satisfied by this
as he would have liked, for he looked at me and
said with an air Of concession: Dentists can
vote"
Can doctors?" asked
"Oh, yes, of course; doctors are workers" he
replied.
Suppose doctor has an assistant"
Then he is a capitalist and cannot vote"
The enthusiast hurriedly went on to invest
gate case of conscience which was being de-
cided by the youngsters rather we'll dressed
man had entered and seemed to want to vote
Heads were bent in consultation. Presently
our enthusiast returned and said with triumph:
That man cannot vote because he is an ex-
prefect-and ex-functionary Of the government"
And then, with further rising note of triumph,
he added: But he has been allowed to vote
because he is acting as government servant
now
bottom of the list held out to him. 1t was quite
clear that the poor man had come to improve his
position by voting for the soviet program.
How is the voting done?" asked.
"Oh, if you are satisfied with the list offered,
you sign it."
Dut II you are not!
"Oh, you cross out any name or names and
write in any Others"
Whose names?" asked There does not
seem to be any alternative selection any sort of
waiting list of candidates.
you just write anybody's name" said the
enthusiast, amy man or woman who belongs to
recognized soviet or tradesman."
looked at the list, which contained num-
Der of names which did not seem very Hun
garian in addition to all the familiar names of
chief commissaries.
-, who are these ,people?" I asked. "Are
they from Budapest"
mo" said the enthusiast chat is noble
part of our institutions They may come from
anywhere. That man is German that is a
Czech, So-and-so is Russian. We have abolished
frontiers We are all friends"
and can anyone from anywhere vote, too?"
"Of course he can if he has proof that he is
a member of trade union or follows profess
sion or trade"
Have the Austrian Red Guards who came
here last week voted?" asked.
"They could have voted en- masse if they
wanted" proudly replied the enthusiast II
believe they intend to- but I not sure"