The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-10
AFTER ] 900 YEARS HUNGA-
RIANS ARE CZECHO-SLOVAKS

Bratislava,> Slovakia, Nov. lit is
only on CZecho-Slovakiaa maps that
this ancient Hungarian city Of Press
burg can be located by its new name.
Ruled by Hungary for thousand
years it passed under the control OF
the new Czech ho-Slovakian republic by
the decision of the Peace Conference
and a large part of its inhabitants do
not take kindly to the new order OF
things It's people are dorninantiy
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
bc". replaced by Czechs and Czech
high officers installed in the govern
ment. Slovak regiments on duty
here have been replaced by purey
Czech soldiers. In a city as old anu
conservative and routine as this
drifting Though the centuries WI
disturbed in its social customs. thesc
th:rgs have made feeling run rather
high in certain social strata.
Persons, regardless of sex, VINO
have not acquired legal residence are
being expelled One man told The
Associated Press he had lived ard
done business here for forty years was
expelled few days ago. The list Of
those cited, for expulsion is said ="
contain names of dead persons.
Some Hungarians do not hesitate .o>
express their resentment over the an
pioyment OF Czechs in government po-
sitions here formerly occupied by 1i.',
Hungarians Czechs and many Slo-
vaks of the educated classes who hold
office under the government, say this
feeling is due to Hungarian and Ger
man propaganda and has no real
strength or extent Also they admit
the necessity. Of Czech officialdom as
Slovakia has little or no educated
class from which to draw executives
Of ability.
1t is hard to upset rudely the ira
ditions of ten centuries and talks
with many persons, both in official
and unofficial circles, would indicate
that the antagonism displayed toward
the CZechs is a natural condition OF
his period of transition ad not De ,p-
lv rooted Probably it is stronger
here in Pressburg than in the othe:
parts of Slovakia where the change
is not so apparent.
The school question plays very
prominent part in the situation here.
The government has abolished the
German and Hungarian languages in
the schools and this means a genera
ous1ing Of teachers and reaction IN
households.
Many Slovakians and Germans now
speak ostentatiously in Hungarian as
do the peasants Of this immediate Vi
cinity as sign Of their feelings. a
political speaker allduing to thi de-
velopment said that the CZechs had
accomplished in six months what
Hungary had tried to do for fifty
years.
Well Informed Slovaks. f1owever, Go
not feel that the racial question "l'i
result in any serious developments.
They say that Slovakia must hold to
the republic and with lew elections
and an elected. instead Of nominal
ed. National Assembly such as the
present one. a more liberal Sfovak
representation in offices &nd the sta
bilization of the economic situation.
conditions will improve. AS last
argument they point out that Slovakia
cannot exist as an Independent State
and there is not other country than
the Czeche-S -Slovak republic to which
she can ally herself.