Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-10
.CzECHPATR|OT|SM
KEY TO ELECTION
Mightier Than Politics in Repub-
lie About to Choose
Parliament
HUNGARIAN INTRIGUE SEEN
BY II. r. KOSPOTH
Special Correspondent Evening Public Ledger
In Switzerland

CCopvrioht, 1920, ~ Public Ledger co..
Geneva, April 1.-THE Czecho Slo-
yak nation has just celebrated, with
universal feelings of reverence and ad-
miration. the SEVENTEEN birthday OF
President Massaryk, the grand old pa
triot and statesman whose compelling
personality outtops party strife in the
young republic.
Patriotism is still mighticr than poll
ties in Prague, though the Czechs: IKE
true Slavs, are inveteratc poltclans'
and pride in their rcgaincd national in
lependence is today the chief. almost
the only asset of the new states risen
from the ruins of Habsburg tyranny in
their struggle for democratic existence
against bolshevism.
This struggle is as intense in Czecho-
Slovakia as in Poland and Jugo Slavia,
but all indepdent observers | have met
agree that the CzeChS are level headed.
business like race who are really doing
constructive work. and predict that they
will make good, unless chaos over
wbelms them from outside.
Having adopted a constitution which
in many points strikingy resembles the
American constitution. the National
Assembly at Prague has decided that the
elections TO the Senate and the Cham-
ber of Deputies shall take place carly in
April. The electoral campaign has
begun and is being conducted with all
the vehemence of the Slav tcmpera-
ment, but it is significant fact that
the hostile parties have undertaken to
abstain from political agitation among
the soldiers of the army. although the
latter are electors and will cast their
vote like all other citizens.
This unanimous resolution not to de-
moralizc the army by politics in these
critical times proves how completely ma
tional considerations outweigh political
Interests even with the Czech Socialists.
No BOlshcviSm in Czecho Slovakia
\ Czech diplomat with whom | talked
today--one of the capable. Energetic
young men who worked Obscurely for
Czech independence in Switzerland dur
ing the war and whose cnterpriSing op-
timism is now active in the diplomatic
service of the new rrpublic-eXpreSsed
the opinion that the coming elections
will result in a strong enforcement
of the conservative parties who believe
in maintaining private ownership on the
one hand and of the radical Socialists on
the other. 1t is believed that these two
extremes w lIl Nv pretty NN'uiN
In the new Parliament and the govern
ment may consequently be expected to
adopt a progressive policy of concilia-
tion between them.
As the Czech Socialists. although ad-
vocates of specialization. are not blind
followers of the Russian Bolshevists,
their probable growth in strength does
not constitute any direct menace of
bolshevism to the country
.'Therc will be no bolshevism in
Czecho -Slovakia,' asserts this Czech
diplomat. unless Poland or Germany
should 60 Bolshcvik. If Rcd armies
should ever arrive ut our frontiers it is
impossible to say what might happen.
The future Of our country depends a
great deal not only politically. btu also
economically. on developments in Ger
many and -Pnland- With the Poles we
have territorial differences and the Ger
mans we cordially dislike and distrust,