New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Greeks Hail
VenizelOs and
Urge Republic
Campaign Tour of Premier
Like Triuznphal March as
Thousands Kiss Hand
Of the Country's Idol
Elections On To-day
Fate of Present Dynasty
To Be Sealed by Voters,
Who Demand New Rule
srecsol Cable 30 The, Tribute

r.,vricht. 1890. New York Tribune Inc
ATHENS, Nov. Premier Eleu-
.,sr;os Venizelos, starting on an cleo
.o-s, campaign tour from Volo to Sa-
,onica last Sunday. invited The Tribune
correspondent TO accompany him to see
:. first hand the receptions given to
.be Greek leader and the real popular
.ssling regarding the dynastic and con-
s,ltutionsl issue before the Greek
nation.
At Chalcis, the celebrated port on the
Island Of guboea, the Premier's yacht
yarcissus was waiting to take Ven
;selos and his party to Volo. We went
aboard and reached Yolo at 10 o'clock
Monday morning. Every ship and tug
in the harbor blew whistles in we,-
come, the town was decorated with
flags and bands played on the landing.
II there IS an opposition party in
yolo it took great care to hide itself.
Every man. woman and child, even The
local Turkish multi and all his people,
are Venizelis.-
Before we were little opposed to
hy," said the mufti to The Tribune
correspondent ingenuously, "but now
,hat he is making Greece almost as big
as Turkey we have become Venizelists."
People Demand Republic
With great difficulty a passage was
Of the local Nenizelist candidate, where
yenizelos was scheduled to deliver q
speech Old men from the mountains
and peasants in sheepskins from the
= interior wanted to kiss his hand before
he spoke and kiss it afterward.
Of all questions being discussed by
the people the dynasty was most sell
dom mentioned, and it was apparently
dangerous to even mention it.
The first Interruptions to Nenizelos's 3
speeches were invariably, "Why not
proclaim a republic?" A great change
has overcome Greece in the last two
weeks A republic, which was not
dreamt of a fortnight ago, is now
openly discussed and is desired by
many. That the popular movement is
not more pronounced is entirely due
TO VenizeIos and his moderating influ-
ence.
wait; don't hurry about a repub-
lic," is his motto. 1--WE can have it
any day when there is no other solu-
tion."
Thousands Kiss His Hand
1t was remarkable that in a town of
10000 inhabitants at least half that
number seemed to be present. The
speech over, the ritual of shaking and
Kissing the hand of Venizelos began
again, and some admirers became so
enthusiastic that he came away with
one finger bleeding.
81 wish l could abolish this custom
Of hand kissing" he said that evening
as the Narcissus weighed anchor and
was steaming up the Egean Sea for
Salonica. On the way the Premier dis
cussed many things, among then. the
question of Constantinople.
There are 1000 Greeks in Con-
stantinople," he said, "and whatever
government is finally established there
will have to base itself on their sup
port"
The Tribune correspondent inquired
who would be asked eventually to gov
ern Constantinople.
ut is not job l would like" replied
the Greek Premier with quick decisive
ness.
Given Ovation in Salonica
Early Tuesday morning the yacht
anchored in Salonica Bay. Between
10000 and 10000 persons were swarmed
on the landing, cheering themselves
hoarse. So dense were the crowds that
half of the Premier's party was cut off
and unable to reach the building where
ne made his speech.
The Premier's address here also was
interrupted frequently with cries of
We want republc," To these Veni-
zeIos ventured no reply.
Returning, the party arrived in Chal-
cis Wednesday afternoon, where Veni-
helos had promised to make a final
speech. The population received him
WITH. wild exultation. Again his first
s words were interrupted with cries of
Why not proclaim a republic? 2" and
ence more the prudent Venizelos ali
stained from making an immediate
reply.
Sunday will seal the fate of the
present dynasty. On Venizelos's trip
opposition was almost totally absent.
one might almost ask whether, away
from the capital and the Peloponnesus,
any opposition existed.
Cheered by Athens Throngs
Venizelos returned to Athens last
night and the tour ended to-day at a
grand meeting in Athens, at which
'cnizelos had promised to speak. TIL,