Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-21

A COSTLY ELECTION.

W this country OF Tue use VI
money in elections. According to
the report Of the congressional in
vestisating committee our last
presidential election cost about ten
million dollars, mostly spent by the
Republican party. Probably the
committee did not get on to all the
money spent at that. But It is
probable that the self determine
ton" election in Upper Silesia,
which will come off in few days.
involves 4 greater expenditure OF
money per voter than any we have
had ia this country. Upper Silesia
10 Z small province in the south
eastern corner Of Germany. about
the size Of the state Of Connecticut,
and very much desired by both the
Poles and the Germans on account
Of its coal deposits and its other
highly developed industrial re-
sources. At the peace conference
in Paris Il was claimed by the
Poles, not 80 much on historical
grounds as on the ground that its
population was largely Polish. That
assertion was vigorously disputed
by the Germans, who pointed out
that it had never been a part OF
Poland. Frederick the Great took
it from Austria by conquest. More
over they claimed that it was abso-
lutely necessary to the industrial
life of the German empire on ac-
count of its coal. In the face OF
conflicting claims, the allies insert
ed in the peace treaty which Ger
many signed, a provision that the
people themselves living in Upper
Silesia, should decide in a refer
endum election whether Upper ST.
lesia should remain a part Of Ger
many or become a part. Austria.
The date of that election is at
hand. The voters confined to per-
sons born in Upper Silesia so as 70
prevent colonization before cleo
ton. Both men and women can
vote, but they must all prove their
birth in the province to get their
names on the voting list, and the
election is carried out under the
scrutiny Of the representatives OF
the allied nations, supported by al
lied troops that have been sent into
the country under the provisions
Of the treaty to secure a square
deal and a fair count. They are
needed for there are rumors IN
plenty that neither side proposes to
accept the result Of the election
peacefully if the figures are against
them and it is alleged that secret
forces have been enrolled to over
turn the results of the ballot box
If they do not like it. For that
reason the allied troops which have
been rushed into Silesia during the
last weeks are a decidedly neces-
sary part of the election machinery.
They are there to keep the peace
election day and after election day.
Reports from Upper Silesia are
to the effect that racial passions
are running strong there and both
the Poles and the Germans have put
up a strenuous campaign and both
expect victory. Neither side has
overlooked any factor in political
campaigning, fair or foul, that
might bring it success. Propa'
ganda, brides, race hatreds, eco
nomic advantages of all sorts have
been used to get and retain votes
and money has not been lacking or
either side. Poland is poor and its
people starving in places, but 1t has
been able to find money for this
campaign. Germany is poor ane
cannot pay its debts, we are told
but it can find plenty Of money fol
this campaign. A week or two age
a party of German immigrants from
Brazil passed through New York
on their way to Upper Silesia e
cast their vote and then return t
their residence in Brazil. 1t i:
possible to do this because The
right to vote does not rest on resi-
dence or citizenship, but on brit
in Upper Silesia alone. So thu
earth has been raked to find PEG
pie born in this province and will
ing to come back and vote on on
side or the other. Of course, it i
"a foregone conclusion that most o
these returned voters from distan
parts are not coming back at thei
own individual expense, and whel
one considers the cost in time AM
money Of bringing voter from
Brazil to Silesia and back again. i
is apparent that the value of a vot
in this referendum must be place.
pretty high and the German cam
paign fund must bulge like Mar
uann.ss nn1ifica1 var chest or tn