New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
Flood of Cash
Put Constantine
Back on Throne
Buying of Votes by Whole.
sale and Promise to Keep
Greece Out of War
Overwhelmed Venizelos
IIliteracy Great Factor
Lack of Education Among
Masses One Reason for
Victory of Royalist Party
Froue a spec.o, corresoondent

day after the night before. For days
there have been wild demonstrations
Of JOY over the Royalists' return. Every
day the people marched in procession,
each profession, trade and class having
It's own little celebration, which always
ended before the Royal Palace in
Athens. from the balcony of which the
Kings brothers and their wives would
greet the people.
Sailors, soldiers. priests and work
men spent their days marching about
the town, carrying images and pictures
OF King Constantine. This lasted until
rain began and the population Of
Greece was compelled to remain in
doors. Their enthusiast languished as
their fanatical JOY cooled.
To-day they are wondering how their
King can calmly announce to the world
that he will follow the policy Of the
former government of Nenizelos, when
he has promised to restore peace and
abandon war. Of course, they little
realized before the elections that the
Royalists were willing to promise any
thing provided they could obtain the
vote of the people.
Why Eenizelos Fell
Although the downfall Of Nenizelos
is now an old story, the true manner
in which it was brought about has been
explained by an American tourist, now
in Rome. who was in Greece the month.
preceding the elections. Knowing both
parties in Athens, he was able to study
the situation at first hand. To his
mind it was the cleverest and the most
successful piece of propaganda work
he had ever seen. 1t was essentially
clever because it was so quietly done.
AS every one knows, Venizelos was alb
solutely convinced that the majority of
the people were with him. He over
estimated his power, while underesti-
mating the cleverness of his opponents,
especially their leader, Gunaris. Like
modern Alcibiades, to whom politi-
cally he has been compared, he felt
that his magnetic personality would
carry him through. AS he himself
could not be bribed, he never imagined
that his followers were in any way
different from him.
1t seems that about a month before
the elections his Minister of the Treas
ury announced that 900 900 drachmas
were being sent into the country to a
private account and asked the Prime
Minister if he thought it wise to al
low all this money to come into the
country.
Why not ?" asked the Premier. at
will benefit trade and conditions, as it
will surely be spent in Greece, as no
permission will be given for it to leave
the country"
The minister took no further inter
est in this money.
Corstantine's Agent Admitted
Fifteen days later Gunaris, agent of
King Constantine, received permission
to enter Greece for the purpose Of
voting in his native land. AS it had
been announced previously that italy
rad refused to allow Constantine to
live in Italy and his partisans had
announced to every one that they
were greatly discouraged, the Greek
government was disarmed and al
lowed Gunaris a great deal Of lib
crty. Not only did he visit his own
town, but at night he visited Athens,
Piraus and Nenizelist strongh Odds IN
every town he conferred with Royalists.
who all insisted that the elections must
be won at any cost. They decided that
q propaganda from mouth to mouth
was preferable to any printed matter
Of which the police could obtain pos
session. This propaganda was based on
one theme only, which was this:
Tell the people secretly, especially
the women, that If their men vote for
Venizelos and his party they will never
be free from war and desolation The
royal party will give them back their
sons and restore pre-war conditions. In
stead OF suffering and starving they
will be we'll fed and taken care Of. Is
not Greece large enough now? What
your sons will be killed on the battle
field? Who will benefit by their death
Nenizelos and his party, who will con-
tinue to rule and remain in power. Con-
stantine will save you, but you must
cast your vote for him, or he will not
return again, and You will know no
peace, only war. war, war"
Propaganda Spreads
When the women heard this message
they decided that not vote would be
cast for Venizelos. This propaganda
spread like mouldering fire The au-
rhorities knew little about it, and con-
sidered what they heard as old women's
gossip. Besides, as election day was
near, they could not use repressive
measures, as this would have been used
against them.
In the towns where Venizelos con-
sidered the whole vote would be for
his party huge sums were paid for
each individual vote, 5000 drachmas be-
ing the highest price. Money was spent
like water. These brides were dis
tributed BY picked agents, friends of
the royal family and Of Gunaris, and
care was taken that the money was
slipped carefully to the Individuals
Gunaris. by careful organization, had
obviated every risk of the police dis
covering what he was doing. BY work
ing toward his success he was serving
not only his master, but himself, as
had ne failed his job as royal agent
would have been given to some one else
But government officials were sure
Of lhemselve and never dreamed that
the elections would go against them.
They depended, too, much on the graft
tude of the Greek people, who all knew
that it was Nenizelo's personal magnet
ism and political acumen that had
made Greece great but they were
frankly sick of war and desired peace.
Pfemier's Methods Severe
The Premier was severe against those
who were working for the return of
Constantine, and never hesitated to
have them arrested and tried for trea-
son against the state To perfect his