South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-26
PARTIES
IN RUSSIA PROVE
STRONGEST POWER
Growth of Strength in Organ
izations Causing General I'm
rest in Magyar States.

BUDAPEST. Hungary. June 25.-
The peasant has elbowed himself
onto the scene so quietly that some
statesmen still think that the great
and ubiquitous bulk is a vision which
vii! shortly vanish into air. into
thin air" Nevertheless every crisis
demonstrates the peasants power
anew. Now. for example. that King
Karl has gone back TO Switzerland.
the most noteworthy result Of his
visit has been 10 show where the
peasants stand on the Hapsburg
question-and how firmly they stand.
The older legitimates like Count APP
ponyi. will tell YOU that the common
man has an almost holy regard for
the mystic and historic crown Of St.
Stephen and for him who has worn
it, but If the small holder is a type
Of the common man, recent events
have demonstrated that there is
nothing in this sentimental idea.
The Hungarian peasant is neither
rOyalist nor anti-royalist. He is in
different whether there is a king or
a republic, so long as he can hold
on TO the gains which he has made
during the past three yeare-gains in
land. in political power and in con
troll But he is a deadly enemy Of the
HapSburgs. In his mind the Haps-
burgs are connected with the Ger
man spirit and with militarism, and
the peasant hates both. The town
workers are much more German
lied.
Indeed the first industrial workers
in Hungary were Germans, Organiza-
ton has proceeded along German so
cial democratic line, and the attitude
Of the town workers toward the
HapsbUrgs was summed up for me
the other day by a socialist editor
who said: "Of course. if an attempt
is made to restore the monarchy we
protest formally But really it
wouldn't be a bad thing. For one
thing it would bring about an am
nesty for all the workers still in
prisons. At the time OF the Karl
putch-if the kings visit can be
given such a title-the peasants took
and unexpectedly firm stand. They
challenged the government for per-
hitting him TO remain in the country
as long as he did. forced the resig-
nation of the prime. minister. used
the occasion tC get two valuable posi-
lions for their party in the cabinet
particularly that Of secretary OF
home affairs. an important post in
view Of impending elections and
fnrnaI I'll
stand in favor of the restoration of
free speech and a free press and the
abolition Of the requisitioning of
corn.
Both in Hungary and Bavaria the
peasants have forced the recognition
Of their local and district "agricultu-
raj chambers" called by the opposi-
ron peasants sOviets." These coun-
ellis are democratically elected bodies
made up of an equal representation
from agricultural laborers, small
holders. middle holders and the own
ers Of large estates. They are en-
powered by the government to divide
the estates which, in Hungary. must
be sold to the peasants under the
terms OF the land reform bill and to
oversee all legislation affecting the
interests of The land workers. They
send representatives to district, pro-
vincial and larger bodies. and is is
possible that in the future they may
acquire great power in countries
where the population is predomin-
antly agricultural.
In Jugo-Slavia there is the same
ascendancy among the peasants. Bull
saria is a peasant state. with an en-
lEhtened land policy. ROumania is
having TO make concessions to the
peasants in order 10 temper the IN
rest among them.
End OF European Culture?
II the peasant movement pursues
its present accelerated pace the
whole section Of Europe may be re-
duced TO a series Of purely agricul-
tural states. Pessimists see in this
movement the decline Of art. music
and culture. These things. they say.
are the products of cities. Of a high
" complex industrial civilization
The opera OF Vienna. the glory of a
declining city; the galleries Of Buda-
pest; all that civilization or an an
Gent and sophisticated people, viii
gradually perish and the pride OF the
world be given over TO land grub.
bing.
Certainly the peasants hate the
towns They consider them a blot on
civilization. There is nowhere any
tendency among them 10 greatly care
whether the town Industries live or
perish. In these unprOductive times
the peasant boards his money and
gets along without what he formerly
considered essential, or IL he must
have some article which the towr
fails 20 manufacture for him. his
tendency is 70 manufacture IL him
self. Thus, in Linz in Upper Aus.
tria. you see the beginnings Of CO.
operative factories. for the manu-
facture OF artificial manure and
farm machinery. set up by the peas
ants themselves.
on the other hand. some optimist:
believe that a return 10 the land i:
the only salvation for Europe and
have faith that the peasants vii
evolve a new state, anti-miitarisuc
democratic and productive. with a
culture OF its own not inferior q
that OF the ancient c.ties-giver
time in which 10 doit.
Certainly here in Central Europe