Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-30
SENTIMENTAL
REFERENDUblS
TAKING PLACE
Salzburg, Styria and Upper
Austria Casting Vote
Today
(By The Associated Press,

gt. E~L
2 tRy e-AssoelAted Press,
Vienna. May as.-Three more prov
inces viii initiate the Tyrel and hold
sentimental referendums on the ques-
ton Of the fusion Of Austria with
Germany. salxburE. Syria and Up
per Austria have set May 20 as the
tentative date for tho ballot and 1t
is believed that carinthia also viii
fail into line, Voralberg, the wrestler
most OF the states last ummer voted
practically unanimously to join Switz-
erland.
The almost unanimous, vete for fus-
ion IN the Tyrol on April - was q SUR
prise even to the most ardent Of fua-
ionists. They had estimated an 80
to 30 per cent favorable ballot and 1T
is conceded that the exces repre-
sented an element of these hard
headed mountaineers who voted sim
ply because Of the Entente prohibi-
ton against the referendum.
! THE movement, toward = union
with Germany, born almost inmedi-
ately after the creation Of the re-
public, has grown steadily and these
sporadic and independent referendum
are the outgrowth OF The failure OF the
effort to force the central government
to defy the Entente and order 9 ma
ti0n-wide vote.
Probable AAjnetty for Uuioa
According to foreitnS observers who
have kept a wAtchful eye on the agi-
tation there is no doubt that the total
vote will show. n heavy majority for
the union. They do not share the be-
lief protested by the opponents of the
movement that il the vote actually
meant action instead of q sentimental
expression Of opinion it would not
carry. On the contrary they express
earnest thought and desire on the
part of the maSs.of the people and say
they r motivated by three control-
ling things.
First is the firmly rooted conviction
that Austria cannot survive political
ly or economically as an independent
state. The economic arguments have
been set before the world officially
and unofficially for the past two years
but the political phase Of the mat
ter vas brought to a focus by the fer
mer Emperor Charles recent attempt
to regain the throne in Hungary.
The threat of ~Jugoslavia, Czechoslo-
vakta and Rumania to occupy Hun
gary if a Hapsburg is restored spells
an inevitable occupation of Austria
along with it.. They realize the utter
impotence Of the little unarmed re-
public against its powerful Slav neigh
borsy and the present political situa-
ton in Central Europe does nc calm
their apprcheneions.
Austrian Faith tn GeFunany.
AZ part Of the stronger German
state. they feel they woula be. secure
against any aggression and Mt the
same time obtain advantages Of a com
mercial nature which they cannot hope
to gain independently. The belief OF
AUSTRIA in S.tha rehabilitation of Ger
many is abiding and they wish to
share It.
Behind this motive is said to lie the
natural racial and language tie,
coupled with the dread that Siav in
situations will supplant their Germanic
traditions and culture.
Another important factor is the well
organized and effective German pro-
and financed by them. it evtdencedSi ta
efficiency in the Tyrol vote. The vi
enna opposition press openly charged
that 100000 marks were spent on
that referendum alone and that At
much more as may be needed will be
forthcoming to keep the moving go
ing.
Coupled with this charge is the
Ename:of Hugo, SHINES, the great Ger.
man capitalist, whose recent business
invasion of Austria, ranging from pur.
lchases CT newspapers in Vienna and
every provincial capital through man,
enterprises to control of the great Al.
pine Montague corporation, one of the
largest in Europe. has had first pass
newspaper place for months.