The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-23
The Plebiscite In Silesia
(YOuthS COmpaniOn)

\AOuIio
Just now the people who live-or
who claim residence-in Upper Silesia
are taking the first steps in the elec-
ton that is to decide whether that
district shall remain a part of Ger
many or be joined to the new re-
pubic Of Poland. The treaty makers
OF versailles originally awarded the
province to Poland on the ground
that n majority of its population is
Polish; but the protests of the Ger
mans, who compose the greater part
OF the city population and control
all or the industrial enterprises, were
so loud that the final draft of the
treaty provided for a plebiscite to de-
termine the future allegiance of the
country. All natives of Upper Silesia,
wherever they live, and all inhabi-
tants of the region, not natives. who
have lived there sixteen years or
more. have the right to vote.
The area Of the disputed district
Is not far from 5000 square miles; its
population is something like 2,OOO,-
600. Both parties are making the
most extraordinary efforts to carry
the election. 1t is reported from Bcr-
been ordered to carry nonresident
voters into the contested territory;
there are said to be more than zoo
900 natives of Upper Siesia in the
German capital alone. Every effort
IS being Wad" - stir up the oN1 nus
ia@ln 0t German SnosIans. Tho Poles
are no less active, although, since
the Polish population is mostly Of the
YNnl lc-sNta ~ x,lo
have left the province to live else
where. Newspaper and pamphleteer-
ing propaganda is going on at an en-
traordinary rate. In Kattowitz, a city
of 10000, there are today forty
newspapers, most of them political
sheets established to inhame the peo-
pie over the approaching election. All
sorts OF arguments are used, all sorts
OF accusations and innuendoeS are
circulated. The country swarms with
agitators and speIlbinders; there are
political organizers Of real ability on
both sides. especially the former
deputy to the Reichstag, Korfanty.
who leads the Polish forces. Unfor-
tunately. too, the country is full of
arms; the Germans have got plenty
from Bavaria through the friendly
offices of the OrCesch leaders; the
Poles get theirs from Warsaw.
The dispute over Upper Silesia Is
especially warm on account Of the
great richness Of the territory. 1t IS
perhaps the most valuable corner of
the German empire. It's mines pro-
duce almost a quarter Of all the coal
exnaustible. There are rich iron
fields round Oppeln. The richest zinc
mines in Europe are near Beuthen.
Lead, silver copper, arsenic, cobalt
are all found in the hills Of Upper
Silesia. Deprived of that region. the
German metallurgical industries will
be crippled indeed. They will not
submit to losing it If they can help
it. Although large majority Of the
Silesians are of Polish blood. the
Germans are better educated and bet
ter organized. There Is no question
also that they would manage the in
dustrial enterprises Of the country
more efficiently than the Poles. I'm
fortunately for them, they must now
reap the harvest of bitterness that
the imperial government sowed dur
ing it's long and ruthless attempt to
Germanize the Poles of Siesia. The
Poles are in no mood today to listen
| to the argument that the prosperity
of the province would be greater in
German hands.
So angry Is the feeling between
Pole and German that the defeated
party may refuse to accept the re-
suit The weapons that now lie con-
| cealed everywhere may be brought
out; and war, no less savage because
circumstances would probably make
| 1t more or less guerrilla conflict.
may follow. That is the danger that
| he league of nations, under whose
authority the plebiscite will proceed,
must make every preparation to meet.