The New York herald., 1921-06-19
ny JOHN LATHROP.

BY JOHN LATHROP.
Korfanty's coup detat in Upper ST.
lesia was not surprising to these who
know the man. and the peculiar mem
tality Of the typical Pole, whose ex-
perience has been mostly confined to
shst region. He Is self-centred, yet
masterful; insular. yet a magnetic
leader; a German hater, yet borough
ly conversant with the German psy-
choscEy; OF obscure origin, ye. nat
ural organizer; patriot, yet
ambition doth o'erride ITSELF" and
ambition did o'erride itself in his case,
plunging his much loved Poland into
fresh troubles and involving the world
in another welter of postwar uncer.
tainties.
Officially, he was repudiated by the
Polish Government. Really, he Is now
the national hero from the Door to tn
Dneiper. from the Baltic to the Carpa-
thians He was s.ot good loser, there
fore not true sport" He rfused to
''play the game" when the plebiscite
gave Germany majority of tn votes.
The first time I sat opposite him at
the council table In the Ministerium at
Warsaw. was convinced that he would
dominate; that what he decreed would
be done; that he was vastly stronger
than the Minister. M. Seyda: than the
eminent industrial authority DR.. Dia-
mant, the three having met in confer
ence with me to discuss Polish policy
in respect Of the plebiscits campaign
against Germany.
Contest for Rich Prize.
It was to be a rich prize-these e.oo0
square miles In southeastern Germany
prize worth striving for. with its coal
measures so immense that so. 100000 tons
may be mined a year for 300 years; its
% per cent. Of the worlds annual zinc
production. its enormous industrial
equipment, its factories with an output
of billions of marks of goods every
twelvemonth. its two and half millions
Of population, a scientifically coordi-
mated system of railways, a gridiron of
vehicular highways, built in German
thoroughness, its forests OF vast extent,
a region accounted as one OF tho two
or three most vital, economically. In all
OF Europe.
In that first conference. studied
Korfanty. while the economic signifi-
canoe OF Upper Silesia was being dis
cussed. along with the practical phases
Of the pending plebiscte. There was a
set to Korfanty's square jaw, q pene-
tration in his steady gazing eyes. a
force which radiated from his power
ful personality which bespoke the man
Of determination and action. His late
romantic revolt against the authority
Of the Interallied Commission, his mar
shalling of 100000 rebels. his organizing
them into an effective military machine
were. therefore, only the natural out
come from causations which were
patent to any one who knew what was
taking place behind the scenes In this
thrilling International drama.
The economic richness OF the prize
for which we were planning was not the
thing which most deeply moved Kor-
fanty. The Minister, M. Seyda, and the
Industrial Diamant dwelt on the value
TO Poland of the mineral stores and the
factories in the coveted plebiscite re-
gion. But the economic phases ap-
peared not to thrill Korfanty. It was
the romance of the contest-the stirrinG
in some part of his subconscious na-
ture Of tho heritage Of political and
military conflicts which are inseparable
from the typical Pole-that moved his
impassive face to unusual expression.
Impressed by Korfanty.
Compared with Korfanty the Minis.
ter was a pigmy. Diamant a mere sub
altern. When I came away from thai
conference I inquired. Who Ia this mar
Korfanty? / was answered, Oh. he Is
a Pole of Posen who has gained some
prominence because of his brave advo-
cacy of Poland's cause in the German
Reichstag.
THAT was a lead I looked up the
record. and found that Korfanty had
been born OF humble parents, aad
fought his way to an education, de.
voted himself to politics. and. elected
to the German Parliament had huna
defiance into the very teeth OF the
Junker-Kaiser military party from his
place among the members.
Politics was his passion. He was q
past master of the Psychology OF the
mob. He knew how to capture the i'm
agination of the mass. when to act tc
inspire his followers with enthusiasm
and move them blindly to accept his
leadership. He was potentially ruth
less. the type that would ride roughshod
ever obstacles.
~ was yhe adventure. the possibill-
ties of mastery over an adversary
which enlisted his powers. Courageous
rcsourceful. far-seeing. he dominated
.hc weaker Minister Seyda, under whom
hc was assumed to be In official sub
lection.
When Seyda bungled and hestatcd. and
his resignation was demanded during
those months. when Korfanty was
brought forth three times as a candi-
date to succeed him he thrice refused
the ministerial crown. fr ne accepted
he would be hampered with obligations
to the Government OF which he would b
an integral part. He preferred to re-
main as he was-the representative OF
Poland In the plebiecite area. free to
uso the huge campaign fxnd-s1. 900. 900
--as he willed The Minister would pro-
pose. Korfanty would disposo--the con-
summate politician-adventurer playing
on the susccptibitiee OF the excitabe
roles az skilfully as Paderewski, the
then Polish Premier. could play on his
piano. He could. and did, also play on
the sensibilities of Europeon Chancellors
and Premiers, and produce a jait 40
compN In Upper Silesia. to stir the
allied world and compel special sessions
Of uhs Supreme Councii 10 deliberate on,