The New York herald., 1922-01-10
Czecho-Slovakia's New Cabinet

! Czecho-Slovakia as practically the
first step after its formation under.
took the solution OF its economic prob
lens. President MAsARYK considered
this action of prime Importance, and
though he and his coworkers have
not achieved all that they wished or
expected thcy have produced an eco
nomic program which promises a
safe and conservative development
OF the nations industries. In the
meantime the establishment OF
Czecho-Slovakia upon a firm consti-
tutional basis has been worked out
with deliberation. There have been
three trials at government, none Of
which was entirely successful, but
at last a new Cabinet has come into
power which fulfills the intention Of
the constitution makers In that 1t is
composed mainly of members of the
House Of Deputies and may be held
to strict responsibility by the vot-
Ing population.
Every man and woman in Czecho-
Slovakia is in politics; there is no
uncertainty about the woman vote,
for voting is compulsory. The citi-
zens do not vote for the President;
the choice rests with the House OF
Deputies. The members of this body
are, however, elected by popular suf-
frage. Every party has representa-
tion in the House Of Deputies in pro-
portion to It's numerical strength;
even the Communists sit in the Par
lament, Czecho-Slovakia considering
1t better to permit the Bolshevists to
show their real strength rather than
to pretend to numbers they do not
possess. From the thoroughly repre-
sentative character of the House of
Deputies and the control of affairs
which it has the intense interest
taken in the election Of it's members is
easily understandable. AS electors OF
the President and also of most Of the
officers of the Presidential Cabinet
they constitute decidedly the most
powerful political force of the nation.
This constitutional basis OF govern
ment has been brought about under
considerable difficulty and through
severe trials. The first Cabinet was
merely provisional, the second and
third were wrecked by splits in the
Socialist party. So bitter was the
fight between the Socialist factions
that the very existence of the repub-
lie was for time in peril. Another
complication arose from the activi-
ties Of the Magyars and the Germans.
Both groups were apparently irrec-
onciIable, and they did everything
In their power to embarrass the Gov
ernment. They succeeded, however,
In defeating only some minor legis.
lative measures.
AT the head of the new Cabinet is
EDWARD BENEs, who In addition to
the Premiership holds also the post
OF Foreign Minister. A staff corre-
spondent OF THE NEW York HERALD
writing from Prague says that
BENEs is highly regarded by the peo-
pie, and that he "of all Czecho-Slovals
statesmen is the one who most closely
reflects the social and political phi
losophy OF the President" Another
able member of the Cabinet is JAN
CzERNY, the new Minister of the In.
terror, who was pupil of MAsAgYK
in the University OF Prague.
Both men have shown their capabil- |
tiles in bringing about a better un-
between Czecho-Slovakia
and Hungary and Austria. The most |
difficult matters with which they will |
be likely to struggle in the next ses-
sion of the Parliament are the sep
aration of church and state and meas |
ures for the improvement Of indus
trial and economic conditions. In
their attempt to arrive at a settle.
ment OF these problems they will !
have the assistance OF Cabinet !
which is the strongest Czecho-Slo-
vakia has yet had and one which |
reflects the ambitions OF |
the people OF the nation.
Congress conferees arc not without |