New-York tribune., 1922-12-10
German Pupils
Declare War on
Jews in Prague
Naming Of DR.. Sicinherz
as Rector OF University
Causes 'Aryan" Students
10 Go Cnt on Strike
Official DcGes TeulOns
Call Sent 10 Czechs to Join
Walk.Oui and Disorders
Meets With No Response


Meets With No Response
PRAGUE. Dee. Racial and relig-
ious animogity has provoked q stu
dents strike 90 the German Uniyer-
sity of Prague. The "German.Ayan'
students, as they eoll themselves, have
rcvolied against the election u Jew
ish rector. and. not only feflso 10 at
tend classes a,d lectures but also
forcihly restrain Others FROM doing 20.
The rector Of tho university IL elect
ed annually hy the Senate. srd at the
beginning OF the academic year 1872
'23 b.. Ste.nhcrl. an eminent member
Of tho faculty and Senate, was unani.
mousiy chosen he is OF Jewish birth
and adhercs % the faith Of bis
fathers, though. or course, he Is In no
sense propaganda, and Indeed a rec
tor holding Office for only a single
ycar. is quite unable 90 exercise any
untoaari influence, either rueial or re-.
I ligious
Nevertheless. an the "Gcrman.Ar.
yam or non-Jewish students promptly
demanded bis resignation and went on
STRIFE with the proclaimed purpose Of
remaining on strike until he vacated
/ his Office. They made more or less
disordcrly denominations ia the
streets and seized the School OF Chem
irly as thoir headquarters. They also
visited tho Offices Of the principal
Czech papers and demanded the publ.
cation e. an appeal 10 the students Of
thc 9 ech university 20 Join them In
the strike warning them that they
were likely 10 have a Jewish rector
imposed upon them also.
Rector Refuses TO Quit
Dr. steinhcrz on his part either ig-
nored or defied the strikers. showing
no inclination whatever 70 resign, but
attending 70 his duties just as though
no strike bad occurred. IN this course
he has been supported by his col
leagues OF the faculty and Senate.
Such conflicts aa thi5 were common
enough Ia the old Austrian empire.
and recently there was also an anti
Semitic demonstration at Budapest; but
lhis Is the fret such Occurrences IN
Bohemia Il has here. according 20
German spokesmen, a special signih-
cance
The Germans complain bitterly
whether rightly or wrongy-of what
they describe as the injustice con
stantly done 10 them by the C2echs
in en- sorts Of expressions and ingidi-
Gus di examinations. particularly IN the
7 sighting Of their educational and cul-
tural institutions. The German press.
however points out that by engaging
IN such strike the German students
are really making matters worse. How.
il Is demanded, can they expect their
complaints TO be effective when tie
students, without common sense or
reason. and with the methods Of
street mob, cripple their own institu-
hoF and foreibly prevent students
from attending thcm"
+ 10 is remarked that the "Gorman-
Aryan5' are grossly inconsistent in
ailinc against Czecn oppression, and
at the same time soliciting the coop
Grafton Of the Czech students against
their Rector The probable outcome
that is now expected Is that the Czech
Minister Of Education will intervene
in Che case. TO tho diseredit Of the
Germans Tho Czochs are exploiting
the case as proof that the Germans are
whit for or incapable Of government.
since thry arc unable 70 restrain their
boys from such acts Of folly and dis-
order as ihis strike.
Czech Wow Of Situation
The Czech view Of the case Is OK
pressed by the Prague Gazette, % which
declares that the tactics Of tho strik-
ing students have an origin alien 20
ne spirit Of this eountyy--in brief
the strike is Of German origin. II has
Do moral basis, but is manifestation
Of a reactionary spirit, menaeing 70
academic and civic liberty
"Under the mask Of anti.Semilism
il concealed in chluyinstic psysiog-
nomy OF the Prague Germans, who
lrkc their stand upon the platform
OF racial purity. undehled nationalisn
AND onti-somitism, such as may be
found Ia Germany, and such as Is d.
rccted not merely against The Jews but
against al who oppose extreme chsuy-
inism and who stand FOR principles Of
racial tolerance and cooperation.
II the German colony in Prague
DO not establish order at home there
will be every reason for regarding the
German University Of Prague az hot
bed OF rcactionary aims
Ro;l Rrofherhood Rank