New-York tribune., 1922-12-24
Poland Facing
Great Crisis, Is
View in Berlin
Civil War Peril Hangs Over
Land a. New President,
Wojciechowski, Takes
Office, Say Observer
Industry Is Growing
Nation Has Shown World
She Can Make Progress in
Rebuilding of Business
By Joseph ShapIen
spseloi cabla % ne IIllans

sDsei0i Cabie 10 TIE TrBsns
BERLIN, Dec. 231-With tho eiestion
Of Deputy. Stanislas WoicieehoWski -
President Of Poland to succeed Presi-
dent Nsrutowicz, who died By tho hand
Of a chauyinist assassin melted by the
extreme propaganda Of the Nstionslist
parties and the still more extreme Pc
lish Fnseisti, Poland stands al part
ing Of the ways. She must nov choose
tho road 20 EVIL war, with ths eonss'
quens danger Of the loss Of her newly
won Independence, or, sobered By The
niartyrdom Of Narutowicz, enter st last
on the rosd TO sane political develop
ment.
Industrially Poland has made great
strides forward IN tho last year, thus
disappointing many Of her enemies,
who charged that the Poles we're IN.
able 70 develop their industrial house
hold. Politically she has failed 70
make similar progress, being torn
more than ever BY party passions
fomented by the extreme Nationsilsts,
who, while constituting a minority
represent a powerful force, which, n Ne
goes unchecked. will, Il IL fssred 'brirg
the nation 20 disaster.
Minority Is Dangerous
Il is these elements who are al
rectly or indirectly responsible Tor ,he
Jewish pogroms, zeligowsd's Vilns
adventure IN defiance OF che League
Of Nations, Poland's advance on Russia
IN 1920, which nesrly ended With the
occupation OF Warsaw By the Soyiel
troops, and tho military occupation Of
eastern Galieia in defiance Of the pro
visions Of the Versailles treaty, this
latter still constituting the point o.
dangerous internal irritation and veal
ness,
r Is these siemsnts zoo. who, 70
loving the defeat Of Soviet Russis, a.
thorizsd tho Riga peace, which Is ffe
quenty compared With the Br,st
Litovsk peace, whereby a large terr.
tory with a purely Russian popub
tion was Incorporated IN Poland, fiy
ing her a future Russian irredonta of
which she is NOT likely TO lose sight
Since the crisis during the summel
Of this year, which resulted IN the
election Of Korfanty, the leader Of ths
Upper sllesian insurreetion, as Pre-
mior, the extremist faction grew bold
or than evor IN its insolence, result.
ing finally IN the birth Of an open
Fascist movement headed by Gcnera'
Haller, which threatened % undermine
the authority Of the state.
Polish Frontier FIXED '
Az the opening Of the Chamber IN
/ November General Pilsudsh warned
these extremists that the Polish from
tier was fixed and cautioned agsins'
the reopening Of the frontier question
By military force.
Tie reopening Of Che Chamber
marked tho outbreak Of fierce
struggle between Polsnd's score Or
more OF political parties, during which
Pilsudski. Poland's greatest modern
hero, who occupied the post Of frsr
President for four years IN rocoTn'
ton Of his services 20 the country.
violently assalled the bloc Of Right
parties as men who would surrender
Poland 70 the hands Of the national
minorities.
This bloc, representing the Interests
OF the Polish junkers and large lsnd
owners, raised the slogan POLAND for
Poles" These elements opposed The
pacifcation Of the national minoritles
and succeeded in putting through Law
eurbing their electoral privileges.
Their efforts 70 dominate the stu
alton were checked only by threats Of
the Witos followers. who represent tho
radical peasant element and who really
hold the balance Of power IN Polano.
to burn Che large estates II the iunkor
politicians did not desist from fur
ther demands Of special privileges
The result Of the elections Was the
defeat Of the Right bloc. which pollcd
2.5o0OoO votes, against tho 100000
Of the Left psrtics and the national
minorities. whereupon the Right
parties redoubled their vitriolic propa
sanda against the minOshes, charging
that the new Parliament was unrep-
resentatige OF Poland.
Why Pilsudski Resigned
Feeling that .his propaganda mighe
shake the witos party and not desir-
ing to make himself the cause Of ne
tlonal dissension. Pilsudsd resigned
But on the day set the election Of tho
new President brought about an Unex-
peeted situation. The Right bloe,
counting on the wavering WitOs party,
put forward the candidacy Of The con
seratiye Count Zamoish, represent
alive Of the interests Of large land
owners and the followers Of the e.
trsale pro.French policy, thus ages7
alternating the witOs party Of .nieA
peasant land propfietors, who sn'e"
their votes 70 Narutowiez.
Il Is this party which has now ale"
made possible wojciechowski's victory,