Evening star., 1924-01-25
MACEDONIA RULERS
POWER IS ABSOLUTE
Todor Alexaudrov Exacts Obedi.
ence to Last Degree From
His People.
MURDER ORDERS oBEYED
Scrupulous Justice Melted Out
in Unusual State.
By WALTER COLLINS,

By WALTER COLLINS.
Correspondence Of The Star and Chicaxo Daily
News Foreign serv;ceD
SOFIA. Bulgaria, December 90
owing to the scanty railway commu-
nicAtions in Macedonia and the gem
orally wild nature OF the country. few
foreigners have visited the scene of
Todor Alexandrov's exploits. For this
reason 1t is hard to believe that not
many miles from the Serbian capital
there Is a revolutionary state which
owes allegiance to no one. This state
within a state preserves all the
amenities of law and order. Scrupu-
lous justice is meted out by its law
courts and robbers and criminals are
given the severest punishment. Brib-
cry and corruption are not much in
evidence. Attempts in this direction
are put down with firm hand.
All orders and instructions sent
out by the Macedonian revolutionary
committee go by word of mouth.
Ihus If AleXandrov, in some distant
Macedonian village DEGREES the death
OF a certain person, the executor of
She decree VIII be apprised of HIS
deity and discretion are beyond the
shadow of doubt. Quite recent was
the case of the Bulgarian. Raiko Das-
kalov. at one time minister of the
interior in Stambouliski's cabinet.
and 1a1 afterWaEd minister to Prague.
lively with Stambouliski in oppos-
ing the revolutionary organization.
Murder Committed on Order.
When the bourgeois military party
made its coup d'etst last summer
Stambouliski was killed under some-
what mysterious circumstances. Many
persons blamed the Macedonians. but
definite proof was lacking. Daskalov
then In Prague. was warned that he
lad been condemned to death, but
ed him protection and for two or
three months he led a quiet life.
One day while walking in the street
Daskalov met death at the hands OF
q young Macedonian named Jordan
Tchitchankov. This murder made
chankov was acquitted on the ground
that he was acting on behalf Of the
revolutionary organization. He has
since been rearrested on the preteXt
that certain evidence was incorrectly
As has been stated previously, the
Anal object of the revolutionary or
ganizatfon is autonomy for the three
parts of Macedonia now included in
Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria. II one
may judge by the recent declarations
of Todor Alexandrov, no opposition
would be made to a larger autonomy
within the limits of Serbia But this
settlement would not better the ques-
tfon Of Greek Macedonia, while Bull
garia would certainly be called on to
Nd
rights to Macedonians within her
Foreigners have often asked why the
do not carry out their
by legal rather than violent
methods. The reason is that the Turks
DO rot give the Macedontans any free
dom OF action, speech or thought.
In this connection the position OF the
American missionary schools IS espe-
ciaiiy interesting. Originally founded
iii 1913. More than twenty American
teachers worked in the schools. and
Bulgarian was the language used. When
the Serbfans and Greeks took over
Macedonia they insisted that their Ian
found that besides adding new Ian
Euaxe, they would have to change prac-
lica1ly all their methods. In the end
they were forced to leave. and there
came to an end a most valuable edu,
cational work. the fruits OF which had
been shown BY the number Of intelligent
young Macedonians who emigrated to
the United States and proved worthy
citizens.
In their struggle against Serbia the
amount Of common interest with the
Croates and SIovenes. The latter were
formerly part Of the eAustro-Hungarian
empire, but by the peace treaty have
been put under Serbian laws and Gus
toms. They also are discontented, and
Steven Raditch. leader of the agrarian
party, along with his fellow deputies,
has refused to attend the Belgrade
parliament. Like Todor Alexandrov.
for Macedonia, Raditch wants autono-
my TO. Croatia but sF, 50 tar has oIfaHs confined
Whether there Is q definite arrange
nent between Alexandrov and Raditch
ls hard to say, but naturally there is
! sympathetic understanding which
may easily lead to something more.
Stnl "Psvaer MaEax1ne..
In several of the central and south
eastern European capitals the s. n. R..
D. has unofficial representatives who
oe the s IN. rer sn
sncy Of France to show herself friend
" to JugoSlavia, RumAnia and Poland.
there is corresponding move on the
part OF italy ana hungary 10 give ala
TO Bulgaria and Macedonia. There are
thus European interests at stake which
render the problem Of Macedonia more
complex than ever.
To sum up. Macedonia. continues to
be the powder magazine" OF the
Balkans Her geographical position
Is such that all Balkan states are di-
rectly. and the great European pow
ers are indirectly. interested in her
future. Her people, being Of q de-
nature, are not going to
let themselves be forgotten. The fact
that half . million OF them are refu-
Iees is sufficient proof of that. In
the present state Of European poll
tics any prophecy is rash. but my
belief 10 that unless the Serbians and
Greeks are prepared to give the
real freedom 4 form Of
autonomy is the only other lasting
solution. II neither Of tho above re-
suits 10 reached the 8. NJ. r. o. will
perforce continue It's campaign OF vio-
lence-a campaign which the Macedo-
mans have learned to regard as the sole
means Of attracting the attention Of the
Civilized world.
Keeping Warm With Ice Cream.
From Bvafybody'0 NaRnSine