The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-18
HORTHY STARTS
DEATH TRIAL OF
MATTHIAS RAKOSI
Worlds Workers Try to
Halt Hangman's Hand

The court martial trial of Matthias
Rakosi, peoples eommissar in the
Hungarian Soviet government, and
over one hundred members of the In
dependent Socialist Party began yes
terday, according to a cable from
Berlin received by the national office
Of the international Labor Defense.
The fascist dictator, Horthy, known
as the "hangman of Hungary" prom
ised that executions of Rakosi and
the most prominent of those arrested
would follow a few hours after the
death sentences were handed down by
the court martial
Under pressure from labor organ
izations and sympathizers all over the
world, Horthy had postponed the
trials for time, but evidently he is
now of the opinion that there is a
sufficient lull in the campaign to save
Rakosi to enable him go ahead with
his bloody plan, unhindered
Rakosi is thirty-six years old and
has been actiEe in the labor move
nentt in Ezw " since early man
hood. He playeeI kfprominent part in
the Hungarian oiution which fol
lowed the defeal of the central pow
ers. After the Soviet government of
Hungary was crushed with the aid
of the funds of the Hoover relief ex-
petition, Rakosi was arrested and
orlxv v,x,nd Fror, avoo,+fov, ~ 4Io IN
ton of the Soviet government of Rus
STA in securing his release in ex-
change for Hungarian white guards
in the hands of the red army
Rakosi returned recently to Hun
gary TO reorganize the workers who
have been prosecuted and demoraliz-
ed since Horthy seized power. He
was arrested almost Immediately af-
ter he entered Hungary Court mar
tial trials were Immediately arrang-
ed and speedy executions promised
So great was the storm of protest
aroused by Horthy's bloody program
that he postponed it's execution.
Floods of cablegrams poured in on
him from every part of the world.
Even the Prussian diet, refused to
receive the Hungarian minister of
education until the proceedings
against the former peoples commits
sar, Rakosi, were stopped. The mo-
ton to this effect was passed with
the votes of socialists, Communists,
democrats and centrists.
In the United States vigorous
campaign under the direction of the
international Labor Defense was car
ried on. A committee of liberals
headed by Upton Sinclair and Roger
Baldwin, sent cablegram to the
Horthy government, demanding the
cancellation of the proposed death
sentences. and civil trials. instead of
court martial. Mass meetings, demon
STATIONS were held in the large cities
The Hungarian legation in Washing
ton and the consulates in New York
and Chicago were picketed. This stop
ped Horthys bloody hand for a while
but evidently he has not yet given up
his intention to murder his political
opponents.
The British trade union movement
and the labor party protested against
the threatened execution of Rakosi,
yet despite this, Ramsay Macdonald
leader OF the labor party paid a com
plimentary visit to Horthy few
weeks ago and banqueted with his
foreign minister. This act was con-
strued by the European trade union.
lists as an endorsement by Macdonald
of Horthys prosecutions of the work
ers.
The International Labor Defense
declares that 1t will renew its cam
paign to save Rakosi with redoubled
energy.