Evening star., 1926-05-31
P|LSUDSK| REFUSES
POLISH PRESIDENCY
Elected by Assembly, He De.
cIares Office Carries Too
Little Power.
BY the Associated Press.


WARSAW. Poland. May 31.-Mar.
shall Joseph Pilsudski, who overthrew
the Witos government by force a lit
tie more than two weeks ago. created
another sensation today by refusing
the presidency of Poland.
The Senate and Diet. convened as a
national assembly for the purpose.
chose him on the first ballot, giving
him 232 votes as against 1913 for Count
Bninski.. governor of Posen, the nomi-
nee OF the Right parties, and the only
other candidate. There were 81 alb
stentions.
Pilsudski, who was chief Of state in
1919, declared he could not accept the
post under the restrictions placed
about it by the present constitution.
The president, he pointed out, lacked
protection against Parliament because
under the constitution he could not
dissolve it even in case of urgent
necessity.
Refusal Causes Sensation.
Acting President RataJs announce
ment Of the marshal's refusal caused
a sensation in the national assembly.
and wild excitement among the
populace. :
Premier Bartels told Pilsudski he
would do in their Disappointment, but
the marshal replied: Leave that to
me: I'll manage all right"
NJ. Rataj, after reading the letter OF
refusal to the Assembly. called a new
election for 10 o'clock tomorrow NORM
ing. In refusing, Pilsudski recon
mended the election Of either Prof.
MarjanZ Zziechowski of Wilma Uni
versity or Prof. Ignatz Moscicki of
Lemberg University.
Hopes for Less Treason.
The letter of refusal read 80
II thank the National Assembly.
1t is the second time in my life that
+ have had the opportunity to legal
ize my work, which unfortunately was
thank you that my election was not
unanimous, as in February. 1919. 1t
means, maybe, that there will be less
treason and insincerity in Poland.
Unfortunately, I cannot accept. I
do not find the confidence In myself
for this work which have done be-
fore, nor have I confidence In the
people who elected me. l remember
too we'll the tragic person of the MUIR
dered President NarutowicZ. whom l
could not protect against cruel fate.
president Narutowicz was assassi-
mated in Warsaw by the mad artist
Niewadomski on December l6, 1929
II also too vividly remember the
brutal attack on my children. I can
not live without direct active work,
and the constitution keeps such work
from me. I also would be obliged to
wear out my heart and break my
character. Another type Of man IL
needed for president.
II apologize for causing my follow
ers disappointment. My conscience. to
which 1 have appealed a thousand
times in recent days, does not permit
me to accept. I hope the new election
will be a happy one"
Prof. Moscicki, who is regarded as
having the best chance Of election.
was formerly connected with an ex-
plosive works In Switzerland. After
the Upper Silesian plebiscite he was
appointed director of the fertilizer
works at Chorzov. Poland, which he
eficiently reorganized with the aid of
students from Lemberg University.
Later Made Professor.
When The Hague tribunal recently
returned Chorzov to Germany. DR..
Moscicki was appointed a professor In
Lemberg University.
DR.. Zdziechowski is a professor of
philosophy at Wilma University and
held a similar position before the war
in Cracow University. He is a rela.
tive Of the former Polish minister Of
finance Of the same name. He has
wide reputation in Poland and Russia
as the author Of the philosophical
works.
The House Of Parliament was care
fully guarded during the election, and
the police examined every persons
credentials four or five times before
one was allowed to enter the building.
All approaches to the building were
cut off for a half mile. Citizens were
ordered to keep their front windows
closed during the morning.