Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24

TIME following is a brief sum-
mary of the most important
news of the world for the
4 seven days ended July %:
Austria.-I noticed briefly in
last Sundays issue the violent rioting
of Friday, the 18th, in Vienna. There
was SOME continuance of the rioting
the next day, but on petty scale. BY
Sunday the city was normally quiet.
badly injured, over 700. National
troops brought in from the provinces
co.operated in restoring order. but i'm.
mediately upon such restoration they
were wisely withdrawn beyond the
city limits.
Not less effective than their CO.
operation with the city police was that
of the Social Democratic Defense
Guard Ia Socialist organization OF a
familiar postwar bouQuet). who were
supplied with pistols for the purpose
by the national authorities. For the
fact that the rioting grew out OF
Socialist demonstration is misleading.
The following explanation is plausible:
A series of Socialist demonstrations
had been planned by way OF protest
against Fascist" activities and to
bring pressure on Chancellor Seipel to
reform his cabinet SO that 1t should
include Socialist members. The first
demonstration of the projected series
took place on the morning OF the 10th.
before the Parliament building in
Vienna. But to the demonstrants had
joined themselves a considerable part
Of the 100 900 or so Viennese unenl.
ployed, not Communists save for q
handful. but excellent explosive ma
terial. Now the demonstrants were
about to dispense at the bidding OF
the police when body of Communists
armed with pistols pushed their way
through the throng and began firing
on the police. The police returned tho
fire, and that which followed naturally
followed. The police conceived them
selves the object Of a general attack.
The demonstrants. conscious OF limo.
cence Of criminal intentions, imagined
themselves the objects of the malice
of the police, and in an instant were
converted into a mob of beasts, lust
ing for blood and destruction.
I said that the explanation pre-
scented above Is plausible. If not the
exact truth, it is, / conceive, close to
it. Suppose the trouble mongers were
not Communists, but rather violent
malcontents among the Socialists, or
perhaps a mixture of these two ele-
ments, that would not modify the
Judgment that the demonstrants as
a body were innocent of violent pur-
pose-were betrayed and shocked
into murder, arson and demolition.
Certainly the Socialist leaders and
the great body Of their followers ola
not will or complacently regard the
hideous developments.
The Socialist burgomaster dis
- ~ r
tempting to still the tumult. the So
cialist defense guard" (the counter
part of a Fascist organization)
zealously participated in the pacifica-
ton. Yet the Socialist authorities
are by no means clear OF blame.
They are all too eager for the So
cialist millennium. They must be
aware that their favorite method OF
mass demonstration is an extremely
dangerous one, that almost anything
may evolve from mass demonstra-
ton.
They must know that this method
Is peculiarly dangerous under present
conditions in Vienna, where unem-
ployment is rife. However ayerse
they may be. to communism, they
must be aware that communism
thrives in a Socialist atmosphere,
necessary safeguards. In full power
in Vienna, they have done some good
things. but on the whole they have
used that power immoderately. being
Impatient doctrinaires. Being impa-
tient doctrinaires, it irks them intol'
erably that the republic as whole
should be three -fifths anti-Socialist.
Being impatient doctrinnaires, they
are hoist with their own petard. They
could not forbear to make capital
out Of the terror. On the evening OF
the 18th they instituted a general
strike, not improperly represented as
revolutionary proceeding. Ihey
thought at once to intimidate and TO
caioie Chancellor Seipel tat the head
of a majority anti-Sociaiist nationals
group) into certain concessions. the
chief being reconstruction or MS
cabinet so as to accord important
Socialist participation therein. LOOK
YOU" said they. 1.-THE suppression
| Of the revolt was chiefly our doing.
Without our help you would nave
had a civil war on your hands. You
can't carry on without our help, and
| to insure that you must concede GER
| tain things" mo-" replied the chan.
cellor, you mistake the matter. l
used the National troops most spar
lnSly. out you HnuSt Hot ihtSsonC ~AS".
ency and magnanimity for weakness. i
am not to be bullied: you are not to
make capital out of the developments.
| Whatever justification there may be
| I'm your demands relating to the ma
| tional economy and the complexion
of the national government, they are
mistimed and misdirected. 1t Is TO
Parliament they should be submitted.
1t Is with Parliament that the deter.
| mination rests"
| So the chancellor, who has acted up
to his great reputation, has summoned
Parliament.
Now violent action in always sue
ceeded by violent reaction. hut scarcely
ever 80 quickly a. In the present