Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
PHSUDSKI MAKING TEST
OF HIS HOLD ON POLAND
Dictator Is Going Before Voters in No
vember for Verdict Upon
Drastic Reg me.

didate could even vaguely suggest any
compromise with Germany. Since on
the whole the marshal represents the
idea of strength, he will probably gain
votes as a result of the German episode.
Court Is Independent.
The Polish dictatorship has little
really in common with the Italian. Only
recently the Supreme Court annulled
the election of something like eight men
chosen on the list of the marshals sup
porters in 1928 because of local frauds.
In doing this the court at one time dis
closed its independence of political con-
troll and made 1t perfectly clear that
frauds in the new election would only
lead to other unseatings
Two years ago at the last election I
was in Wilma Although feeling ran
! high, and Wilma itself is a trouble point,
there was not the slightest suggestion of
disorder. At the moment there is no
apprehension of any grave disturbance
in the coming election.
Pilsudski himself is one of the most
picturesque figures in contemporary Eu-
rope, but he belongs in another age.
He has been essentially q conspirator
and a partisan leader rather than a
statesman in the parliamentary sense or
soldier of the general staff type Al
though he is but 81, and thus a mere
boy by comparison with Hindenburg, the
strain of years is beginning to tell upon
him. And his recent passionate denun-
citation of Parliament, together with a
series of arrests of former members,
has aroused certain measure Of local
anxiety.
Conservative Aid Given.
Such news as reaches me from War
saw indicates that the more conserva-
tive elements seem to hope that the
marshal will win and take Office, thus
becoming a parliamentary ruler. He
remains q national hero with a ire
mendous hold upon popular magma
iton and with certain unmistakable
claims upon national gratitude But
there is in the country no organized
Fascisn, no national faith in dictator
ships; and there Is q manifestly grow
ing desire to get down to normal
political basis.
Neither in his own camp nor in the
camps of his enemies is there any con-
siderable figure. Poland, like Germany,
suffers acutely from the absence Of
f1rst-rate political ability. But this
year the question will be for or against
Pisudski and the marshal is plainly
fighting for his political life, for his
position as national leader-and with
Tile OOOS lOt III Ills
| favor He believes that the mass of the
people are with him in his fight against
the recent Parliament II he proves
mistaken the results may be sur
prising.
Hustling for Votes.
But in any event we are now to be
treated to the rather unusual spectacle
of man, denounced by all his enemies
as q dictator, out hustling for votes
like any mere prime minister and max
| ing himself pretty obvious target for
his political enemies. In this the
| friends of the marshal would see proof
that he is not q dictator at all. AS
| for the marshal, his explanation is that
he is engaged in educating his fellow
countrymen in democracy. Just what
Mussolini or Hitler would think about
/ the matter is still unknown, but per-
haps the greatest risk the marshal runs
is that of losing his union card as q
dictator in good standing.
The first time Clemenceau saw
Paderewsk after he became prime min
lister, recalling his former glory as q
musician, he exclaimed: "Oh, how you
have come down in the world"
Maybe that is what Mussolini will
think If and when Pilsudsd sinks to
the level Of a mere Baldwin, BRAND or
Potncare.
Copyright, 1sso)