The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-02
M0NS|CNOR SEIPEL,
AUSTR|ANP0L|TICAL
LEADER, SUCCUMBS
Former Chancellor, Leader OIL
Fascist Movement, Ac-
tive as Priest

Vienna, August NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Ignaz Seipel. former chancellor of
Austria, died Tuesday at a sanitarium
near here. He was So years old.
Monsignor Seipel, who became
chancellor in May. 1922, had been i'll
for several months with lung trouble
aggravated by an old bullet wound
received when an attempt was made
to assassinate him in 1924.
He was the recognized head OF the
Fascist movement in the country but
he never allowed these activities to
interfere with his duties as a Cath
clio priest.
His physicians attributed his death
to heart attack and general debil-
ity caused by his long illness.
A rare combination of politician
and churchman, the Rt. Rev. Monsig-
nor Ignaz Seipel used his talents for
many years in unceasing labor for the
greater glory of the Roman Catholic
church and the maintenance of law
and order in Austria.
He was leader of the Christian So
cialist party in the war-born repub-
lie, was chancellor of the government
five times and occupied several other
responsible cabinet posts.
He was the recognized head, too of
the fascist movement in Austria and
it was due largely to his support as
chancellor that the "heimwehr," an
unofficial body of thoroughly drilled
men, became a rival of the social
democratic "shuetzbund" in Austrian
politics. At times the tactics of the
rival armies" led the nation to the
verge of civil war. The "heimwehr"
had its chief strength in the provinces
of the republic, while the 'schuetz-
bund" held the fort In the socialistic
municipal government of Vienna.
Started With Republic
DR.. Seipel had almost no political
experience before the birth of the re-
public. Just before the collapse of
the Austro- Hungarian monarchy he
was made minister Of social welfare in
the last cabinet of Emperor Karl I
and he was elected a member of the
constitutional assembly of the new
republic in 1919.
It quickly developed that the cleri-
cal party in the new state, which in
cluded all former employees of the
monarchy. was willing to follow him
blindly and this evidence Of trust in
his own country. coupled with respect
for his priestly robes in other con-
tinental nations, gave him wide ap-
peal when he undertook to make a
prosperous and going concern out Of
the German remnant Of the old he
terogeneous empire.
Although before he ventured into
politics DR.. Seipel had been absorbed
by the calls of his religion, he showed
remarkable ability to grasp admins
trative, economic, financial and labor
problems, but the obstacles laid in his
path by influential sections of the
public eventually halted his efforts
and led to the failure of many Of his
policies.
Consolidated Opposition
His attempts to throttle the social
Democratic party, largely because OF
their advocacy Of secular education Of
Austria's youth, consolidated this
source Of opposition. His avowed
partially for the aims and practices
Of the heimwehr did not have the ap.
prevail Of all the bourgeois parties and
led to some divisions even in his owr
party. as those elements reasoned that
the fostering Of q semi official private
army would accentuate domestic strife
and cause forebodings in neighborine
states.
On July I, 1924, a fanatical work.
man member, of Seipel's party, con
vinced that Austria's distress was dua
to inaction by the government, firet
two shots at the chancellor. On,
bullet pierced DR.. Seipels liver ant
the other penetrated his right lung.
| DR.. Seipel was born in Vienna o.
June 10, 1874, Of humble parentagt
He studied theology at Vienna univ
ersity and was ordained . priest L
1889.