The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-18
BY GIsELLA RAKosI

The Hungarian ruling class IS pre-
pairing the legal murder of my
brother Matthias Rakosi Because of
his political activity he was arrested
in September. 1925, and brought be-
fore court-martial. I can still re-
member him standing calmly before
this bloody court; I can still remem-
Der how. himself in the shadow of
the gallowS, he defended the cause
Of the working class. Even at that
time the whole cultural world be-
came interested. A mighty solidarity
movement. in all countries. led by
the International Red Aid, forced
the hangmen to take down the gall
lows which had already been erected
in the prison yard. Then my bro
theirs case was forwarded to the
ordinary court which sentenced him
to eight and one-hslf years at hard
labor.
From year to year this sentence
became heavier burden to bear,
due to the cruel treatment, the sys-
temstic physical and moral fortunes.
I was powerless witness of the
struggle against the brutal regime
and against the corruption Of the
prison administration, fought by my
brother in order to improve the con-
ditions of all the prisoners. How
often I myself was roughly treated
and chased away! I was even forced
to serve a sentence of three months
imprisonment because I firmly stood
up for my brother. In the partic-
ularly severe winter Of 1929 my
brother was thrown into an under
ground window Here he was made
to suffer disciplinary punishment for
three months. He remained in this
horribly cold cell, without mat
treSs and without any winter clothes
of any kind. 1t was your will alone,
comrades, your protest that saved
my brother from this cell of muir
der.
Tortured for Three Years
For more than three years of his
eight and one-half years of i'm
prisonment, Matthias Rskosi was
made to suffer disciplinary arrest; to
starve in the dark and cold punish
nent cells. Sentences. of disciplinary
punishment we're passed against
him seven times. Six times he WIS
compelled to resort to hunger
strikes as the last weapon of pro-
test against the inhuman treatment
to which he was subjected-a total
Of Sd days on hunger strike.
And now, when he has already
served his sentence. when his health
has been utterly destroyed as a re-
suit Of the hard labor, hunger and
disciplinary punishments, the blood
thirsty government wishes to bring
him again before the same court
thet passed sentence on him eight
and one-haf years ago, to drag him
asoin to the gallows which were
destroyed eight and one-haf years
ago by the storm Of protest Of all
honest-minded people.
Health Now Ruined
AS a result of this raonstrous SEN
tence of hard labor, Matthias
Rakosi's health has been ruined:
but his will is strong, and he is
ready, Notwithstanding all his SUI
ferings, to continue the fight for your
cause, the struggle to free all toilers
from hunger and poverty, and from
fascist terror. Just as was the case
eight and one-half years ago. my
brother is now threatened with the
death sentence!
Glass brothers and comradest All
you who have helped to snatch Di-
mltroff away from the clutches OF
the fascist hangmen: Raise your
mighty voice once more against this
planned assassination! Save my
brother from the Hungarian hang
men!
Force the liberation of Matthias
Rakosi!
Now az Years Old
Matthias Rakosi was born in 1892.
in the district Of Batschka-former
Hungarian territory now belonging
to Yugoslavia. After graduating the
Eastern Trade Academy in Buda-
pest, he worked as Office employee
in Hamburg and later in London.
While still a young student he ac-
lively participated in the Hungarian
students movement, and directed it
In support of the labor movement.
He worked in the labor movement
since 1910, first in Germany. and
then in 1912, as member of the
Social-Democratie Labor Federation
in London. He was later expelled
from this Federation because of his
radical political opinions.
In 1914 Matthias Rakosi was called
back to Hungary, for military serv-
ice, and was sent to the front. Al
ready in December, 1914, he was
taken prisoner By the Russians. In
the war prisoners camp in Chita
Ear East he worked diligently to
further his Marxist education and
developed the propaganda Of rev.
olutionary ideas among the war
prisoners.
In the middle of 1918 he returned
to Hungary with rich experience
gained in the Russian October Rev
olution; and as officer in the Sub
botitza Garrison he conducted e.s-
ten1iye anti-wer activities. He soon
Joined the Hungarian Communist
Party which was then organized.
and within short time he became
one of the best mass agitators and
organizers of the Hungarian Com
munist movement. At first he was
secretary of the largest Party pro-
vincial organization Segedin.
On the formation of the Soviet
Government in Hungary, in March.
1919, Rakosi, 81 years of age, was
Assistant Peoples Commissary for
rTr-od E,ni. o tirnrn he rrnr Cl,iof