The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-27

As far back as 1882, acco Iuliu Maniu, Carols ardent W sition parties and parliament.
 Now 1t is estimated the Fascist front has a membership exceeding 100000,
 For six years he waited for his opportunity. It came, when the Inflated Goga regime, because 0: its catastrophe errors, fell on Feb. 10, 1888.
 Carol then had the choice of summoning his arch-enemy Iuliu Maniu, head of the National Peasants party which had been successful in the December cleo. tions of 1887, to power, or to pro- claim a dictatorship.
 In conformity with his personal inclinations, he chose the second alternative, fully aware of what risks it involved for himself and his dynasty.
 Carol Had No Party
 Unlike Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, he had no party on which to base a fascist regime, Virtually all political bodies were against him. The powerful Peas- ants party even had an electoral cartel with its political opposite the Iron Guards, then at the height of their influence, the basis for such understanding being com- mon opposition to the crown.
 To carry out his will, Carol ap- pointed a cabinet of his personal choice and placed at its head Patriarch Miron Cristea, pope of Rumania's Orthodox Church.
 Ten days later, the old liberal constitution was abolished and a new authoritarian one published, On Feb. 24 the nation, in pleb- iscite, voted for 1t with the almost 100 per cent majority. The con- stitution was proclaimed in force on Feb. 27. All political parties were suppressed simultaneously.
 Few, indeed, were those who be- lieved that the kings coup detat, which started constructing a pyr- anid from the top, could be suc- cessful.
 It was, due chiefly to his "milli- Metternich," the small sized one- eyed minister of interior Armand Calinescu, who possessed bound- less energy and courage.
 Realizing that the Iron Guards represented the chief danger to the throne, Calinescu at the risk os his own life started e campaign against Corneliu zelea Codreanu's organization.
 Iron Guards Broken
 It was ruthlessly suppressed and the captain" himself, together with his chief lieutenants arrested. Strangely the Iron Guards ulti- mate aim was the same as Carols own, a totaltarian fascist state They only differed as to who should head the state. Carol wanted Carol: Codreanu wanted Codreanu.
 Nine months later, Codreanu was killed, shot on misty night with several of his sub-leaders in an lat tempted flight" Other dangerous Iron Guard chiefs met sudden death soon afterward.
 The Iron Guards had gained much ground among the population, additionally Semitic, by their vio- lent agitation against Jews.
 Agrarian Reforms First
 In a country where 90 per cent of the population is peasants, 1t was natural that agrarian reforms should rank first in the kings program. Minister of Health Nich- olas Marinescu. distinguished physician, started an energetic cam paign of improvement in the vil- lages, where infant mortality and epidemics continue to take a heavy toll.
 Agricultural experts and stu dents were sent to teach the peas- ants up-to-date methods of cul- tivation and the use of modern tools. King and government dis tributed tractors, blows and other agricultural implements. Credits on easy terms were granted, and substantial export premiums for grain meant a further help toward ~esAaAtAAb a SabioiaStOly llICOIIlt UO LIle rural population. As If nature her self had blessed the kings venture, the land yielded bumper crop in 1938.
 Borders Wiped Out
 To do away with vested inter- ests. historical provincial borders were wiped out and the land di- vided anew into 10 administrative districts without proper physiog- monies and traditions.
 Early in 1889, the keystone of the totalitarian system was pu. into place by the creation of Ru- mania's monopolistic party, the Front of National Re-birth." a counter-piece to the Fascist and National Socialist parties in Italy and Germany. More than 40O0'- 900 Rumanians have joined the front, and the press continues to publish daily long lists of new ad- herents. It is. of course, difficult to know how many of them are sincere believers in RumanIan fascism, and what coefficient is furnished by opportunists who are simply attracted by what they consider well-stocked manager.
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