NAWSA Subject File CZECHOSLOVAKIA, Suffrage in THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN THE CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC. Compiled at Prague May 22, 1920, by Mrs. F. Plaminkova. The charter of the Czechoslovak Constitution, adopted February 20, 1920, by the National Assembly, says privileges based on sex, birth or profession are not recognized. The right of voting at elections to the House of Deputies is enjoyed by all citizens of the Czechoslovak Republic, irrespective of sex, who have attained the age of twenty-one years. All who have attained the age of thirty years, irrespective of sex, enjoy the right of being elected to that House. The right to vote at elections to the Senate, irrespective of sex, to those who have attained the age of twenty-six years. At age of forty-five years, may be elected to the Senate. The Czech Revolution took place October 28, 1918. Immediately the co-operation of women in the work of political institutions took an official form. Of 260 members of Parliament, 8 were women, who played a very important part at a period of great responsibility in laying the foundations of the State. The daughter of the first President, Dr. Alice Madaryk, in consideration of her social labors and her sufferings, (she had been imprisoned by the Austrian government), was sent to the National Assembly by the unanimous vote of all parties. She subsequently retired from Parliament to devote herself to her work as President of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, - a task which brings credit to the name of woman. In her stead, another woman came into the National Assembly. In parliament women were successful exponents of their own views. They presented bills and frequent success attended their efforts - For the betterment of the social conditions of students; for the taking over by the State, of schools and places of education hitherto conducted by monasteries, convents or other church organizations; for placing girls' middle schools under State control; for prohibiting evening and Sunday instruction; for establishing central refuges for children and Children's Homes; for the punishment of corruption; for the abolition of licensed houses of ill repute; for systematic disinfection of public buildings, and also of private dwelling houses, etc. -2- In June 1919 the first elections took place, - the elections to municipal bodies. They took place according to the system of fixed lists of candidates. The names of the candidates are arranged in a certain order by the political parties, on lists which it is not allowed afterwards to alter. The executive committees of the parties thus have the power to place women's names in such position on the list that they have a prospect of being elected. Women who take no part in political activities of some party or other, or who are not organized, are excluded from the possibility of election. From the elections come the following interesting statistics: The number of women voters was much larger than that of men voters; of the total number of voters, 2,746,641, or 54%, were women, and only 2,302,916, or 45.6%, men. The duty of recording their votes was better fulfilled by the women than by the men, 90.4% of men voting as against 92.6% of women. According to private statistics, about 12% of those elected were women. The Social Democratic party received 32.5% of all votes, the National (Czechoslovak) Socialists 17.3%, other Socialists 2.3%, - in all 52.1%. The women members of local administrative bodies occupy themselves principally with problems of pauperism, housing, health, food supply and education. They preside over committees dealing with these matters. They are also members of City Councils, occupy the post of Deputy Mayors, and three are Burgomasters. Their influence is widely felt in the communities. The development of their work is hindered by the financial straits as a consequence of the war. They have been appointed "Commissioners" in district administrative Committees. The first elections to Parliament (House of Deputies and Senate) did not take place until the end of April 1920, and it is therefore impossible to give precise statistics relating thereto. (Note. This was published in May). Out of 302 members elected to the House of Deputies, 13, that is, 4% were women. Out of 150 to the Senate, 3, or 2%, were women. Member of the House of Deputies arranged according to the various political parties, and the number of seats allotted by each party to women: 1 - Czechoslovak Parties Seats National Czecho Social Agrarians Clericals Democrats Socialists Democrats Men 18 21 70 39 32 Women 1 3 4 1 1 % of women 5.26 12.50 5.40 2.50 3.3 Seats Modracek Tradesmen Men 3 6 Women - - % of women - - - 3 - 2 - German Parties Seats Social Bourgeois Farmers' Christian Freethinkers Democrats Party Party Socialists Men 28 15 11 10 5 Women 3 - - - - % of " 9.67 - - - - 3 - Magyar Parties Seats Christian Magyar Farmers' Socialists Socialists Party Men 5 4 1 Women - - - % of " - - - The Proportions in the Senate. 1 - Czechoslovak Parties Seats National Czechoslovak Social Agrarians Clericals Tradesman's Democrats Socialists Democrats Men 10 10 40 20 18 3 Women - - 1 - - - & of " - - 2.44 - - - 2 - German Parties Seats Social Burgeois Farmers Christian Freethinkers Democrats Party Socialists Men 15 7 6 4 3 Women 1 1 - - - % of " 6.25 12.5 - - - 3 - Magyar Parties Seats Christian Magyar Farmers Socialists Socialists Men 2 - 1 Women - - - % of " - - - - 4 - These statistics for the House of Deputies comprise 268 seats, 32 being at present vacant (May 20, 1920); for the Senate 142 seats, 8 being as yet vacant. These figures are very instructive. It is clear that public opinion in the various parties has been influenced by the opposition to women's suffrage displayed by the French government and by the men of Switzerland; otherwise women would certainly have gained a larger number of representatives. The figures further show the extremely mixed composition of society in regard to language as well as of parties, in the Czechoslovak Republic. There are two reasons why fewer women candidates were placed in assured places on the list of candidates; the men feared that the complicated conditions demanded the election of politicians of previous experience. The women naturally did not find this explanation satisfactory. If the Republic had not introduced the system of Proportional Representation, the smaller parties would have failed to secure any representatives. The elections therefore give an accurate picture of the composition of the population and an opportunity for all the component parts to collaborate in the consolidation of the State. The "revolutionary" National Assembly was purely Czech. The Germans and Magyars were at that time, although co-citizens, in revolt against the Republic; they refused to recognize it and proclaimed certain districts as independent; the Magyars indeed even took up arms against the Republic. And yet the Constitution has given equal electoral rights to all. By taking part in the elections they have acknowledged their citizenship of the Czechoslovak Republic; they have recognized that the nation of Huss, of Comenius and of Masaryk is loyal and ready for friendship, that even when the Czechs had the political power absolutely in their hands they did not abuse it even against those who were for centuries their foes and until quite recently their sworn foes. It is very difficult for foreigners to understand the composite and complicated conditions of our country - and all the most so as they gain their information about us from the press of our enemies. It is a great thing to be the heart of Europe, but it is at the same time a responsibility and a danger. England is separated by the sea from all other states; it is secure like America which need fear no enemy at its gates even on its short southern frontier. Spain, France and Italy likewise have scarce one vulnerable frontier. But we are surrounded completely on all sides by foreign powers. -5- We are like an island in the midst of surging wages, we feel the shock as it were of the breakers. How many foreigners penetrate across the frontiers to us! But we do not force them to abandon their original sentiments of race and nationality. We have always erred rather on the side of an excess of hospitality. But this centre of Europe, perhaps in virtue of its geographical situation and the collision of the most varied influences is like a gigantic workshop in which these influences are re-moulded and give rise to progressive ideas. We anticipated the Reformation in Germany by a whole century with our Hussite movement led by John Huss who stood for the pureness of life, liberty of conscience and liberty of conviction. - It was from among us that John Amos Comenius- "The teacher of the nations" was born in the 16th century. He composed his great life-work - a revolution in the culture of nations - with the object of promoting universal peace, and that, at a time when such and idea was still quite foreign to other nations. He not only was the author of the idea but in his immortal works elaborated a method of its realization. And the Czech Declaration of December 8, 1870, continuing the work of Comenius, proclaimed even then the Wilsonian principle today - that that of the right of nations to self determination. It stated: "All nations, weather great or small, have an equal right to self-determination, and their equality ought to be equally respected. Only by the recognition of equal rights and by reciprocal respect for the unfettered self- determination of all the nations can their rights, liberty and fraternity, universal peace and true humanity flourish." The University of Prague was the fist complete university after that of Paris, possessing all faculties and it was altogether the fist in Central and Eastern Europe, and the not only chronologically but also in virtue of its splendid organization. We have created our own characteristic national Art, we have built up a perfect educational system, we have scarcely and illiterate, - and all this against the will and under the displeasure of Austrian Governments. Our women founded a High School for girls which was the first to be founded in the former Austrian Empire. Vienna afterwards followed our example. All this, too, was done in the fact of the opposition of a hostile Government. Czech women can boast of the oldest rights of suffrage in the whole world. They date from the year 1861. And it is the Conscious effort of Czechoslovak women alone that saved these rights from perishing. Of all Central, Western, and Eastern Europe (except Finland) it was in Bohemia that the first women was elected to Parliament. - 6 - Even today in the middle of such stirring times, we have not been unfaithful to our traditions. And the Czechoslovak woman is today a citizen possessed of full rights. The progress of our State on the path of peace right and justice as shown by all our new acts of legislation prove that, even through a comparatively small nation, we remain the heart of Europe, beating warmly for the ideal of the liberty of nations, pure democracy and humanity. N.B. It is clear from what has been said above of the fixed lists of candidates that if it is of the utmost importance what position woman attains in the ranks of the political parties. * * * Women were formerly not organized in independent women’s sections. Today in the majority of parties women are ordinary members of the parties, and in addition to that form advisory bodies and committees for action and agitation in the interests of women. All the larger Czech parties give their women members places in the councils of the parties, in the executive and administrative bodies, both central and local. Women also are appointed party secretaries and members of special committees Sometimes they are also nominated presidents of local organizations or otherwise placed at the head of the organizations. The different parties have women journals by profession, women’s political newspapers, periodicals, etc. Women are excellent speakers on behalf of the parties at public meetings. Every election therefore has meant an advance in the political consciousness of women generally, - for women speakers address hundreds of meetings attended by great numbers of their sex. The consciousness of the equality of rights of men and women in this political collaboration is growing day by day. [*Political Rights of Women*] THE PARLIAMENT or THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY consisting of THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF DEPUTIES ———— THE MINISTRY ———- Through the elections held for the House of Deputies and the Senate of the National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic, on the 18th and 25th days of April 1920, the first elective parliament was chosen. In all 281 deputies were elected to the House of Deputies. The Senate consists of 150 members. The people elect the National Assembly. The Ministry Tusar - - - Premier and Acting Minister of Public Defence Svehla - - - “ “ Interior Benes - - - “ “ Foreign Affairs Englis - - - “ “ Finance Srobar - - - “ “ Public Health Stanek - - - “ “ Posts and Telegram Haberman- - “ “ Education K. Stribruy - - - “ “ Railways Meisner - - - “ “ Justice Vrbensky - - “ “ Public Works Sonntag- - - “ “ Commerce Johannis - - “ “ Food Supply Prasek - - - “ “ Agriculture Denver - - - “ With Special Powers for Slovakia Dr. Hotovetz - - “ Of Development of Foreign Commerce Dr. Ivan Markovic- - “ “ National Defence Speaker of House of Deputies President of Senate Frantisek Tomasek. Dr. Syril Horacek - 2 - (SIDE NOTES) Area, etc. (Area and population of republic based on data from 1910) Area - 142,575 square kilometers Population - 13,811,655 The Czechs regard English as their second language, and hold that it “must be taught in all” their “schools”. England is paying much attention to their new republic. All of the old Austrian money has been withdrawn from circulation. The Republic is to have an air mail service; contracts have been signed for it. The first line is to be between Prague and Paris; regular aeroplane connection between Paris and Prague was established June 15th - 5 hours. Glass manufacturing is one of the major industries. Skilled cabinet makers in bentwood furniture, are not excelled anywhere. The same applies to beaded goods., imitation pearls, buttons, embroideries, laces, jewelry, toys, and kindred products. Sugar can be exported in great quantities, and many other food products. A surplus of from 150 to 200,000 tons of sugar is expected from the fall crop. The Republic needs cotton, copper, brass, mineral, and vegetable oils, rosin, turpentine, fertilizers and other raw materials from the United States, and also modern labor saving automatic machinery and tools, agricultural implements, automobiles, tires, mechanical rubber goods, and many other manufactured goods. it is reported that the United States Government has purchased fifteen million pounds of sugar. —————— Stephen Husty, a Slovak has perfected a typesetting machine which does away with the process of melting the metals used on ordinary machines. It may be set anywhere, just like a typewriter. It also does away with re-heating of the cast metals. 106 Locomotives, 159 Tenders, 14558 Freight and Passenger Cars have been built since January 1, 1919. There is a shortage of 6,000 day coached and 60,000 freight cars. The new mint at Kremnice begins operations in the fall of 1920. A 50 heller piece, nickel bronze, will be the first coin. Designs are being made for new coins. Gold and silver will be coined later. ———— Czechoslovakia, Jugo-Slavic and Roumania have joined in the “Little Entente” - they are of such strength that no country in Central or Eastern Europe would venture an attack upon the. These three states have inherited important shares of the assets of former Austria- Hungary. Dr Eduad Benes brought about this alliance. Jugo-Slavic and Italy have formed an alliance of some sort, adding to the strength of the “Little Entente”. Austria has been the first to accept the hand of friendship. “For years to come where will be a great demand for American goods”. Soap is scares, and very high cost. Prague is the Capital of the Republic. It has a population of 1,000,000; is a notable educational center, and its medical schools are among the best in the world. Czech University had in 1919-20 - Staff - 228 Students - 7,051 Technical School had in 1919-20 - Staff - 130 Students - 490 Brno is the second city in the republic - it is the capital of Moravia. A new Czech University has been established here. In 1919-20 - Staff - 16 Students - 490 Technical School 1919-20 - Staff - 73 Students - 1,174 Bratislava, the Capital of Slovakia, has a new University 1919-20 - Staff - 10 Students - 124 - 4 - The small district of Hlucin was in Prussian Silesia, now a part of Czecho-Slovakia, has 39 villages and about 50,000 people, most of them Czechs; was attached to the Bohemian crown until 1742; occupied by the Czecho authorities on February 4, 1920. German soldiers and officials evacuated the district the night before. In spite of Germanizing influence to which the people have been exposed for 200 years, they have maintained their language and are now rejoined to the main body of their kinsmen. The Parliament THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE of the CZECHOSLOVAK NATION ---------------- The Declaration of Independence of the Czechoslovak Nation was made by the Czechoslovak National Council in Prague on Jan. 6. 1918, at the time when the Hohenzollerns were offering peace in order to stop the advance of the Allied Armies/ It says, We have been an independent state since the 7th century, and in 1526. as an independent state. consisting of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, we joined with Austria and Hungry in a defensive union against the Turkish danger. We never surrendered our rights as an independent state in this confederation. The Hapsburgs broke their compact with your nation by illegally transgressing our rights and violating the Constitution of our state, which they pledged themselves to uphold, and we therefore refuse longer to remain a part of Austria-Hungary in any form. We claim the right of Bohemia to be reunited with her Slovak brethren of Slovakia, once part of our national state, later torn from our national body and fifty years ago incorporated in the Hungarian State of the Magyars, who by their unspeakable violence and ruthless oppression of their subject races, have lost all moral and human rights to rule anybody but themselves. Francis Joseph of Austria repeatedly recognized the sovereign rights of our nation. The Germans and Magyars opposed this recognition; and Austria-Hungary, bowing before the Pan-Germans, became a colony of Germany, and as her vanguard to the East, provoked the last Balkan Conflict, as well as the present world war. We cannot and will not continue to live under the ruse of the violators of Belgium, France, and Serbia. The Hapsburg dynasty, weighed down by a huge inheritance of error and crime, is a perpetual menace to the pace of the world, and we deem it our duty toward humanity and civilization to aid in bringing about its downfall and destruction. We accept and shall adhere to the ideals of modern democracy, as they have been the ideas of our nation for centuries. We accept the American principals as laid down by President Wilson. We accept the principles expressed in the American Declaration of Independence, and the principles of Lincoln. For these principles our nation shed its blood in the Hussite wars 500 years ago, - for these same principles, beside her Allies in Russia, Italy, and France, our nation is shedding its blood today . The Czechoslovak Republic, in constant endeavor for progress, will guarantee complete freedom of conscience, religion and science, literature and art, speech, the press, and the right of assembly and petition. The church shall be separated from the state. Our democracy shall rest on universal suffrage. Women shall be placed on equal footing with men, - politically, socially and culturally. The government shall be parliamentary in form and shall recognized the principles of the initiative and referendum. The standing army will be replaced my militia. Our nation will assume its part of the Austro-Hungarian pre-war public debt; the debts for this war we leave to those who incurred them. Our Constitution shall provide an efficient, rational and just government, which will exclude all special privileges and prohibit class legislation. - 2 - Democracy has defeated autocracy. Militariam is overcome,- democracy is victorious; on this basis of democracy, mankind will be recognized. The force of darkness have served the victory of the light. WE BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, WE BELIEVE IN LIBERTY, AND LIBERTY EVERMORE. Given in Paris on the 16th day of October, 1916. Professor Thomas G. Masaryk, Prime Minister and Minister of Fiance General Dr. Milan R. Stefanik, Minister of National Defense, Dr. Edward Benes, Minster of Foreign Affairs and of Interior. THE PRESIDENT of CZECHOSLOVAKIA. The President is elected by the National Assembly. Thomas G. Masaryk was chosen for a term of seven years. He names and removes all members of the Cabinet. He was born March 7, 1850, of poor parents, at Hodonin, a little town in the south of Moravia. His record:- 1866-1872 Grammar School at Brno; 1872-1876 University of Vienna, afterwards at University of Leipsic; 1879 Lecturer of Philosophy at University of Vienna; and when in 1881 the University of Prague had been divided into a German and Czech University, he was transferred to this newly created Czech University. His arrival at Prague marked the beginning of a complete revolution in the currents of philosophical and scientific thought prevailing in Bohemia. It signified an absolute emancipation from the German philosophy of Kant and his followers, and the adhesion to the French and the English doctrines of Hume, Mill, Comte and Spencer. Everywhere he gave new impulses, calling attention to problems in Bohemia heretofore neglected. In 1891-1893 he took an active part in politics, in 1891 elected deputy to the Austrian parliament; soon rose to be among the first political leaders. He criticized the Austrian systems against the Serbs of Bosnia. In 1909 he was elected for the second time to the Austrian parliament. When deputy for the second time, he saw the course official Austrian politics had taken, and the ends to which it must come sooner or later; publicly denounced all the crimes and baseness of the Austrian Government, etc., etc. As soon as the recent war was declared, foreseeing events that were to come from it, he preferred leaving his native country that he might openly take side with the Allies, and fight against Austria-Hungary for his own people. When the war broke out he was in Bohemia; he went to Holland. In 1914 to Italy; from there to London, and received an appointment at Kings College, at this time directing the whole Czechoslovak movement in Russia, America, and France. Not long after, the Russian soldiers refused to fight for Austria-Hungary; he became Commander-in-Chief of the Czechoslovak Army, when he saw how desperately Russia was torn by revolution, and risking his life several times to leave Russia with his army and go to France, as it had been arranged upon, to fight against the Germans. In the meantime conditions changed completely, and the army had to remain in Russia; he nevertheless left, and was the first to come by way of Siberia to America, where he rendered great service to the Czechoslovak nation at the time when definite decisions were taken about its destinies. His actions were for the Czechoslovak revolutionary movement. Today he has no enemies in the Republic, having now the gratitude of the whole nation, that loves and reveres him. The Czechoslovak movement for independence, its struggles and final victory were not possible without him. He will always remain among the greatest benefactors of the Czechoslovak people, as well as President of the Republic as long as he lives. Suggestions by A. W. R. This length record of this remarkable man is intended to show to the leading men of the United States that the Czechoslovak Republic under his guidance will surely become the Power of Central Europe. As Bismarck said, "The master of Bohemia is the master of Europe", President Masaryk is the master of Bohemia, now Czechoslovakia, and will surely guide it well to the leading position it is to occupy in Central Europe. In the accompanying pages submitted herewith, giving detailed figures and facts regarding the resources and riches of this wonderful new republic, it is suggested that our wide-awake business men grasp the great opportunities awaiting them in Czechoslovakia. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) Albert W. Robinson. [*The President of Czechoslovakia*] CZECHO-SLOVAKIAN REPUBLIC In the early years of the modern period of Bohemian political life, F. L. Rieger, then the leader of the nation, proclaimed: "As our foremost watchword, we declare the right of each race to determine its allegiance." Thomas G. Masaryk, leader of the present revolution against Austria- Hungary, gave expression to the same idea in his great work, "The Bohemian Problem", in 1889: "We are not fully our own, until we shall rule ourselves and be our own masters." To emancipate itself from Austria has been the goal of the nation for many years, but lately it proclaimed clearly that it demanded full national independence. The second half of the nineteenth century was a period in which the Bohemian nation slowly gathered strength and riches after the exhausted condition into which it was cast by the blindly selfish policy of its Hapsburg rulers, Karel Harlicek and Frautisek Palacky, the two greatest men of the days of 1848, emphasized over and over again the necessity of economic development and strengthening. Two generations have gone by since then, and the Czech nation may justly take pride in the success it has achieved in this all-important field. When the Czecho-Slovak people make the claim that without them there could be no Austria-Hungary, they do not exaggerate. If it were not for the control of the riches of the Bohemian lands, Austria-Hungary would have played a role in the world war far more contemptible than its actual sorry performance. While the incorporation of the Czecho-Slovak conscripts did not increase the effectiveness of the Austrian armies, the crops of Bohemia fed the armies of both Austria and Germany, the mines gave forth most of the Austrian iron ore, Bohemian and Monravia were the principal source of meat for the army, and the textiles of Bohemia, kept the Austro-Hungarian soldiers warm. Take away the Czecho-Slovak lands from the Dual Monarchy, and how much will be left? What help could such crippled Austria give to Germany in any future attack on the liberties of the world? Creation of a Bohemian republic will be the greatest blow struck at German plans of conquest. Regarding agriculture, industry, and commerce of the Bohemian lands: Whereas Norway has in fields only 0.7% of its area, Russia 15%, Austria 35.5%, and Hungary 41.4%, the lands of the ancient Bohemian Crown - Bohemian, Moravia and Silesia, devote to field crops 51.6% of their area. Bohemia alone with its 5,194,809 hectares has 50.47% of it in fields, 29.01% in forests, 17.14% in meadows, gardens and ponds, and only 3.38% of the total area is unproductive. That is the best evidence of the great agricultural riches of Bohemia. The principal crops are grain crops. Rye is sown on 18.5% of the total area, and the average harvest amounts to 9,500,000 quintals of one hundred kilograms each. (This standard metrical measure is equiva- 2 lent to a little less than four bushels, or 220.46 pounds). The area sown to oats is 19.25% of the total area, and the average crop is 8,400,000 quintals; barley gets about 16% of the area with a crop of 6,200,000 quintals, while wheat fields comprise 8.5% of the area and give an average crop of 4,100,000 quintals. This is a total of grain crops for Bohemia alone of more than 28,000,000 quintals. The productivity of its soil will be best appreciated by the following comparisons. The average yield to a hectare in the United States was, in 1910, about 9.2 quintals, in Austria it was 13.2 quintals, and in Bohemia 18.2 quintals. The figures for Austria include Bohemian lands; without them its yield wuld be only 9.68 quintals. With the Bohemian lands, the Austrian half of the Duel Monarchy has sufficient grain for its own consumption, with a considerable amount left for export. What is true of grain crops as a whole, is particularly true of wheat, the staff of life. The total wheat harvest in Austria, including the lands of the Bohemian Crown, was in round numbers 7,200,000 quintals in 1912. Bohemia alone furnished 4,425,000 quintals. With less than a fourth of the population it furnished over three-fifths of this most important crop. Let us take commercial crops. The total yields of hops in Austria- Hungary was 195,000 quintals; of that amount 145,000 quintals of the best quality of hops was grown in Bohemia. The United States raised a yearly average of 200,000 quintals of hops. Take the highly valuable sugar beet crop; of sugar exported from Austria, 93% was produced in Bohemia. The area of Austria, without Hungary, is 30,000,793 hectares; of that the Bohemian lands have only 7,650,086 hectares, or 25.49%. But taking together all the crops raised, the Bohemian lands furnish 40.99% instead of 25.49% of the total value of agricultural products. The greater part of the balance was produced in the agricultural province of Galicia, Austrian lands proper, that is to say that part of the monarchy which is largely German would make a very miserable showing in this matter of agricultural prosperity. Other products of the farm show a much higher yield in Bohemia then in the rest of Austria. Bohemia raises 1,301,826 quintals of cabbage, 60,000 quintals of flax fibre, 208,577 quintals of peas, 32,475,385 quintals of potatoes, etc. Bohemian fruit has been famous all over Europe ever since the 18th century; it is exported in enormous quantities to Germany, and in the recent war especially, Bohemia was virtually deprived of its entire fruit crop for the benefit of Germany. Both soil and climate of Bohemian are unusually favorable to the culture of fruit trees of all species grown in temperate climates. In 1910, 14,686,223 fruit trees gave a crop of 2,744,820 quintals of excellent fruit. As early as the 16th century a chronicler says, "In the Bohemian lands there is much fruit and fine wine and other products of the soil, so that any Bohemian lands are known as the granary of Germany." In cattle raising as well as in the field and fruit culture, Bohemian lands take the first place among the provinces of Austria, although 3 cattle raising is the principal industry of the Alpine (German) provinces. The last census gives the number of horses in Austria at 1,752,848; of that the Bohemian lands had 462,167 or just about their rightful proportion. In sheep raising the Bohemian Crown Lands fall slightly below the quota which they should have for their area; of 3,684,876 sheep in Austria, Bohemia had 823,478, falling shout by about 100,000 of their percentage. But sheep are raised mostly on the poor land of southern Austria; Bohemian soil is too valuable for this industry. There were in Austria in 1910, 6,423,080 pigs, and of that number Bohemian lands had 1,790,020, - about 200,000 more than their quota. Still better showing is made by Bohemia in that most important branch of agriculture, cattle raising. The total of cattle for all Austria was 9,160,009 head; the Czech lands had 3,188,291 head of the finest breeds,- almost a million over their quota. In Denmark, the model cattle raising country of the world, there are 46 head of cattle to a square kilometer; Austria without Bohemian lands has 27, and with the Bohemian lands have 41.7,- a remarkably good showing has Denmark raises little grain, while Bohemia is both a grain growing and cattle raising country. Without the agricultural riches of Bohemia (Czecho-Slovak) lands, Austria would have ceased to be a great power, and without the food raised in Bohemia and confiscated by Austrian authorities, Germany would have been compelled by hunger to capitulate long ago. When Bismarck said: "The master of Bohemia is the master of Europe", he had in mind other than mere political considerations. The central location of the Bohemian lands has throughout history emphasized their economic importance. From the early Middle ages, the commercial roads between the West and the East of Europe, as well as between the North and Southeast, led through Bohemia, and Bohemia is still an international crossroad. The direct road from Berlin to the Balkans, and on to Bagdad, leads through Prague and Brno to Vienna and Budapest. There lies the special significance of the fate of Bohemia for the victory or defeat of the Pan-German plans. A free Bohemia would block effectually the Berlin-Bagdad road right in its very first stages. Taxes drawn from the Bohemian lands have been the principal support of the Military strength of Austria-Hungary. Compare the following figures of the income of some of the smaller European states. In 1912 (in millions of dollars) Denmark 25.12, Bulgaria 33.8, Sweden 67.7, Holland 79.6, Romania 90.68, Belgium 124.6. The Bohemian lands,- Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia paid in general taxes 138.6 million dollars, not including Slovakia, for which the Hungarian statistics make no separate return. If we allow the Austro-Hungarian figures of seven dollars per head in taxes, the share of Slovakia would be twenty million, and the total burden of the Czecho-Slovak lands would amount to 158 million dollars. These figures do not give a full account of the taxation burden borne by the Bohemian lands. The Austrian laws make it advantageous for the big industrial concerns to have their central office in Vienna. They pay their State taxes in Vienna, and since in Austria 4 the provinces and cities support themselves principally by collecting a certain additional percentage of the direct State taxes, the result is that the City of Vienna and the Provinces of Lower Austria have comparatively low taxes, as they assess for their own local purposes the big industries carried on in the Bohemian lands. In Bohemia the small tax payers bear an increased burden, as the big tax payers pay in Vienna; often the householder in a Bohemian city has to pay 300% of the direct state tax for the support of his municipality, 75% for the support of the provisional government, and 60% for the country purposes. The financial system prevailing in Austria before the war aimed at lightening the burdens of the Germans at the expense of the Slavs. What a tremendous financial relief will be experienced by the Bohemian provinces when freed from supporting the Austrian empire with its gay capital! Free Bohemia would rival Belgium or Holland in economic power. (Note by A. W. Robinson-- This was written before Czecho-Slovakia had gained its independence.) With freedom, Bohemia would push ahead at a wonderful pace. The lands of the Czechs are well populated. The density of the population for all Austria is 72 to a square kilometer; in the Bohemian lands it is 132; of the six Austrian cities with a population exceeding [100,000], three are Bohemian, not counting Vienna itself, where there are 300,000 Czechs; of nine cities with a population between 50,000 and 100,000 five are Bohemian. One of the factors exerting great influence on the industrial and commercial welfare of the State is the intelligence of the population. In this respect the Bohemians make the best showing. Fortunately we have statistics compiled by American authorities. In the fiscal year 1914, the United States Immigration Service found the percentage of illiteracy among immigrants of the Magyar race, was 10.2; among Germans 5.5; among Bohemians 1.3. It is true that among Slovaks it was 17.3. But it is not the Slovak race that should be blamed; it is the barbarous Magyar oligarchy which took away form the Slovaks all their public and private schools, and is bent upon Magyarizing every Slovak child. Fifty years ago the Bohemian lands were overwhelmingly of agricultural character. In 1869 54% of the population made their living by agriculture, and only 31% by industry. The latest figures show 42% were employed in industry, 10.5% in commerce, and only 35.5% in agriculture. Bohemian lands contain great wealth in coal; in fact, without them, Austria would have very little coal, and even central Germany, which also lacks coal mines, is supplied from Bohemia by way of the Elbe river. Good iron ore in large quantities is also found in all the Czecho Slovak lands, so that future independent Bohemia is well provided with these two indispensable elements of industrial strength. Regarding the mineral riches of Bohemia; Out of 27,658,147 tons of iron produced in all Austria, 9,332,588 were produced in Bohemian lands. In the Middle Ages Bohemia had the richest silver mines of all European countries, and even today silver and gold ores are mined in great quantities. Tin, uranium and wolfram ores are found, of all 5 the Austrian provinces, only in Bohemia. But figures on coal mining are of the greatest importance. The last available figures give the production of brown coal for all Austria as 252,650,000 tons, and of that total 80%, or 210,500,000 tons were mined in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. As for the hard coal, production of which was, in 1911, 143,198,172 tons, 88% was mined in the Bohemian lands. In beet sugar production, lands of Bohemian Crown have practically no competitor among the other Austrian provinces. Over half a million acres are planted to beets every year, and 166 sugar refineries produce yearly 6.2 million quintals of sugar. Three-fourths of that is exported;- over four million quintals to England alone. Some forty million hectolitres of alcohol are produced form potatoes in 261 distilleries, most of it for industrial use. The textile and kindred industries flourish in the Bohemian lands. Of 400,000 garment workers employed in Austria, 180,000, about 45% were employed in Bohemia. Of 548,000 employees of the textile industries, fully 420,000 work in Bohemian, Moravian, and Silesian factories. The value of the annual product of those Bohemian factories is 150 million dollars. In steel industry, Bohemian lands far excel the balance of the Austrian possessions. The Skoda gun works at Pilsen are known the world over; the machine factories of Prague and the big steel mills of Austria, Silesia and Moravia consume all of the Bohemian iron ore as well as great quantities of Styrian ore. Among other important manufactories, one must note the shoe factories of Eastern Bohemia,- the famous shops for the making of musical instruments, match factories, and pottery, also porcelain work shops. Lace making in Bohemia is an old industry, and has been brought to a high state of perfection. Bohemian glass has been famous since the 17th century; this industry employs 25,000 men, and three-fourths of the product is exported. Among the natural riches are the healing springs. Everyone knows Karlsbad and Marienbad; not so well known abroad are the radio active springs of Joachimsthal, the wonderful springs of Pistiany in Slovakland, Luhacovice in Moravia, and a great number of others locally famous. Roads are excellent everywhere in the Bohemian lands. There are 50,000 kilometers of high roads in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia as against a total of 120,000 km. in all Austria; that is to say, while Austria as a whole has 40 kilometers of good roads to 100 square kilometers, Bohemia has 63. There are in Austria 22,874 km. of railroads, one kilometer to each 13 sq. km., but the Bohemian lands have 9,506 km., or one kilometer to every 8.6 sq. km. The same proportion applies to telegraphs. In 1911 Austria exported in round figures 500 millions dollars worth of goods. Export figures indicate that at least 60% o fit was from the Bohemian provinces. It will be interesting to mention that of 837,000 bales of cotton imported into Austria, 626,000 came from the United States, and that 75% of it went to Bohemian textile mills. 6 Financially, Bohemia is stronger than any other part of Austria. The capital of Bohemia banks amounted in 1910 to 180 million crowns, and their assets totalled 3.5 billion crowns, - that is, 35% of the total for all Austria; of 669 savings banks of Austria, 356 were in Bohemia, and their deposits amounted to 42% of the Austrian total. In 1914 the Bohemian lands paid in direct state taxes 44 million crowns, while the rest of Austria paid only 26 million. The injustice of the burden laid on Bohemia is glaring. Take the food tax. In 1911 it amounted for all Austria with 28,560,000 people to 445 million. The Bohemian lands had 10,145,000 inhabitants, about 35% of the Austrian total, but they paid 60% of the food tax. In 1900 the Bohemian lands paid to the Austrian State the great sum of 518, 223,973 crowns; of that amount only 78,000,000 or 15% was spent in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. The rest was applied for the benefit of Vienna and the German Alp provinces, and of course for the support of the army, so that Austria might play the role of a great power. On the other hand the administration of Bohemian local affairs,as carried on by yhr Diet f Bohemia and its executive committee, was constantly struggling with a deficit, and when the Vienna government abolished the last remnants of the Bohemian self-government in 1913, the Bohemian Diet had a debt of 114 million crowns. It was Bohemian money that supported the fine German universities, museums, and high technical schools of Austria, while Czech cultural institutions were starving. The circulation of paper money in 1914 in Austria-Hungary was 2,119 million crowns, the gold deposit being 1,095 million crowns. Today, after three years of war, the paper money issued is 18 milliards, while the golden treasure is only 264 million crowns. (Note by A. W. R. The above gives clue to time this was written, viz: three years after the war started.) Czechoslovakia Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.