Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1920 — Traditions 1,000 Years Old Upset [ARTICLE]

Traditions 1,000 Years Old Upset

Ancient City of Pressburg Changes Character With Coming of New Rulers. RESULT OF PEACE PARLEY Resentment Shown Over the Employment of Czechs in Government Positions Formerly Occupied by Hungarians—Many Are Expelled. Bratislava, Slovakia.—lt is only on Czechoslovakian maps that this ancient Hungarian city of Pressburg can be located by its new name. Ruled by Hungary for a thousand years, it passed under the control of the new Czechoslovakian republic by the decision of the peace conference, and a large part of its inhabitants do not take kindly to the new order of things. Its people are dominantly Germanic or Hungarian. The street signs are in German and

Hungarian characters, and now to them is being added Czech. postal and telephone employees have beep replaced by Czechs and Czech high officers' installed in the governmentSlovak regiments on duty here have been replaced by purely Czech soldiers. In a city as old and conservative and routine as this, drifting through the centuries undisturbed in Its social customs, there things have made feeling run rather high in certain social strata. Many Are Expelled. Persons, regardless of sex, who have not acquired legal residence are being expelled. One man who told the Associated Press he had lived and done business here for forty years was expelled a few days ago. The list of those cited for expulsion is said to contain names <jf dead persons. Some Hungarians do not hesitate to express their resentment over the employment of Czechs In government positions here formerly occupied by the Hungarians. Czechs and many Slovaks of the educated classes who hold office under the government say this feeling is due to Hungarian and German propaganda, and has no real strength or extent. Also they admit the. necessity of Czech officialdom, as Slovakia has little of no educated class from Xvhich to draw executlves’of ability. Hard to Upset Tradition. It is hard to upset rudely the traditions of ten centuries, and talks with many persons, both in official and unofficial circles, would indicate that the antagonism displayed toward the Czechs is a natund condition of this period of transition and is not deeply footed. Probably Jt Is stronger herein Pressburg than in the other parts Of Slovakia, where the change Is not so apparent. The school question plays a very prominent part in the situation here. The government has abolished the German and Hungarian languages in the schools, and this means a general ousting of teachers and a reaction in households.