Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol3, 1919.djvu/426

While the boundaries of the Czechoslovak Republic are not yet definitely settled in the case of Teschen and small rectifications of frontier as against Prussian Silesia and Hungary remain to be carried out, we are in a position to estimate its population with considerable accuracy at thirteen and a half million people. Of that number about three million are workingmen and employees; roughly speaking one million are agricultural workers, half a million are engaged in transportation, commerce and the service of the state, while the rest are industrial workers.

About one half of the labor is organized in trade unions. These labor unions stand for the conviction that the present social order is unjust; and while the war has resulted in victory for political democracy, in the economic sphere class oppression still persists. What the economic situation of the Czechoslovak workingman is today cannot even be imagined by his American brother who in comparison enjoys great prosperity. The war has played havoc with prices, and while wages have in many instances increased 500%, the necessities of life cost ten times as much, as before the war, and many articles of ordinary consumption are beyond the reach of all except the very rich. Thus the increase in wages has been illusory, and the families of workers suffer terribly for lack of food, clothing, shoes and decent shelter.

Now the Czechoslovak workingman is quite intelligent and realizes that the principal share of the blame for this condition is due to the war. The former Austrian government actually favored and systematically worked for such a result, as Count Czernin openly boasted. At the same time the workers see that the wealthy manufacturers and particularly the commercial classes took advantage of the world catastrophe to pile up their riches. The working classes in Czechoslovakia are justified fully, when they speak of their exploitation, but on the other hand they see, how the idea of class revenge has worked out in Russia, in Hungary and in Munich, and they have no desire to try anything of that kind.

These sound sentiments have been strengthened by wise measures of social legislation undertaken by the present Czechoslovak government and National Assembly. Shortly after the declaration of independence the new government introduced unemployment grants. It was quite impossible to do anything else, because all the big factories had been working on war orders which suddenly ceased. Transition from war production to peace production was far more difficult with us than in America, because manufacturers could get no raw material with which to go to work on new orders; most of the raw materials had been consumed long ago and what little still remained was taken out of the country by the Austrian government, when it saw the end coming. Our country has a highly developed and technically excellent steel and foundry industry, but many essential materials are lacking and as every where else in Europe, production is hampered by insufficient supply of coal. And even if there had been found work for those who were employed before the break up came, there was no work to be had for hundreds of thousands who suddenly returned home from forced service with the Austrian army at the end of 1918. Without the grant of unemployment dole a million men would have either starved or upset all order.

On the 11th of January, 1919, the National Assembly enacted the eight hours of labor law. Thus a demand for which Czechoslovak workingmen fought for thirty years has at last been realized. The law benefits employees in industry, commercial establishments and agriculture. The law providing for the insurance of workers against sickness and accident has been improved, and another law will soon be passed for old age pensions. If we add to these accomplishments in the interest of the working classes also the law taking over for the nation, upon proper compesation, all large landed estates, the total result explains, why the workers in the Cze-