POLISH DICTATOR.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 11

POLISH DICTATOR.

FACES HARD FIGHT. CABINET SAID TO BE WORRIED. (From a Correspondent). WARSAW, Sept. 17. As the re-opening .of the Sejm approaches Marshal Pilsudski laces his bitterst fight since the May revolution last year. The Opposition parties are determined ti carry through their programme and end the dictator’s powers. It was learned to-day that the Diet and Sejm have reached an agreement representing a victory for the Senate, which is dominated by National Democrats, Marshal Pilsudski's most implacable enemies. According to the plans, the following amendment to the Constitution will be forced through: “The Sejm and Senate may dissolve themselves and order new elections if a resolution to this effect is passed by either house with a simple majority. Whenever one of the two houses passes such a resolution, the other chamber is automatically likewise dissolved.” Pilsudski Still Holds Re-ins. While Marshal Pilsudski still holds the reins, the Government evidently is worried. Some months since, when Parliament made an attempt to free itself from his dictatorship and pass the resolution now brought up again the Prime Minister checkmated his opponents by using a constitutional clause giving him and the President power to prorogue the session at any time. The Opposition, utilising another paragraph of the Constitution which says Parliament must he convened whenever a demand signed by a certain number of Deputies is presented, forced the President to call the now impending extra session. Marshal Pilsudski countered by using another provision of the Constitution stating that Parliament cannot legally begin its labours until a formal decree permitting it to do so is issued by the President. So far the decree has not been signed, and it is Marshal Pilsudski’s intention to withhold it until the Senate and Sejm promise not to discuss anything hut the budget. As things stand, a backing down by the Opposition seems unthinkable and a finish fight between the Dictator and Liberal and Socialist elements appears unavoidable. Labour, Too, Challenges Premier. The position of the G-ovemment is made more precarious by the attitude of the trades organisations which have also thrown down tiie gauntlet to Pilsudski. A resolution passed by the central labour body says the living conditions of the working classes are becoming steadily worse and that communal officials are underpaid, while favoured large industrialists and agrarians are profiteering. The resolution also calls for the protection of threatened democracy and accuses Pilsudski of trying to overthrow the present democratic Parliamentarian constitution and establish Fascism. The unions appeal to the workers to protect democracy, adding that if a dictatorship is unavoidable it must be in the hands of the producing classes and not those of one man or a selfish clique. The Socialist Robotnik says the Polish proletariate is determined to maintain democracy and that any attempt to force through Fascist legislation will have the gravest consequences.