File No. 3831/2.
Ambassador Francis to the Secretary of State.
Vienna, May 17, 1907.
Sir: Supplementing my dispatch No. 133 of December 28, 1906, in which I announced the passage of the universal franchise bill and the introduction of universal suffrage into Austria, I have the honor to report that the first general election under the new system was held on May 14.
This election occurred throughout Austria, except in several districts in Galicia and in Dalmatia where, for local reasons, in certain parts of those two provinces the election will be continued for about four weeks. Also in certain other districts a second ballot will be required, which will take place on the 23d of the present month.
Four hundred and thirty-nine seats, out of the 516 in the new chamber, were contested, as well as 36 seats in Galicia and 4 in Dalmatia. Polling began at 6 a.m. and, except in the densely populated centers, ceased at 5 p.m. The ballot was secret, and the counting did not begin until the last vote had been polled.
[Page 58]Each polling station was superintended by an election commissioner appointed by the authorities, and the election itself was managed by an electoral commission, composed of three nominees of the municipal council, three nominees of the commissioner, and a seventh chosen by the other six. Electioneering had been prohibited by law within a certain radius of each polling place. Police were stationed at every booth, but the election proceeded quietly without any violence or disorder.
A full vote was assured, as voting was an obligatory duty, every citizen entitled to vote being obliged to exercise that franchise or to pay a fine varying from 1 to 50 kronen unless he could prove before a magistrate a satisfactory reason for the nonfulfillment of that duty.
As regards the composition of the new Parliament, socialism has gained strongly and the Pan-Germans have suffered a reverse. In Bohemia the purely racial candidates, both Czech and German, were generally defeated by the Social Democrats. So far as can now be determined the new chamber will be composed chiefly of Socialist and Clerical members, with a very large Socialist majority.
It would seem to be certain that the Chamber of Deputies, with its large Socialist majority, and the House of Peers, controlled by the German constitutional party of large landed proprietors, will not agree in matters affecting governmental policies.
It may be said that, apparently, universal suffrage has made a most notable entrance into Austria. The election was characterized by perfect order and absolute quiet, and, though the action of the new chamber can alone warrant a definite judgment as to the actual effects of the great reform, the circumstances attending its inception have developed unexpected political conditions in the national legislature.
The new Parliament will meet June 13 for a summer session which promises to be the most interesting that has been held in Austria for many years.
It is practically certain that when the final balloting for delegates is concluded a reconstruction of the present Beck cabinet, in accordance with the exigencies of the new situation, will be necessary.
I am, etc.,