Pilsudski v. Daszynski

Deputies of the Sejm, Poland's Parliament, assembled nervously in Warsaw last week, for the first time since swashbuckling, eagle-eyebrowed Dictator Josef Pilsudski packed them off on a compulsory vacation seven months ago.

Today almost the only champion of the Deputies' rights against the whims of the Dictator is Speaker of the Sejm Ignacy Daszynski, the Civilian Marshal of Poland, a onetime friend but now foe of the "Military Marshal"--Pilsudski.

During the enforced adjournment of the Sejm, bold Speaker Daszynski defied the Dictator in several newspaper articles calling upon him either to suppress Poland's parliamentary institutions entirely or permit the Sejm to reconvene. At last Pilsudski's gruff consent was given. Deputies scurried up to Warsaw. Then last week, half an hour before Speaker Daszynski's gavel was due to fall, a rumor spread that the National Democratic and Socialist Deputies were going to rush through a vote of no-confidence in the Government.

Marshal Pilsudski was not caught napping. At ten minutes before gavel time his limousine swirled up to the door of the Sejm. Five minutes later came a tramping of feet. Ninety blue-grey Polish officers, belted, booted, spurred, bristling with smallarms, marched into the main lobby of the Sejm building

"Gentlemen, Gentlemen," stormed the Sejm's fussy Sergeant-at-arms, "this is unconstitutional! This is invasion!"

"We are here," answered the commanding officer, "to salute our leader, Marshal Pilsudski."

Quarter of an hour passed. The door of Marshal Pilsudski's anteroom banged. The Military Marshal stamped into the office of Civilian Marshal Daszynski.

"Well," he roared, "Why don't you open, the Sejm? I am waiting. We are all waiting!"

"The Sejm will never open so long as armed men threaten us with sabres and pistols."

"I am here," boomed Military Marshal Pilsudski.

"So am I," said Civil Marshal Daszynski.

"Is that your last word?"

"Yes."

Marshal Pilsudski snorted, turned on his heel, stalked out.

By order of Speaker Daszynski the Sejm recess was provisionally prolonged for three days. Most deputies scuttled to their homes.

Unfortunate were two Socialist Deputies who attended an anti-Pilsudski meeting the following morning at the foot of Warsaw's monument to Romulad Traugut. Police, charging the meeting with drawn sabres, slashed these Deputies painfully. Together they addressed a formal letter to Civil Marshal Daszynski.

"Our Parliamentary immunity," they wrote, "has been violated."