Lack of Unity Endangers Strength of Representation in Sejm (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Eight Jewish parties will solicit the political support of the Jewish population in the Republic of Poland in the forthcoming elections to the third Polish Sejm, which take place on February 22. Thirty four Polish parties have filed their lists with the election registration board,. Eight Jewish lists were presented.
The Jewish lists that will split the Jewish vote are the following: 1. The Jewish national bloc within the bloc of national minorities, headed by Isaac Gruenbaum; 2. The list of the Right wing of the Jewish labor party, Poale Zion, 3 The list of the Left wing of the Poale Zion; 4. The list of the Orthodox Agudath Israel combined with the Volkist party headed by Noah Prilutzki, under the name Jewish National Bloc; 5. The list of the Jewish labor party, Bund; 6. The list of the Zionists in Galicia, headed by Dr. Leon Reich and Dr. Osias Thon; 7. The list of the Zionist democratic workers and 8. The list of the Hitachduth, Zionist labor group.
In addition, several Polish parties are presenting Jewish candidates on their lists, particularly in Galicia. The former deputies Wislicki and Kirschbraun have joined the non-partisan bloc which is campaigning under the slogan of cooperation with the Pilsudski government. These lists will also make an appeal to the Jewish population.
The split of the Jewish vote will thus be unavoidable, seriously endangering the strength of Jewish representation in the third Sejm. It is predicted that in the best of cases eight or ten Jewish deputies will be elected, while the strength of the Club of Jewish Deputies and Senators in the previous Sejm and Senate amounted to 46. All endeavors to bring about unity among the Jewish factions failed. The Jewish bloc within the bloc of the national minorities will carry on a desperate fight with the Zionists in Galicia under Dr. Leon Reich.
Although there is still nearly a month before the election, Jewish life in Poland is bubbling with political activity. The campaign, it was estimated, will cost Polish Jewry several hundred thousand Zlotys.
Many arrests were made in Warsaw yesterday. The election appeal issued by the Jewish labor party, Bund was confiscated by the authorities.
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