Word: chancellor
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...quarrels threaten acute physical violence, nervous householders send for a policeman to restore order. So, last week, did the Austrian Republic. Frightened by the imminent threat of civil war between Austria's two snarling private armies (the semi-Fascist Heimwehr, and the Socialist Schutzbund), the entire cabinet of Chancellor Ernst Streeruwitz, an ineffectual businessman, declared itself incapable of dealing with the situation, resigned in a body. Leaders of all political parties rushed to Vienna's police station, begged sleek white-bearded Police Chief Johann Schober to take over the reins of government...
Used to acting promptly in emergencies, Policeman Schober, who served as Austrian Chancellor once before (1921-22), instantly accepted on condition that he be given absolutely free rein in forming his cabinet, that, as Chancellor, he still remain in direct charge of his beloved police...
With the possible exception of that crafty cleric, bald, eagle-beaked ex-Chancellor Ignaz Seipel, Policeman Schober, conservative but officially aligned with no political party, is the strongest figure in present day Austria. Without even waiting for any official announcement of policy from the new Chancellor, without even learning who was to compose his new cabinet, editors of all political faiths sprang to the conclusion that with good Policeman Schober in command everything would be all right...
Despite the seriousness of the situation that faced him, the first few days of Chancellor Schober's administration seemed to justify Vienna's blind faith. Telephoning vigorously, rushing from office building to office building, he completed and published a list of his cabinet within 24 hours, a task that had taken his predecessor Chancellor Streeruwitz three weeks. As a precautionary step against threatened Heimwehr-Schutzbund riots he suspended all military furloughs, ordered all Austrian troops to be ready for immediate action. In Vienna he suppressed an edition of the Communist newspaper Rote Fahne, arrested its editor "for inciting...
Chagrined at Policeman Schober's cabinet was the Austrian Heimwehr. For months they have been holding Schober up as a model of the sort of man who ought to be Chancellor of Austria. Now Schober was Chancellor, and not only was there no member of the Heimwehr listed on his cabinet, but it was quickly evident he was strong enough to rule Austria himself, quite independent of Heimwehr dictatorship...