Couzens

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

JAMES, American public official and business man, was born at Chatham, Ontario, Aug. 26, 1872, and received a high school education. At the age of 18 he went to Detroit, Michigan, as a telegraph operator, subsequently working for various railroads and business concerns and becoming vice-president and general manager of the Ford Motor Company. In 1919 he was elected mayor of Detroit, where he had been active for a number of years in developing the municipal street railways and other public utilities. In 1922 he was appointed U. S. Senator to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Newberry, resigned. CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Census of 1921. The first census of Czechoslovakia, taken February 15, 1921, showed the total population to be 13,- 366,080, exclusive of resident non-citizens. Following are the numbers and percentages of the several races composing this total: Czechoslovaks 8,759,186 65.53 per cent Germans 3,122,390 23.36 " 745,935 5.58 Magyars Russians 459,346 3.44 دو 180,332 1.35 Jewish دو Polish 75,656 .57 وو Miscellaneous 23,235 .17 دو In comparison with the last censuses of the same territories made under Austria and Hungary, the Czechoslovaks show the greatest gains, while the Germans, Magyars, and Poles have decreased. The large German minority remains the most serious problem of the Republic, but both by her constitution and laws and by the treaties establishing her independence Czechoslovakia has provided liberally for the rights of racial and religious minorities. History. Both politically and economically Czechoslovakia took a leading place among the states of central Europe following the World War. Chiefly through the efforts of her Foreign Minister (afterwards Premier) Edward Benès, the union known as the Little Entente was firmly established and became a leading factor in both local and general European diplomacy. Economically, the country's progress was steady. A sound financial system was established and Czechoslovakia was able to take part with England, France, and Italy in 1922 in guaranteeing an international loan to Austria. The country was the first continental nation to begin the discharge of its war debt to America and was also the first European state to reduce its tariff. At Lausanne it was decided to make Saloniki a joint port and outlet for Czechoslovakia, Rumania, and Jugoslavia. On Aug. 31, 1922, a new five-year treaty was made with Jugoslavia, drawing the states more closely together for the maintenance of peace and for purposes of general cooperation. Dr. Benès resigned from the Premiership October 3, 1922, but retained the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. He was succeeded by Anthony Svehla, leader of the agrarian party. (See NEAR EAST- ERN QUESTION: FREEDOM OF THE STRAITS.)