A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Historica 4. (Szeged, 2001)

SIPOS József: Nagyatádi Szabó István Szegeden, 1919 őszén

mokratikus reformoknak, Nagyatádi és pártja kétségtelenül kompromisszumokra kényszerült a szélsőjobboldali erőkkel szemben. E kompromisszumok azonban, mint láttuk ekkor még nem a liberális és agrár demokrata elvek feladását jelentették. Nagyatádi és pártja ekkor még okosan küzdött a polgári demokráciáért és a demokratikus földreformmért. Az ezzel szembefordulók tábora azonban 1919 őszén napról-napra nőtt... JÓZSEF SIPOS ISTVÁN NAGYATÁDI SZABÓ AT SZEGED IN THE AUTUMN OF 1919 The Smallholder's Party and researchers of Nagyatádi Szabó have never paid much attention to this matter. They are not even aware of the visit of the peasant leader to Szeged in October, 1919. Why is it an interesting and important exercise to clarify this matter? Because of the way this event fits into the national organisation of autumn, 1919 regarding the peasant politician and his party. This study deals with domestic political matters, such as the organisation and opposition of the United Smallholders' and Farmworkers' Party in Szeged, representing new conservative agricultural interests and views, which was led by Gyula Rubinek, and the National Smallholders' and Farmworkers' Party, representing liberal agricultural democratic views, which was led by Nagyatádi. This study also deals with the relationship of the latter party with the liberal block and the Hungarian Liberal Democratic Party, and also reveals the contrasts between the Christian-conservative course parties and Nagyatádi and his party. The General Assembly of Nagyatádi and his party was held in Szeged on October 19. This study presents the preparation for this, and the role of the Szeged press: the efforts they made in the interest of discrediting the Christian socialist Szeged new generation peasant politician and his party, and the backing for Nagyatádi and his party by the liberal newspapers — Délmagyarország, Szegedi Napló and the Szeged és Vidéke. It presents a detailed analysis of the speech given by Nagyatádi, and the provocation of the Christian socialists at the General Assembly. These acts could only be finally halted by the poüce commander of the French Town Governor. The General Assembly took a stand against the organising activities of the Friedrich Government, the Prelates, the landowners and the false smallholders' party of stockholders. It also protested against the measures and practices of the government which limited organisational and press freedom. It demanded: "the urgent establishment of a government representing each and every class of the nation, and the holding of General Assembly elections as soon as possible", to elect a temporary governor, democratic property reform, and progressive taxation. This resolution was forwarded to all of the settlements on the Hungarian Plain, and called upon the peasantry to organise themselves to join. This study presents the demands of the General Assembly in Szeged, the order of the Town Governor assuring freedom of organisation and speech, and the reader will also become familiar with the views of many of the peasant politicians of Szeged.