Nowosądecka Rada i Wydział Powiatowy „pod rządami chłopów” w 1909 roku

Abstract

The article presents the activity of district councilors from the People’s Movement in Nowy Sącz in 1909 who had the greatest influence on the local politics. They were building their position from the end of the 19th century when the Peasant Party Union, the first peasant political party in Poland, was established in Nowy Sącz. When a chance occurred, after the death of the district marshal Władysław Głębocki, the peasants decided to take over the authority. It happened in circumstances that raised legal doubts, particularly among the burghers who had been governing until that moment. During the government of the Council led by the peasant marshal Stanisław Potoczek, financial irregularities related to the previous activity of the self-government were discovered. Apart from the Nowy Sącz burghers, blamed for the irregularities was Karol Merkl, the previous secretary of the Council who was responsible for the treasury. He was closely related to the financial elite of the city. The battue that broke out around Karol Merkl concerned even his private life and led to his dismissal. Further activity of the peasant council was interrupted by the decision of the Regency in Lviv which outlawed the council and its resolutions.