Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-09
WILLIAM HAS CONFIDENCE
The Emperor Thinks He Can Success
fully Cope with the Socialist
Problem
He Will Deprive the Party OF Disc0n-
tent Of Their Most Serious
Grievance.
Extensive Reforms are Being Made in
Local Government and the
School System.

BERLIN, Oct. 4.-The lapse of the anti
socialist laws has led to a renewal of the
discussion regarding Emperor Williams
attitude toward the socialist question
The Cologne Gazette repeats that the en-
peror and all his ministers, with the ex-
ception of Bismarck, desied the continu-
ance of the special act and are ready to
accept a permanent act in the form of
fered by the national Overwhelmingly,
without the power Of expulsion-but Bis
marck disagreed and the reichs-
tag was in consequence dissolved.
The emperor himse If, says the Gazette
would never voluntarily have dis yensed
with the act At the same time the en-
peror views the death of the laws without
regret He is confident of his ability to
solve the social problem without them by
means of remedial legislation depriving
the party of discomfort of their most seri-
Gus grievances. The tone of most of the
socialist meetings the past few days was
one of exultation, but were perfectly order
ly. A great meeting was held at
Bockbraurie. The men present appeared
to belong to the intelligent working
classes. They were accompanied by their
wives and families Several speeches
were made. A sheet entitled farewell
socialistic laws" explaining how chris
tianity might have been destroyed in its
inception if the Jewish and Roman author
tiles han only initiated the Russian police
and dissolved every meeting of its foun-
ders, met with lalge sale.
Herr Bebel declared in an interview
that his party would meet the govern
ment's remedial bills on their merit. 1t
is notable that at the Berlin elections for
delegates to the coming socialist congress
at Halle all the men elected belong to the
moderation section of TIE party. A large
restaurant has been purchased at Erfurt
and another with large hall
for meetings attached will be
bought shortly to assist the
propaganda. Knowing that the repeal is
only an experiment, the party will be care
ful to avoid giving occasion for renewal
of coercive laws.
The emperor is bestowing special atten-
ton upon the schemes which the govern
ment is preparing for the reform of the
rural local government and the national
scuooI system as well as upon the project
of direct taxation. The far reaching
proposals of MIGUEL, the minister Of
finance, for the collection of the
income tax will, it is estimated raise the
amount collected Is per cent. The North
German Gazette, commenting upon the
kaiser's reception in Austria given hint
which appears to confirm the renewed ru-
mors concerning the new commercial
treaty with Austria The fact that the
Austrian ministers were not at the railway
station in Vienna to meet the emperor
William on his arrival there is much COM
mented on in connection with the Drei-
bund, but it is officially declared that their
absence had no political significance. En-
peror William having ignored him last
year. Count Won Taafe purpo sely absented
himself
Terrific storms are reported in Schleswig
and the east sea provinces. Hail ruined
the crops and smashed thousands of win
dows at Emshorn which was flooded by
the sea- Numerous houses were I'M
rooted and many inhabitants injured.
At Dantzlc tram car was overturned and
several occupants crushed to death. Many
shir wrecks, attended by loss of life, are
reported.
The editor of the Mayence Volks Zeitung
has been arrested for ridiculing the cee-
bration of the battle of Sedan