The Helena independent., 1892-12-11
UNIQUE POLITICAL DINNER
Given by Caprivi to Leading Poli-
ticians and Journalists in
Germany.
First Instance Where the Power ot
the Press Has Officially Been
Recognized.
Now Certain That Caprivi Will Have q
Majority In Favor of tho Army
BILL

Copyright 1892. by the Associated Press q
BERLIN, Dec. 10.-Ou the eve of the first
reading OF the army bill Chancellor Won
Caprivi gave, parliamentary dinner
unique In character. as bringing together
both members of the reiohstag of all par
ties and press representatives of all shades
of opinion. except the socialists. It was a
memorable recognition of the influence of
the press and marked an epoch in German
journalism. While this dinner was pro-
ceedinR the socialists were holding meet
ings in every electoral district in Berlin
against the army bill. Resolu-
tions were adopted denouncing militaryism
and urging the formation of peoples
A new feature of the meetings
was the attendance of women, who by their
fervid enthusiasm gave more trouble to the
police than their socialist brothers dared
cause.
When debate on the army bill opened in
the reichstag to-day the house was crowded
and the galleries full of visitors. The
tenor of the speeches from all sides dis
closed no unoompromising hostility to the
bill. Herr Richter, in his address. said the
freisinnige party would grant whatever
the system of two years service. but the
chancellor will have to apply to more
complacent reichstag than the present one
tn obtain demands beyond that. He con-
tended that the bill would raise the extra
ordinary budget to the extent of two hun.
dred millions of marks.
The chancellor's reply to the speeches
against the bill was mainly directed at Rich
ter. He said the latter was an able political
statistioian, but scarcely in a position to
offer reliable opinion on the details of the
military system. On this subject views
that were authoritative in highest military
circles must have weight. $50 convinced
am l." said the chancellor, ''of the neces-
sity of the bill for the continued existence
of Germany that if the reichstaR wished
to thrown upon me its own responsibility
would TRANQUILITY accept it,"
Continuing the chancellor said that un-
der the provisions of the bill 10000 young
men would annually be added to the army,
SO that in few years 400 900 more men
would be aeady to take the field against q
hostile army. This statement also elected
cheers. The chancellor appealed to the
house not to throw the country into confu-
sion by rejecting the measure.
Manteuffei, speaking for the conserua-
tives SAID his party would vote for the bill
if it was provided that the quality of the
army would not suffer through the pro-
posed increase in numbers and organiza-
tion. i he general opinion is that the bill
will pass the first reading by a good ma
jorty.
The resurgence of Judenhetz is rot lin
tied to conservatives. Something like
popular demonstrations of anti-Semitiam
have occurred in several csnters whe the
freisinnige element is strong. Twice this
week considerable crowds passed along
Freidrchstrasse crying, Down with the
Jews" Leading conservatives and moder-
ates are confident the emperor is ashamed
of the jew batting done by the larty and
have protested against including an anti
Jewish plank in the platform. The nnti-
Semitic propoaanda a in Austria has re Q v.d
fresh energy by the action of German con-
Sc vatives. large mass meeting was re-
Gently held in Vienna town hall. at which
Prince Alois Lchtenstein, amid the plaud-
its of Il crowd. advised them to bovcott
Jewish tradesmen. Coming from a man of
his Importance the advice is likely to have a
bad effect.
The funeral of DIR. Siemens, the we'll
known electrician, took place to-day with
much pomp. Chancellor Won Caprivi and
many other officials. besides great crowd
of prominent people not in official life,
were present. Four thousand workmen
from Siemens' facto followed the hearse.
Among the floral offerings was one from
Edison.
In recent conversation with Lieut..
Evans. military attache of the American
legation, the emparor expressed reg ct that
because of the distance he could not visit
the Chicago Columbian exposition. The
government will grant 270. 900 marks for an
exhibit of the Prussan school system at
the Wotlds fair.