Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-29

Significance DR.. MIGUEL Places on the
Recent Election.

| Berlin, June DIR. Johannes Miuue1.
| PruSSian minister of finance, one of the
| foremost statesmen, not only of Prus-
STA but Of the empire, who has been
| more than once mentioned as the prob
able successor Of Chancellor Won Ca
priv, when the latter makes I'D his
| mind to retire from office is frank in
his utteranceS regarding the significance
of the late elections.
| He says that the ballOting hitherto
| had proved that generally the intelli-
! gent classes were in favor of the army
bill as proposed by the government.
Among these classes, however there
was one exception. This was the class
or political section that is under the in
fiuence of the Roman Catholic church
that is the center party.
DR.. MIGUEL added that he did not
mean to imply that this party was I'M
patriotic, but he diG believe that their
cOnsciences had been overruled through
the confessional. 1t was an undisputed
fact that a powerful party at the vat
lean is strongly against the strengthen
ing of Germany hence the party works
secretly against the bill.
In speaking of the campaign DIR.
MIGUEL said that the most remarkable
feature Of it was the complete wipng
out of the candidates of the Richterists
or radical peoples party. 1t would be
great pity, he further said, if Herr Rich
ter, the leader of this faction, should
be personally excluded from the reich
stag by the result of the bye-election
that is necessary in his constituency.
DR.. MIGUEL showed his brOadmindedness
by his reference to Herr Richter, who
is his political opponent. He praised
Herr Richters parliamentary ability
and said among other things that he
was a most clever speaker. though his
ideas did not always bear fruit.
With reference to the position Of the
army bill, Dr. MIGUEL said it was posi-
BILE that the government through skill
full management, would evolve a ma
jolity. This majority would in his
opinion, be obtained ON agrarian lines
against the socialist, radical and particu-
larist minority. DR.. MIGUEL declared
that be deeply regretted the fact that
the newspapers supporting the govern
ment had been too assiduOuS in attack
ing and blackening. DR.. Lieber, one
of the centrist leaders, who had voted
against the army bill, and who led the
centrist faction that he was so much
opposed to the measure. He had known
DR.. Lieber for years, ne said, and knew
that he was quite tractable and open to
conviction. In speaking of the many
political divisions that have sprung UP
since the dissolution of the reichstag,
DIR. MIGUEL said he was convinced that
the present party organizations would
soon disappear. He held that the dec
adence of the centre party would cause
the supply Of an important addition
to the new groups that will support
the government.
It will thus be seen from the context
of the interview that Dr. MIGUEL is sam
guine of the ultimate adoption of the
army bill. even though the elections and
bye elections result in the return Of
majority against the measure. He be
lieves that this result will be obtained
nv the making of concessions to the va
rio1s groups and thus forming cartel
party that will throw very decisive
vote in support of the governments de
mand for strengthening the military
power Of the empire.