Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-06-23
EXCITEMENT IN GERMANY
Elections in Progress Today for the
New ReichStas.
PROSPECT UlrAYoRADLE TO VILLIAn
II the Kaiser Forces the Army Bill upon the
People, Z Revolution Is Not Among
the lmprobabilitlss. rE

BERLIN, June 15.-Not since the
stormy days of 1873 and lSS7-the days
OF the "Kultur Kampf" and of the
MAY" laws-has Germany been in the
throes of such intense excitement az pre-
walls now, eliminating in the elections
today for the new reichstag, when Q
second and more desperate effort will be
made to pass the army bill.
The reichstag which was dissolved on
May 8 started in with ten party divisions,
including the so-called "fractions-lose"
or independents, and ended up with
thirteen or fourteen, the German liberals
dividing up into factions and the national
liberals and social democrats intensifying
the divisions in their own ranks.
Eugen Richter, the new head Of the
German liberals, is the most bitter en-
envy Of the army bill, and Won Benning-
sen heads the government party. Vir-
chow, the famous scientist, stands with
Eugen Richter.
The vote by which the famous army
bill WAS defeated was 2l0 to 1862, but this
was owing altogether to the action of the
kaiser himself, who refused to sanction
the Caprivi compromise.
1t is now understood that if the
relchstag elected today fails to pass the
! army bill, the kaiser will declare it law,
and revolution may not be among the
improbabilites.
The emperor has done all in his power
to play upon the apprehensions of Ger
many in such a way as to secure the re-
turn Of deputies favorable to his de
mands; but the prospect that he will be
weaker in the new reichstag than in it's
predecessor. The reichstag of Germany
is elected for period of five years, but it
may be dissolved by the emperor at any
time, in which case new house must be
elected within sixty days. The last cleo.
ton was in 1890. The membership OF
the reischstag is 1897, and 236 of this
number belong TO Prussia, AZ to Bavaria,
% to Saxony, II to Wurtemburg, and
the rest to the smaller members Of the
federal empire.
Of all parties the social democrats are
conducting their campaign in q mastery
manner. Their completed list of candi.
dates contains 357 names, or but 40 fewer
than the total number of constituencies.
The anti-semites publish lists 10 show
that they contest 81 constituencies. The
national liberals hope to contest 142
The radical peoples party, under Eugen
Richter, has candidates in 100; the
radical union, acknowledging the princi
pies of Major Hinze, in 80. The opposi.
ton clericals, under DR.. Lieber, the
Prussian hater, are trying to hold Their
own in l20 districts, while the govern.
ment clericals, under Freiherr Won Schor.
iemer-Alst, have entered the list with
thirty champions Of the army bill. The
conservatives have candidates in ITO dis
tricts.
These figures convey but an made
quate idea, however, Of the multiplicity
of candidates in most constituencies, al
many men are contesting several seats
each. Thus, among the anti-semites
Zimmerman contests four seats Foer
ster, seven, and Pickenbsck, six.
Finally the Guelphs, Poles, democrats
Alsatians and independents contribute
their shorter lists of candidates to swell
the great total.
Almost tropical weather prevails every
where in the country, which will briul
out heavy vote in the rural districts.
At noon the workmen left the factories
and walkedin groups to the voting sta
tons and deposited their ballots. Tn,
socialists are displaying more activity
then any OF the other political groups
A number OF women are djstributn,
electoral tickets. All the postoffice EN-
ployes have been given leave Of absenc,
: to vote.