The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-08
The Chancellor Is Displaying Much
Tact In Dealing With Party
Leaders
Ills Position With the Emperor
Said to Be Stronger Than
Ever.
The War Omcs Anticipates the Passage ol
the Military Bill-Other For
sign News.

BERInN. Jan. when the holiday sos
a0n came to end public attention was
again turned toward tbs army bill. No
measure OF recent years affects 80 closely
the home life Of the German people, for
should the Taichstag reject IL and Chnncel-
lor Won Caprivi carry out the threat TO in
sist upon the full three years service In the
army, II would mean much to the young
men who are the main, and in many cases
the sole support Of sisters and widowed
mothers. The rsichstaR will resume sit
tings Tuesday. The committee Of the
house, to which was referred the army bill.
will meet on Wednesday. Chancellor Won
Caprivi requested the president Of tho
committee to expedite deliberations in
order not to retard final decision In the
isiohstaR. The chancellor having nothing
more to tell, the committee ought to report
promptly, but the members representing
the clerical party remain in a state Of inde-
cision, expecting the chancellor TO offer an
inducsment that will suffice TO excuse their
surrender when they are called
upon to face their constituents. None
Of those within inner political
circles believe the chancellor has com-
mitted himself. The utmost length to
which he has gone is believed to be is that
he promised leave to government support
ers to take an independents course when the
center party gets remote chance of divid-
ing tho reichstag on the Jesuit question.
In private dealings with the leaders of
several parties. the chancellor is displaying
much tact and course Of action such ~ to
elliott the admiration of even advsrsaries.
Nothing is now heard of the chancellor's
retirement from Office. His position with
the emperor is stronger than ever and his
development Of personal resources, finesse
and audaoity staggsrs his opponents, who
are becoming weak under the apprehension
that the bill will be passed without single
concession OF importance being made by
the government. Opposition papers are
trying to raise popular storm over the
emperor's recent use of the phrase II will
crush those who oppose me-"
The freisnnige press assumes that the
words meant that the emperor intends to
override the vote OF the reichstag, should it
be hostile to ths army bill, by resort to
the application of the article Of the Ger
man constitution by which every able
bodied man may be compelled to serve in
ables the emperor to fix the strength of the
army. The abundant partisan fury ex-
pended over the much discussed phrase
seems wasted. since official papers
suggest that If the language was used at all
it was directed at military personages who
are unfriendly to the bill. 1t is probable
the emperor used the threats generally il
he used them at all. not designing to at
tack the privileges Of the reiohstsR or any
particular person.
The war Office is taking action anticipa-
tory to the passage of the bill. In ton CEN
ters new revision councils are being formed
with view to the extension OF recruiting.
The emperor, beyond doubt. means that
the bill shall become law in the course Of
year.
Proprietors of leading stores in Berlin
concur in statements that the holiday sea-
son just passed showed an enormous de-
crease in business usually done at that per-
lod of the year. The annual reports issued
by various chambers of commerce in Cor
many state that depression prevails every
where in the empire. The strike of Saar
miners is expected to collapse next week,
owing to lack OF both popular and trade
support. Thousands of strikers and their
families arc in starving condition and the
fact tends greatly to weaken the backb bone
of the strike.