The herald., 1893-06-18
The GERMAN ARMY BILL.
Public Opinion Seems to Be
Against 1t.
The New Reichstag Will Again
Knock 1t Out.
Socialists and Centrists viii Hold
the Balance of Power.
Election Returns Continue to Show Large
Socia1-Democratic Gains = Many
Reballots Necessary-The
Vote Analyzed.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, June 17.-Returns from 348
election districts were received up to 5
O'Clock this evening, showing the cleo
ton of 40 Centrists, 81 Conservatives, "a
Social Democrats, II National Liberals,
8 Centrists in favor OF the army bill, 8
Richterists, Volkspartei, 13 Poles,
6 Alsatians, 8 Anti-Semites and
3 independents, with 180 re-bal-
lots necessary. An analysis of the
re-bsllots shows that the Social
Democrats and National Liberals will
figure chiefly in them, with the Richter
lists and Centrists long way behind.
The defeat of the Richterists appears
to be irretrievsble, but the Berlin
Freisinnige Zeitung finds comfort in
predicting that the ultimate poll OF the
party, combined with the Volkspartei,
Centriets and Socialiets, will form an,
overwhelming plebiscite against the
army bill and the Huene compromise.
1t is certain that If plebiscite were to
decide the fate of the government, the
enormous Socialist vote already cast
would determine that. Bnt the army
bill will depend upon filial party COM
binations. regarding which it is still
hazardous to attempt to form any def
mite conclusion. About 80 Socialists
will stand in the coming re-ballots, and
it ie a rational estimate to credit them
with securing 26 more seats.
Chancellor Won Caprivi held confer
ences with the emperor Thursday and
again last evening, reporting to his ma
iesty the character of the returns. It is
rather significant that the semi-oficial
organs today refer to suggestions aE to
how to curb the popular vote. Accord
Ing to the Centriste the recent schisms
do not appear likely to seriously affect
their strength. Both the Conservatives
and National Liberals are coming out
better than was expected they would.
The Socialists in Vienna will make a
demonstration in celebration Of the suo-
cess of their German brethren. The
Austrian official papers hold that the re-
suits of the German elections are alarm
ing. The Deutsche Zeitung says: Seer
many can only be saved by a strong
hand. 1t ia time Caprivi should show
that the future of Germany is safe in
his."
At midnight, omitting districts where
re-ballots are nee essary, and with 80 dis
tricts to hear from, the army bill parties
and groups had S3 seats; the opposition
party So. All depends upon the second
ballots. The government has de-
cided to exert all its influences
to induce the factions favorable
to the bill to unite against the Richter
lists, Social Democrats and Clericals in
the by-elections which will be held about
one week from tomorrow. Second ball
lots will be necessary, it is estimated, in
almost 200 districts.
OF "a districts from which figures
bearing on the second ballot have been
received, it appears, certain that the
Clericsls will win 25; the social Demo-
Gratis 20; the National Liberals, Conser-
vatives and Asrarians 6, and Particular
lists l. The Radical Unionists expected
to gain several more seats.
Reports from the constituencies con-
tinue TO give evidence Of the collapse of
Eugene Richter's radical party. No
dispatch has been received to indicate
that the Kichterists carried single
constituency on the first ballot. This
state of affairs is distinctly favorablerto
the government, as the loss OF the Radi-
cal opposition is expected to more than
counterbalance the gain of the Socialist
Democrat opposition.
Ahlwardt and Goeckel, the most bla-
tant members of the Anti-Semite group,
are returned. The opposition Clericals
will return to Berlin probably with
nearly 100 deputies. The government
Clerical-Agrarisn movement has shown
few evidences of success. The Conserva-
tives and Free Conservatives, as expect
ed, are suffering no losses. The Social
Democrats are still triumphant at the
axnansa of the Richter Radicals.