The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-30
Oyertures Made to the Centrists in
the Vain Hope Of CAIN
ing Votes.
Public Interest Entirely Absorbed
In the Sensational Proceedings
of Ahlwardt
variable Riot In . Committee Meeting at
which Ahlwardt Was Present-May
Day Demonstration.

BTRIfN, ApIlk SJs~ W 4ou VAo IopOGO VII
army bill was presented to the reichstaR n
fev days ago. Won Levetzow. president.
proposed that debate open on Tuesday.
The leaders of the different groups con-
CURED that four days would suffice for the
discussion, 30 ono week hence the fate of
tho bill will be settled. To-day Von Capriyi
caused to percolate into the Hobbies in
formation to the effect that the government
would cause the second reading of the bill
to be postponed, presumably because the
emperor desires to be present in Berlin on
the eve of the dissolution Of the reichstag.
Even at tho last hour. Chancellor Won
Caprivi has. with NO apparent chance of
success, made fresh overtures for tho sup
mort of the esntrist leader, Count Won
Balestrem, through Major Hinnigen Huene.
II ia reported that the latter is reinforced
Ly letters from Cardinal L~edochovski. pre-
feet Of the propaganda. urging the center
party to try to como to terms with
the government on the bill. There is
no doubt. however, that the centrists
are unAinchinR in their adhesion to exist.
ing decisions. No occult pressure can
overcome the fact weighing most with the
centrists, that the ~repugnance Of the Cath
olic electors is 80 strong against the bill
that members representing the party in
the reiohstag certainly would be punished
by their constituents if they failed to OBJ
serve the pledges they made.
The public is so utterly absorbed in the
Ahlwardt inquiry shat nothing else polit-
ical has any interest. The affair reached q
climax to-day in a scene without parallel
in the history of the ,eichstag, TIL COM
mittees appointed to examine tho docu-
ments submitted by Ahlwardt in support
of the grave charges of corruption he made.
held q plenary meeting to discuss the re-
port. Notwithstanding disclosures Of the
forgery of documents introduced, ALL
wardt remained callous and unabashed and
declined to withdraw the charges.
The committee delegated DIR. Portsch
and Herr Bebel to confer with Ahlwardt
privately, but the conference did not result
in anything. Ahlwardt declining to with
draw from the attitude he had taken. DR..
Lieber urged the committee to close the
matter. He declared it produced in him 4
feeling of moral and physical disgust to see
q German representative make such q
spectacle of himself. This remark brought
Ahlwardt to his feet and he menaced DIR.
Lieber with his fist. He said Liber's las,
l0uHEh WA8 I'LL OUN1OuS ACA0ACAOC " tlS
circumstance Of Ahlwardt's appearing be-
fore the committee Yesterday with a rent
in his clothing. "Lieber's allusion to this
circumstance is infamous" The chairman
of the committee called Ahlwardt to order.
The latter repeated the expression. where.
upon the whole committee arose. Ahlwardt
hurled abusive epithets at them collect
lively and finally left the committee room,
shouting that he would not remain to be
insulted. The committee briefly passed
their report, affirming that all the docu-
ments are forgeries.
DR.. MIGUEL proposes to bring criminal
action against Ahlwardt. and the reiobstag
may revive a disused law and e1pel him..
May day fetes will be celebrated by the
socialists of Germany generally, the police
taking no unusual precautions. The Aus
trian socialists will make a general holiday,
and will hold forty meetings and street
demonstration Monday as the protest OF
workinGmen against their political n~ullity.
The meetings will demand general and
equal franchise.
Phelps, American minister, reports thai
the German foreign office knows nothing
about the expulsion of American mission
nrios from the Marshall islands,.