The herald., 1897-02-21
The News From Crete Causes
Feverish Activity
WILLIAM FAVORS TURKEY
And Takes Special Pains to Show His
Sympathy
German Newspsp.rs Avoid Discussion OF the
Eastern Question-Agrarlan and soc!n!-
is.ic Agitction Is Increasing
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
BERLIN, Feb. 20.-(Copyright, 1879
On the receipt of the alarming news
from Crete, Emperor William cancelled
a number of private engagements and
plunged into feverish political activity
He even absented himself from the
feteS at Potsdam, given in his honor by
the Hussar guards. and held instead a
two hours conference with Prince Ho-
henlohe. His majesty also had lengthy
conferences with the leading ambassa-
dors on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day. in which it was remarked that on
Wednesday evening at the subscription
ball at the opera house. he drew the
Turkish ambassador aside and con-
versed with him in friendly way. This
was in marked contrast with his treat
ment cf the Greek minister, whom he
had ignored since Monday.
At the wish of the government the
German newspapers generally have been
extremely cautious in discussing east
ern matters. and there will be no dis
cussion on the subject in the reichstaE
until the naval budget is reached Only
a few of the German papers have ad-
burg Zeitung advises Germany to oc-
cupy Crete herself until Greece has paid
her German creditors.
The annual meeting of the Fedora ton
of Husbandmen in Berlin this week was
even more violent in tone than that OF
last year. The president, Herr Won
Ploetz. a Conservative member of the
reichstag, in his opening speech. ex-
pressed confidence in Emperor William S
promise to aid the suffering agricultu-
rists. He condemned the whole cabinet.
who he asserted. were intriguing for q
radical revolution of the parties TO un-
dermine royal authority.
The Prussan and Saxon governments
took an important step this week. They
have forbidden the state railroad en-
ployes to join the National union in
Leipsic and their associations have
been disbanded by the police. A mass
meeting of the workmen of the Prussian
roads on Wednesday near Hamburg pro-
tested against this proposition as
being unconstitutional, and claimed the
right to strike and to form as societies.
The reason for the action Of the authori-
ties appears to be the fact that the So
alists are behind the railroad agita-
ton.
DR.. Ahlwardt declares he is satisfied
with his American trip. where he says
he formed seventeen anti-Semite clvbs
and founded a new paper with 1000 sub
scribers. He refuses to- resign his seat
in the reichstag, and intends to resume
his antl-Jewish agitation forthwith.
While taking his daily constitutional
with the empress in the Thergarten on
Tuesday the emperor passed laborer.
who stared at him. but did not salute.
His majesty returned. called upon the
man to halt. and then, touching his hat
in military fashion. he said: MY man,
if you do not wish to salute your emper-
or, at least you might pay proper respect
to the empress" Then. turning On his
heel, the emperor left the man standing
in a state of considerable astonishment.
The influenza epidemic has now reach
ed climax in this town. There have
been few fatalities. but thousands of
cases have been reported. and whole
families have been prostrated.