The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-23
CONFLICT IN GERMANY.
The Rivalry OF Commercial and
y Agrarian interests.
COMING STORM IN REIoHsTAe.


FeudaI Ar;stocracy and Modern
Industrial Gcrmnny-The Part the
Emperor Must PIny-uis Pet Canal
scheme.
While Emperor William is attending
snowy functions and exchanging cour-
tcsics, writes the Berlin correspondent
Of the New York Evening Post, a polit-
ical storm is brewing within the en-
pre- in which the young ruler is bound
10 play stellar role IL is gradually
dawnng upon party leaders that the
government tariff proposals are 10
serve the dual purpose of restoring the
dismantled estates and squandorcd for
tunes Of the PrusSian Squlrarchy and
rs weapon TO force through the en-
poror's pet canal scheme. II is dcs.
perate struggle between the represent.
ativcs of the feuGal aristocracy of PruS-
s.a against modern industrial Gcrma-
ny which will he witnessed nj the ap-
pruachiug session Of the reichstag and
federal council. Kaiser Wilhelms sym
nathies naturally are with the impov-
ffishcd mobiles and titled landowners
who dance attendance at the royal
court.
Junkerthum, as the PruSsian squir-
archy is styled, is the wheel within
the wheels of Germany's political sys-
TEN. II is the "small but mighty" lever
of the agraran party, which has ma
Bpulated the wires behind the impe-
rhl throne. 1t was iunkcrthum which
persuaded the emperor to discard Bis
marck. His successor, Caprivi, invited
tie hatred of this society 10y negotiat-
Ing commercial treaties which decreas-
ed the duty on grain exports from 30
TO % marks ton and likewise ushered
in the new epoch Of industrial develop
ment which has converted Germany
from an agricultural into an industrial
power. Indeed iunkerthum has con-
sistcntly opposed every measure de
signed 10 encourage commercial inter
courses with other nations and claims
Hhc authorship Of almost every reprcss-
i've trade enactment on the principle
Of Germany for the Germans alone"
All the subtle influence of the Prus-
through the court. civil and military
authorities to defeat the renewal Of
the Caprivi reciprocity conventions.
which expire in 1903, and TO substitute
an uncompromising duty, excluding
farm products and raw materials. in
order TO increase the value Of ground
rents, land valuations and staple arti-
cles OF food Unmndful Of the bitter
protests raised by the combined COM
merciaI and Industrial societies. and
needless Of the warning that bread
riots are certain 10 follow In the train
" such legislation. iunkcrtEum pro-
lses TO ill its yawning purses at all
The approaching session Of the reichs-
tag will be the llvelIcst doubtless in
many years. Tie many ramliCations
Of the present political conflict offer
countless opportunities for wire pulling
and trading. The emperor has set his
heart upon the canal project. which is
TO connect the east and the west prov
iRces of the empire with a great water
Nay. via the Elbe and Seine, serving
the double purpose of a strategic factor
In the event of war and as a new gate
way for commerce with other coun-
tries On the eve of the dissolution OF
the reichstag last spring the emperor
announced that he would not rest until
the canal bill Is approved. Meanwhile
silent forces have been at work and the
emperor reveals himself as a master in
the arts of diplomacy and politics. All
agree that the government controls the
balance of power in the reichstag and
federal council which Is To determine
the fate OF the tariff bill. As leader OF
the government forces. therefore, the
emperor is in position to dictate to
the junkers who opposed his canal
scheme. BY consenting TO support the
radica. tax on foodstuffs and raw ma
terial, the emperor removes the oppo-
sition TO his canal scheme. although at
the cost OF offending the giant indus
trial interests, who, nevertheless. may
he placated at the prospect OF success
ful canal legislation.
Today the representatives of feudal
hristocracy have been forced 10 the
wall by the greater giants of industry,
iron and steel Kings and merchant
princes. But the political following Of
junkerthum is today such, by rea-
son OF the fact that ii commands the
principul positions ~ civil departments
of the government and in the military
system, that even the emperor must
bow 10 its whims and desires. Before
the Industrial revolution. which dated
{ from the period OF reciprocity in 1893
81. the starvation wages paid TO farm
hands. large ground rents and good
crops buoyed up the finances OF these
country squlres, but the new era swept
the countries clean OF cheap labor. and
the brawny young man or the father
land deserted the farm for the shop.
Nevertheless. a visit 20 the provinces
OF Germany devoted TO agriculture
stlll reveals the pitiful spectacle OF a
poasantry driven into dumb despair.
Women now perform the burden OF The