The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-29

vote is reduced to 80, although one re-
port makes it SO. or the seats that the
Agrarian League possessed in the last
Reichstag, it has lost all, according to
one report, but, according to another,
only 2. The 10 seats of the Alsatian
Autonomists have been cut down 70 .,
and the IA seats of the irreconcilable
Poles increased to 10.
1t may be remembered that in the last
Reichstag, on the tariff issue, the So
cialists and the Radicals OF all three
shades co6perated and commanded 100
votes. In the next Chamber they will
be able to cast 1l3 or III votes, accord
ing as the Radical aggregate should be
put at 80 or SO. Obviously, the gain OF
or 10 seats does not materially strength
en- the opponents Of the high protective
tariff.
The combination of Conservative,
National and Clerical parties
will still control the Reichstag Tin which
100 votes constitute majority, because
it will still command 223 or 225 seats, as
against 22s in the last Chamber. There
is another possible combination that
might defeat the commercial treaties,
the duties provided in which will prove
unsatisfactory to the Conservatives be-
cause they will seem too low, and to the
Socialists for the opposite reason. The
Conservatives, Socialists and Radicals
could muster from 1875 to 1889 votes, and
could undoubtedly pick up from the I'M
classified independents and from the
Poles enough additional votes to make
up a majority. 1t appears, however,
that no such combination is apprehended
by Chancellor Won BtLow. The OPP
ponents of lavish appropriations for the
army and navy are but little stronger
than they We're, the Socialist gains hav-
ing been nearly counterbalanced by the
Radical losses,
Obviously, the significance of the
elections does not lie in any serious
change in the composition of parties in
the new Reichstag. So long as it can
secure the cooperation of the Clericals,
the Imperial Government will be able
TO carry all its measures, unless, indeed,
u
of Conservatives with the Socialist
Radicals for a temporary destructive
purpose. What renders the outcome of
the electoral contest ominous in Conser-
vative eyes is the tendency of the Radi-
Gals of all shades to absorption in the
Socialist party, and the probability that
the Social-Democrats, encouraged by
the success of moderate policy will re-
nounce the doctrines of KARL MARX, and,
thus becoming Democratic rather than
a Socialist organization. will ultimately
make large gains at the expense of the
Acknowledgements, and perhaps also
among the peasants, who have hitherto
been counted on to support Conserva-
tive candidates.
The Socialist newspapers assert that
part of the extraordinary increase in
their popular vote was due to recruits
from the peasantry. Only by carrying
rural districts can the Social-Democrats
hope to secure votes enough in the
Reichstag, under the present unfair al
lotment of seats, to command majority.
with the help of the Poles and some of
the independent members. That this is
not an inconceivable result of future
appeal to the ballot box may be inferred
from the trepdation with which some
of the Conservative journals survey the
enormous expansion Of the popular vote
commanded by the Socialists.