The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-29
SOCIALISM In GERMANY
STRIKING GROWTH OF THE MOVE
MENT SHOWN BY RECENT VOTE.
Problem Likely tn Present Itself I'm
Refchstag i'm Early Future-Warn-
ing to Americans.

Occasional Correspondence OF the Journal.
NEW YORK, June 26.-The cables this
morning showing the results of the second
ballotings for members of the national
Parliament of the German Empire disclose
the fact that the Social Democracy has
increased its representation almost 80 per
cent and that IL will have for the next five
years nearly ninety members, as against
fifty-eight in the old Reichstag. But this is
not so significant as the bottom fact that
the popular vote of this party shows an
increase over its popular vote of 1898 of
nearly one million. OF course, these ninety
votes cannot control a body of 395 members,
nor strongly influence its policy when prac-
tically all other parties habitually combine
against socialism in the crisis of every
important vote. But when the history of
the growth of Social Democracy in
Germany is glanced at, the pres
ent situation grows very interest
ing. Thirty years ago Socialism as
serted itself as a political party. Every
election since that time has shown a ire
mendous increase in its numbers among the
people and in the Parliament. Bismarck
attempted to cudgel ii out Of the Empire
with the law and the police. Bebel. its
and in confinement Of those years develop
ed from a working cooper into a scholar
Last week more than 100000 voters out of
S.O0O,OOO cast their ballots for Socialism. If
the average rate of increase of this vote for
thirty years Is maintained for the next
quinouennial period the party of Bebel will
have in the elections of 1903 a popular
majority of all German votes. Not only
is this true, but while in the past Socialism
has been confined mainly to the cities where
the heaped-up majorities were largely
wasted, as far as members of the Reichs-
tag were concerned, the present meager
dispatches seem to indicate considerable
winning of seats from Conservatives as
well as from the Radicals and Liberals.
This would seem tn show that democracy
Is winning its way in the rural districts.
The phenomenon is like the confined flood
of rising river whose area has hitherto
borne no sort Of relation to its volume But
If 1t continue to rise the time is almost here
when no circumstance of seat apportion-
ment or "gerrymander'' or technicality ca m
prevent swapping return of Socialist
representatives.
If In the next election the Socialists carry
the Reichstag, what will result? That is
the question we used to PROFOUND TO the
| leaders OF the parties of order" as the
combined opponents to Socialism style
themselves. Liberal leader who was pro-
fessor of public law replied to me once
that that occasion would never come but
If ii did the Imperial Constitution would be
suspended or the suffrage clause so amend
and lone man, one vote" The occasion is
not here. but IL is big on the horizon. The
SoilStftuliou uOeS not provide ministerial
responsibility to the Reichstag but il does
provide that no money or tax can be raised
or expended except by ma jority vote of the
Reichstag. When the Socialists carry the
Reichstag that Will join the greatest polit-
ical issue that Europe has seen these hun
dred years.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
In the meanwhile. because Liberalism and
Radicalism have been swallowed up in So
cialism. and Conservatism has been dimin-
ished, the government is now thrown on 10
| the Conservative Right and the Catholic
Center for support. 1t can no longer take
| a majority where IL can find it," as Bis
| marck always declared his policy 20 be- IL
must now dance to the Junker music, a
large part OF which will be composed at
Rome The "Cultur Kampf' is lost and the
| Jesuits will come back. The Catholics and
the Socialists are now almost exactly one
half the Reichstag, and the Poles and
Alsatians and the lonely Dane are always
ready 10 turn the government defeat into a
rout. The ultramontanes will know how
| to use those one hundred votes in the
Center.
AS compared with working mems parties
in the United States the Socialists are a
striking example Of party solidarity and
| fine discipline. An American Is hardly pre-
| pared 10 see large political party or poor
men-working men-carry forward their
growing organization for generation with
| out decentralization and hopeless wreck OF
| course there are many causes for this. One
potent one surely is the fact that a party
| leader in Germany can never be bribed or
corrupted by civil Office. The most terrific
campaign ever seen in any country was
| the Reichstag elections OF 1898. There was
not an ONCE in sight except the seats of
the representatives-and they are unpaid.