New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-19

these two halves, against the impotent will OF
the government. The first half-which is wholly
for their own benefit-they will pass, and they
will bury the other Yet this canal bill is only
q modest fragment Of the Elbe-Rhine CanaI
project which came direct from the Kaiser's
brain about five years ago. and which the canal
rebels"-as the monarch termed them-rejected
repeatedly The fate of this present project, com
prising less than third of the original, ana
at first coupled with a measure decidedly palat-
able to these same rebels will be the same.
There is one party in Prussia which does not
fear imperial thunder and lightning-the Agra
rans. They know that they indispensable
in maintaining the present political order OF
things in Germany. and they make the most
of this fact. Considering them merely as
political party. who can seriously blame them?
Economically considered, though this para
mount position of the Agrarian party in Ger
many is an unqualified curse The country as
a whole-but more particularly Prussia-stands
in great need of cheap waterway transportation
for internal traffic, waterways which would con-
meet the chief river systems of central ana
western Germany-the Rhine Weser, Eibe ana
Oder-and afford the means of conveying at low
rates the agricultural products of the eastern
provinces to the west and the western industrial
products to the former. The railroads do not
suffice for that and their freight rates are pro-
hibitorv on many OF the bulkier articles Yet
the politically all-powerfUl landhOlders OF the
eastern provinces will not permit such inter-
change deeming il against their narrow class
interests: wrongly so. indeed but such is their
belief. and neither the Kaiser nor Count Bulow
can move them any more than could the late
Chancellor Prince Hohenlohe. These eastern
magnates form the majority in the Prussian
Diet, and nothing be accomplished against
their will unless the Kaiser grants his permits
sion TO reform the thoroughly rotten Prussian
election law. a law which alone has enabled
the Agrarians Of the thinly populated eastern
provinces Of Prussia to override successfully
for fifty years past the real wishes Of the vast
bulk of the population. This Anticipated election
law, styled by Bismarck himself the worst on
EARTH" is based on two anomalies. namely
first the population census of 1850. and second.
three class system Of electors, scaled according
to tax receipts and excluding the entire lower
class, say so per cent of the population.
This unregenerated Prussian electoral lava
slap in the face Of the constitution OF the en-
pire-is rightfully looked upon by all liberal
minded persons in Germany as the crowning
infamy of the present system Of Prussian in
ternal politics. But all attempts to modify or
reform II. even in the slightest, have been
easily defeated by the majority in power In
the Prussian Diet who naturally feel comfort
able in their role as beati possidentes. and will
of their own accord do nothing to help Gust
them from power. The Kaiser. as King of
Prussia, his part knows that TO open the
door 10 reform of this eXecrable electoral sys-
ten, means the advent OF victorious Social De
So far, under the existing law, not
a single Social Democrat has a seat in the
Prussian Diet, while there eghty-five OF
them in the imperial Parliament. the Reichstag.
and only a sprnkling OF Liberals and Radicals
is to be seen there. That is, then, in the
Kaisers mind. sufficient reason for UNFOLDING
this old electoral law and the present majority,
even if the latter now and then proves perfectly
on matters which he himself has
set his heart as for instance the perfecting Of
the network of internal canals.
Bills for the reform Of this Prussian electoral
law were again introduced this season. but they
have been pigeonhoed. Similar bills for the
reform Of the Bavarian. Saxon and Badenese
Diet Election laws have met like fate.
The formation Of the General German EN-
ployers' Association CAllgemeine Deutsche Ar
is a matter Of more than
merely national concern. This body IS unique.
Nowhere. so far not even in the land of "un-
limited possibilities (as the Kaiser's confldant
Privy Councillor Goldberger. calls the United
States). has such a thing been attempted. It
will be OF international interest to note how long
a life this association will enjoy So far ex-
listing German legislation is concerned. there is
nothing 10 hinder it; nor, for that matter. is
there any legislation hostile TO it contemplated.
This confederation of employers was the direct
Of the gigantic textile workers strike
in Crimmitschau. When the latter collapsed,
after about eight months Of desperate struggle,
the association appeared, completely armed and
equipped. in the arena. The principal moving
spirit in its formation the most powerful
single concern, the Central Association Of Ger
man Manufacturers (Centralverband Deutscher
and the chief opposition to Il
came from the ranks Of the body second in i'm
portance, the General Association of German
Metal Producers (Gesammtverband Deutscher
Metallindustrieller). but this opposition was
overcome and at present the new national
ISOLATION is in full power
A statement has been issued by the associa-
ton assuring the public that its purposes are
purely defensive-that is, that it means to offer
united front TO united trade unionism in the
empire, especially for the protection Of It's mem
bers in cases of strikes, sympathetic and other
wise But this statement must not be taken too
literally. The association already goes far be-
yond such simple programme. Employment
gencies have been started by the association
and only hands hired and accepted there are
taken on An eHecIiNe system OF pldckllsts has
been introduced. All agreements contain a spe-
cial Strike paragraph" Again. the association
undertakes TO reimburse all employees harmed by
pecuniarily or physically. Concerted
action is provided TO push legislation in favor Of
employers. and other measures are either under
way in contemplation.
The theatrical season here and throughout
Germany is drawing TO close. It's most re-
markable feature has been the resuscitaton OF
the classical drama, the revival Of popular in