Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-24
THEY WAR TO- RULE
German Election Has Wrought
Empire in White Heat.
WOMEN HARD AT WORK
Battle eliminating Friday is the
Only Theme of Hour.
NAVAL GROWTH IN BALANCE
Defeat of Government Could Not Halt
Nations Impulse-The Cues
ton of Socialism.
NAVAL GROWTH IN BALANCE

BERLIN. January 4.-Imperial Germany
at the present moment thinks and talks of
nothing except the forthcoming elections.
All indifference has disappeared. Every
political party is feverishly trying to crowd
weeks of woriefnto the few hours still sep
arating us from Friday. Even the arctic
weather now prevailing has not chilled the
ardor of the candidates or their electioneer-
ing agents. Countless meetings taking
place nightly all over the empire and all
are being attended by huge crowds.
Rarely, if ever. has an electoral campaign
in Germany attracted such keen and wide
spread interest. Even the women are ac-
lively engaged in 1t, notwithstanding the
kaisers injunction to them, uttered some
time ago. to confine their energies to do
nestle matters and leave politics to the
men. Placards everywhere urge the women
to use their Influence in behalf OF candi-
dates favorable to the feminist movement.
and women are openly cooperating in the
campaign. 100 80 -
Excitement is Universal.
AS election day draws nearer the excite
ment grows more intense. AT meeting in
the -Rhelnbach constituency Gen. Won
Trotha, the governments candidate against
Dr. SPAIN, leader of the Catholic party,
the pandemonium created by numerically
powerful body representing DIR. SPAIN,
which invaded the hall" and played the big
drums Justify every time the general at
tempted to speak. "'''
In Berlin the campaign has reached its
most intense stage. EmiSSareS OF the Vari-
Gus parties follow one another about from
morning until night, undoinS the work ac-
complished by each,
The socialists in particular are moving
heaven and earth to insure a victory.
Failure has attended all their efforts to
present constitutionalism versus absolutism
as the issue
Whatever may be the result of Fridays
elections. the kaiser has certainly sue
ceeded in narrowing down the conflict to
one between socialism and patriotism
The minor differences of opinion, dividing
the various political parties. have been
manipulated adroitly until the candidates
appear to fall into. one of two categories,
socialists loyaliStS.
In the former category are classed all
those who by refusing to vote supplies
and oppose "realpolitik that has
caused such an amazing economical indus
trial and commercial development in
imperial Germany. In the loyalist category
are comprised all those who acknowledge
the necessity for Germany of bigger
army, a powerful navy and the develop
ment Of her colonies
So long as the governments policy on
these points. is not blocked, II cares very
little where the majority in the reichstag
may lie. .-...
National Impulse From Kaiser.
So far as the general direction of the
empire is concerned the elections cannot
have the slightest influence. for the inn
pulse Is given by the kaiser not by par
lament Asr'for the idea, so sedulously
cultivated in the English newspapers. that
in the event of socialist victory the
kaiser might attempt to divert attention
by provoking a foreign war, 1t is to be
assured in the first place that the kaiser
in spite of his demonstratfve outbreaks
is very prudent in his impulses He real
ICES that his dynasty has nothing to gain
from a war even a'"successful war, and
has much to lose in an unsuccessful one.
Moreover until socialist danger has been
effectually conjured away, a foreign war
would be a particularly hazardous expe-
dent. ...
Although its leaders express very fervent
patriotism, considerable doubt exists as to
whether patriotism would prevent the So
cialst party, from creating political dill
culties for the government in the event of
a serious reverse for the German arms.
War, in fact. is a bugaboo, put forward
by the English opponents Of the kaisers
patriotic policy of endowing his country
with a formidable navy Whether that
policy is Endorsed by the German people.
taken as a whole, will be known in an
other forty-eight hours