New-York tribune., 1907-01-23
THE GERMAN CHAOS.

The German electoral campaign is in its clos
ing week and the confusion which prevailed
at the beginning is worse cOnfOunded than ever.
The wisest observer Of Il Is he vino adapts 10
himself the saying Of the ancient sage, that
the sUrest thing he knows is that he knows
nothing. Electoral contests are risky things TO
prophesy about even when they implicate only
two or three parties, as in the United States
and the United Kingdom, and when. as in those
countries they are fought general issues.
But what is TO be said Of the madness of vatic-
tnation when there are a dozen or more par
ties, each with its own special set Of issues?
Better forecast Walpurgis-night antics on the
Brocken.
Little aid or comfort comes from study of
the past. The election returns Of four years
ago rival q Chinese puzzle in intricacy or an
historic map Of that geographical crazy quilt
known as the German Empire. There were
397 members elected. by 9,44O,OOO voters. In
members the Cericals stood first in voters the
Socialists. The Clerlcals elected 100 members
but cast only 1,s66O00 votes, while the Social
lists elected only 81 members though they cast
3011, 900 votes. The Conservatives elected 50
members with S49.OOO votes while the Ma
tional Liberals elected only so members with
their 1,257,000 votes, and the Liberal Peoples
party only 21 with $4,000 votes Thus on the
general average Of the empire there were 23.-
secured one member for each 1900 votes. the
Socialists one for 3T.100. the Conservatives one
for 1890, the National Liberals one for 25.-
100. and the Liberal Peoples party one for "a
500 votes
Then there were others. The Imperialists cast
10000 votes and got 10 members The Poles
were $4,000 strong and elected 16 The 2S4-
600 Anti-Semites elected II. while the 113GOO
Alsatlans filed 10 seats. The 213OO0 Liberal
Unionist voters succeeded In returning only 8
members, while the 100000 Guelphs elected Z
the 10000 of the Peoples party g. the 10000
Unattached Conservatives g. the $4,000 of the
Bnvarian Peasants Union only 3. the $4,000
OF the Agriculturists' Union only g. the 15-
600 Danes I. the 10000 National Socialists
]. and the 1900 Unattached Liberals /
This year there are at least as many parties
and several Of the parties are divided into sew
eral factions each And then. single candi-
date may run for the whole 397 seats. If he
pleases'
Issues are as plenty as parties The Oleri
calls put the interests OF the Roman Catholic
Church above ali else. and vote for or against
every measure according 10 it's bearing upon
ecclesiastical welfare. The Socialists are de-
voted solely to their special fads The
Poles aim at the restoration OF their ancient
kingdom. The Conservatives care for nothing
but the maintenance Of a protective tariff on
agricultural products. OF course the Anti;
Semites care for nothing but harrying and
depressing the Jews There is nothing like q
great national issue. And so when the Chan
cellor calls for majority devoted to imperial
interests bove those OF sect or class. and when
Herr Dernburg seeks 10 make colonial main
tenance and development the leading issue
each party weighs the mattar In Its own scales