New-York tribune., 1908-06-29
GERMAN PATERNALISM
With Efficient Local administration
as a Substitute.
Hiidesheim. Iune Is


ing it whenever they are questioned about the
high degree OF administrative efficiency prevail
ing in densely populated centres or the econoni-
cal results OF social reforms, When / asked one
of these philosophers how ii happened that cities
like Essen and Dortmund in the westphalian
coal belt. were spotlessly clean and free from
smudge, the answer short and decisive:
They have to be so when there is paternal
government" There were, he added. ceaseless
processes of inspection and enforced regulation
walks had to be swept and cutters flushed every
morning; house fronts were constantly washed
and gardens improved: and the owners or occu-
pierE OF property required keep their
premises presentable for the benefit Of the town
Essen, with its scores OF tall chimneys with foul
breath. and Dortmund as the centre of the coal
mining might naturally be expected TO rival
Leeds, Preston Newcastle in sooty dingi-
ness and CRIME; but they are bright and at
1ractive towns. with fine promenades and
spacious parks and with aspect Of cleanli-
ness. comfort and good taste in the poorest sec
tions. II the foreigners are 10 be believed these
sre the necessary results of paternalisn.
Evidently this is not old-fashioned virtue
dependent upon the historical sense Eildesheim
lies outside the coal and iron belt, and has few
factories. Yet quaint and picturesque it is
with its Romanesque churches. its medieval
SQUARES and its Gothic guild halls with antique
carving. mainly Conspicuous Aoi is
streets and neglected houses. The glamour Of
antiquity is q fatal heritage for the town When
houses are rebuilt the old styles initiated as
at Nurern berg and persistent resistance is Of
fered TO modern progress, in the old days,
when sculptors and woodcarvers were contempt
nous OF new ideas in architecture and decoration
Iudesheim has not remained stationary either
in population in enterprise since the German
states were united under the leadership Of Prus-
sia: but its progress has been retarded by the
conservatism Of its merchants and householders'
who have clung tenaciously TO the timber
architecture and the artistic traditions OF a
bzrore age Hildesheim has reveiled in oriels
and medallion reliefs. in cobwebs and DIRT WIllle
Hanover has doubled trebled its populatioh
snd Bielefeld has become a progressive INDUS
trial town. with social reforms ingenlously de-
,-ised and carried out in noble spirit OF ailru-
ISM ~,
Government in so historic 2 show place as III
s7es1eim is not paternaI so much as grandfather
l. IN Mace Of a single ancient church carefully
-asto-ed as at Essen or Dortmund or BleleIelo'
-ba town is filed with medieval relics more OF
less Matched UP and regilded so as 10 preserve
The sem blance of antiquity The town Is ia us
5otage and is kept alive on its memories since
sr7udge and CRIME supposed 10 deepen me
Coloring Of Romanesque architecture anu la'e
Gothic dwellings with antique carving and
quaint 1lScTlfIloIlS. LIE 0AAO-0 N--0
,7o1 swept nor their pavements repaired Hides
,ai-n offers striking contrast 10 the cities sur
,,7,r75irz II in Westphalia and Hanover, when
have heen transformed in the course OF a single
generation and are pulsating with nercanllie
energies There is no busting tra1nc III liie
streets: the town is not encircled with factories
and popuious suburbs; there are neither hahu-
some residences nor model homes Tor "oFAIlIs
,,eon1e and except electric tram Hines, single
or
,nents. there are few signs of the spirit OF MOD
-,,er, among the picturesque treasure troVe
1or sentimental sightseers.
Z one fails 10 find evidences OF pa1ernailsIn III
q roV- that trades on its antiquity, he may pe
equally uncertain whether il is the life current
IF -be ,risker and more modern industrial to"i's
4. H-o-+br-r Germany. IF paternalism implies
official Indulgence toward idlers ana thrlll@7s
workers abiect dependence Of the lower classes
,,,,or the state and systematic encouragement OF
-be idea that something can be had for noth-
irr there is little Of il in these hourlshlng
-ov-ug What is be found ordinarily IN d
T-ussian city is local administration so elncieh'
and so orderly that everybody is forced 10 WORK
and 70 keep his house in order Beggars are hoL
allowed 70 infest the streets; chronic VagraillS
- .~-ae-ad and sent TO vvorkhouses as a detail
Of criminal administration. and worklnsIhen are
1er- n work out their own salvation under an
-,ri.,r,+er,e5 system Of social reforms grounded
,,-,or, eelf-belp and the wage earners efhciency
and thrift What is substituted Tor pateTndIIsll
tn Germany is system The workman Is iot
treated as a child. but q cog or wire IN the
c,,.y,ie,, Of state and the employer is a
--.enordirz wheel fitting in with him. and to-
-,e4te- they work out economic results and So
(ia1 -afo-r,s under incessant and watchful su-
rervision Of state officials
What in1presses the stranger from England
os+ 5aerl,y On 2 German town is the absence OF
.r-,- The working sections as decently
kent as the finest residential districts, the streets
O.. as c1aan and as well paved and the tene-
-,ent houses are in good repair and as whole
some as sanitary science can make them Inc
housing question is perhaps the most off1cult
social reforrn in the empire, owing 10 the raplo
increase Of population in industrial towns
and the prevalence Of large families II lS
hardly possible for building associations and
municipal authorities 10 provide new houses as
rapidly as they are required but il is practicable
70 compel owners of old properties TO improve
them and 10 render them sanitary. House in
,r,ectjors are constant, and the poorest tene-
rnent houses are not allowed TO degenerate into
souaIis gluras This is one of the effects Of ef-
47cjent local administration. Another is the
clearance of beggars and traTnps from the public
highways In English cities, and especially in
London. poverty hangs on to the fringe OF
-,-as1-b and n1urables for bread a nights
lodging have been in four German cities since
1e4+ London and have not seen either a beggar
vagrant
This Is not q particularly prosperous time IN
-be fatberland since trade Is not SO good as il
Was. and there are many complaints OF lack OF