New-York tribune., 1908-07-06
GERMAN PROSPERITY
Results of Sound administration and
System.

-
organized activities of the last forty year.
When IL was annexed 20 Prussia AFTER n.
campaign with Austria II a sonnols,,
capital Of a minor principaty. with a poprsa-
ton barely exceeding forty thousand II IL nv,
a bu.tIins prosperous city with population a,
10000 an important railway centre and II,
HEADQUARTERS Of a Prussian province and a,
army corps Broad avenues have been opened n
many directions: the residential districts raw.
been more than trebled in dimensions lara.
factories for the manufacture Of engines ran.
way carriages and machinery have been con-
structed: the working quarters have been in
proved by the erection OF comfortable house,
for a superior class Of artisans. and the city.
with It's spacious thoroughfares. picturestus
pleasure grounds fine galleries and beautita
Wilhelm shohe Park is one Of the most attrae.
tive centres for tourist travel In Germany How
different must have been It's aspect when Ma
poleon III was hustled through 1t under guard
after Sedan to remain prisoner Of war at N.
schloss,
Cassei has proated like other German town.
by the continuous operation Of three national
policfes-a sound gold currency, protection u
home industries and development Of exuor
trade by mercantile energy and reciprocity ar
rangen1ents based on equivalent advantage
These policies have not been disturbed ~ Iegis-
manufacturers. merchants and worknnen rave NJ,
been sacrificed by sudden reversals Of the engines
OF prosperity such as have been witnessed IN
America The home market has been secure and
the conquest OF foreign markets has gone IN
without interruption even during intervals 0.
commercial depression following overproductiau
and speculative activity Casse1. Ike other Ger
man cities has steadily increased in population
and manufactures. and the resources OF the
building industries have been overstrained IN
providing factories. shops. offices and homes 20.
employers and employed In the old days Of the
feeble prfncipality the districts around the n,tls
town were enptied by emigration Now there is
work for ALL and Germans remain at home to
share in the industrial progress OF united en-
pire.
There is also work Of an inferior order FOR for.
eigners and this is an excellent sign OF progress
The lower class Of laborers paving streets ard
doing the cheapest and toughest work has cone
from Poland and Southeastern Europe Wien
the times are fairly good and there IS TO lack os
employment in the higher grades OF rnanufactur-
ing and building the German workman displays
his efficiency by doing superior work and leav-
ing what remains 70 the poorer and less sk1fuI
foreigner. When business is depressed the for.
efgner is crowded out. for the native German
always has the preference when there is scarcity
of employment Education. industrial training
improved standards of life superior physical
health and social legislation by which ernergsn-
cies of accident sickness and chronic disability
provided against have increased the eff
cheney of the German workman He is fitted for
higher work than his father was before him,
and insists upon having il He considers him
self too intelligent and capable 10 put up with
the lower class Of labor which IS good enough
for unframed and impoverished foreigners The
American Consul Mr. Kothe. speaks Of this in
creased employment OF foreigners in and around
Cassel one Of the most significant evidences
Of the rise and progress Of the German work
ing population He is a wf1eawake Observer
who knows what is going on around him
One cannot go through the residential section
and working quarter of CasseI without being
impressed with the energy, thrift contentrent
and progressive spirit of tie Germans TIE
walk may be prolonged for hours and the remote
suburbs may be explored. but not beggar viii
be met, nor VIII any signs Of extreme destitutcn
be seen The German workman has not been
dennoralized by the Socialist tracts sent cut
from Leipsic presses nor by the franzied ap-
peals Of collectivist agttators He NAV vote with
the Socialists when there is general election.
but he is conservative enough 70 recognize the
necessity for self-help and thrift in any modern
system Of social w|lfare- So superior is he IN
working efficiency and habits Of organization
that many English reforners despair OF rival
ling him in their own country without universal
military training This may have helped to
make more orderly and better disciplined
workman of him. but it does not explain tina
higher standards OF employment. efficiency ard
life which are revealed in German factories and
working districts There is a radical difference
in the methods OF dealing with labor and pow
erty in England and Germany
In city like CasseI there must De poverty.
and not little OF it. although IT is not hauntsd
in the visitors face nor allowed 70 endanger the
health of the community. Such distress as thers
is from various causes is rot relieved inds-
crinninately ard unsysternaticaIIy as is done IN
England. where the poor law has become de-
moralizing agency for the propagation Of pau
perisrn- Poor relief in a populous town Ike
Cassel is a matter Of administrative detail. Ike
the cleaning of the streets OF the management
OF the trolleys Every case is investigated w
trained officials. ard money is paid until ths
causes OF poverty are ascertained ard ths
chances OF self-help and employment are de-
nberately considered. The EIberfeld system OF
poor relief. which has been adopted here and m
all progressive. well governed German cities m
wolves systematic visiting. accurate knouieos'
and remedial measures whenever these are prao-
ticable. II destitute men and women are u
capacitated for work and without food OF SEE
ter, they are cared for proper wards I"
municipal charity, but the number OF cAS
where relief Is merted has declined since '1'
compulsory laws OF Insurance. against accaae'1
sickness and disability came into cpsrsooH
When the applicants are able to work Es S
tern of poor relief becomes disciplinary aa
corrective. Employment Is supplied; laocr
onies opened to them: the restraints -
discipline Of workhousss ars imposed FrH