Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-02-22
POLITICSINGERMANY
GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS ARE
EXPECTED SOON.
Won BueIow's Downfall Imminent-Re-
cent Scandals in High Officialdom
Has Been Cause of Lack of Peoples
Confidence-poor Industrial Condi-
tions-40,o0o Idle Workers in Berlin.

London, Feb. 17.-Germany is gradu-
ally working itself into political fer
ment which threatens grave develop
ments in the near future. Not that
there is any talk of an overturning OF
the dynasty or of republicanism, or
even of any important modification of
the governmental system. The father
kaiser, but it does not altogether like
his advisers-all of them, at least.
1t has been predicted for some time
that Chancellor Prince Won Buelow's
downfall is near and recent develop
ments indicate the fuliilment of these
prophecies is not far off. Buelow is
said to think so himself, but to be SO
welded to his present policies that he
is determined not to change them,
even though the penalty for his obstt
macy be retirement from public life.
The recent scandals concerning high
army officers and government officials
have had something to do with under
mining the country's confidence in
the chancellor. The people plainly feel
he should have kept the kaiser-whom
there seems little disposition to blame
better informed as to the character
of the men the latter was making his
close personal and political friends.
And if the chancellor himself does not
know what kind of men they were, it
is plainly the general impression that
he ought to have known.
Then too, there is no doubt most
eople considered the government went
too far toward withdrawing" al
legged offenders for whom nobody
thinks any excuse ought to have been
made. 1t is not asserted that there is
a disposition to continue these persons
in their official position. No doubt
it is admitted, they will be gradually
relegatetd to obscurity. But Germany
rather thinks examples should have
been made of them-that the court
did wrong, especially in sacrificing the
individuals who brought so much
wrongdoing to light.
Won Buelows own record has re-
ceived a good many hard knocks in
the course of gossip attending recent
investigation. He himself eloped in
his youth with a married woman and,
though he welded her as soon as he
could and has since lived an exemplary
life, the circumstances have not been
quite forgotten. limitations that Won
Buelow can not say much concerning
others informalities because his own
past would not bear too CLOSE scrutiny
have not been the kind of hints to
help the chancellor
Industrial conditions, however, have
done more than all court scandals
put together to injure the adminsitra-
ton with the public. Berlin's unem-
ployed are now estimated to number
10000 and the depression is growing
steadily worse. Companies which in
sure against loss of employment are
burdened and the suspension of sever
al is predicted. Small merchants are
suspending daily and the city is full
of empty buildings.
The governments revenues have
been curtailed, too and the people dc
not like measures the administration
is taking to replenish its Golfers. II
feels that the burden falls on the poor
and the rich are suffering little. The
German laborer who takes his drinks
with his meals and considers them g
necessity, cannot understand why he
should be compelled to bear a heavy
tax on liquor, as proposed in the
reichstag, while direct taxation of tn,
wealthy is not increased.