Evening star., 1908-01-10
.PRUSS|AN FRANCHISE.
Riotous Demonstration in Ber-
lin Streets Today.
OPENING OF THE LANDTAG
Socialists Make q Demand for Man
hood Suffrage.
PRINCE Won BUELOW SPEAKS
Police Had to Clear the Streets
Around the Prussian Parlia-
ment Building.
OPENING OF THE LANDTAG
PRINCE Won BUELOW SPEAKS

tense excitement has been aroused here
by an Interpolation, presented recently
to the I'russian landtag by liberal mem
ber demanding the introduction of man.
ho2d suffrage in the elections of mem
bers of the lower house of the Prussian
landtag. Last night 10 fewer than thirty
five socialist mass meetings were held in
Berlin. as well as many others in the
country districts. in favor of the move
ment. Today before the landtag convened
socialists to the number Of 1000 marched
in procession before the parliament build
ing. This demonstration assumed some
what threatening aspect. and large
body of police was called to the scene.
They surrounded the entrances to the
building. and later cleared the surround
ing streets. but there was no actual dis
order.
System of Suffrage.
Under the present electoral system in
Prussia there are three classes of electors.
Up to the present time the laboring man
has been completely deprived of represen-
tation in the Prussian parliament owing
to the fact that he was overwhelmed at
the final elections by the other two class
es. The categories of electors are formed
of taxation received by the state into
three equal parts. small number of
wealthy persons. paying the first third
of the total of taxation. select certain
number of men from their ranks to act
as final voters: more extended number of
less wealthy persons. who pay the next
third of the full amount of taxation,
choose an equal number of final electors,
while the third-class of voters, composed
of the remainder of the population and in
M yrYHh q
reach to the millions, are allowed to Sc
lect a number of final voters equal to
that chosen by each of the other. two
classes.
The total number of final elecotrs Sc
lected by this process then proceed TO
cast the final vote, at which the repre-
sentatives of the two first named classes
always vote solidly together, thus shut
ting out any possibility of the election of
representative of the working classes.
Buelow to Speak
Prince Won Buelow. the imperial cham
cellor. has made known his intention Of
speaking on this subject during the de-
bate which is to follow the presentation OF
the Interpolation.
The crowd before the parliament build
ing increased rapidly and soon numbered
many thousands. When the doors were
opened those nearest to them attempted
to force their way into the building. The
police resisted and managed to keep the
people back. A dozen men did force an
entrance, but they were quickly hauled
back by the police.
The police were still trying to maintain
order when Prince Won Buelow drove up
His presence was greeted with loud and
ironical cheers, accompanied fy much
hooting and shouts Of 'SIve want manhood
suffrage.v The police IN the meantime
had been strongly reinforced. and fearing
&l,o@ %1,1 ,,,r.;.~
would lead to violent disturbances, they
decided to clear the approaches to the
building. They drove the crowd before
them into the side streets. AS the people
were being hustled away they Kissed con-
tinualIy The police did not draw their
weapons, and no arrests were made. The
manifestants remained in the vicinity of
the building.
Government Not Impressed.
When the debate on the suffrage ques-
ton opened Prince Won Buelow declared
that the conservative party would not
permit the solid foundations of the Prus-
sian elective system to be shaken, and
this statement was subscribed to by Herr
Malkewitz, spokesman of the party.
On the other hand. Herr Porsch.
speaker for the center party. said he was
in favor of manhood suffrage, and that
he regretted the statement made by the
chancellor, especially the rejection of the
proposal that the voting be secret
Herr krause. national liberal, was in
favor of reform in the electoral system,
but not manhood suffrage.
Herr FischbeclS. leader of the radical
liberals, who is the only out-and-out sup
porter of manhood suffrage In a house
where the socialists are not represented.
said he would not rest until manhood suf-
frage in Prussia had been granted to-
gether with secrecy in voting. which. he
said. was the safeguard of the middle
classes.
After these various addresses the chan
cellor again spoke. He said the demon
strations in the streets this morning had
not made the slightest impression on the
government; that the government had not
changed by one hairs breadth its deci-
sion TO carry through what it thought to
be right. At the next elections. the chan
cellor declared. the government would
maintain absolute impartiality.