The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
BUELOW UNPOPULAR
Recent Scandals Threaten
ChancellOr'S Downfall.
GERMANY IS IN A FERMENT
Government Blamed for Kafser's
Undesirable Friends and for Indus
trial Policies Objectionable 10 the
Lower CIass-Tax Burden Put ON
the Poor by Recent Measures.

London Feb. 15.-Germany is gradually
working itself into a political fermen,
which threatens grave developments in
the near future
There is no talk Of overturning the dy-
nasty. Of republicanism. or even OF any
important modification of the government
tai system. The fatherland is we'll enough
satisfied with the Kaiser. 1t doesn't al
together like his adyisers-some of them.
at least.
II has been predicted for some time
that Chancellor Prince won Buelow $
downfall is near Recent developments
make things look as If the fulfument OF
these prophecies is not for off.
BueIOw VIII Not Yield.
Buelow is said 70 think so himself. but
TO be so welded 10 his present policies
that he is determined not to change them.
even though the penalty for his obsti-
macy be retirement from public life
The recent scandals concerning high
army officers and government officials
have had something 10 do with under
mining the country's confidence IN the
chancellor The people plainly feel he
should have keep the Kaiser-whom there
seems little disposition 10 blame-better
informed as 10 the character Of the men
the latter was making his close personal
and political friends.
And II the chancellor himself didn't
know what kind of men they were it is
plainly the general impression hc ought
10 have known. Then. too. there is no
doubt most people consider the govern
ment went too far toward ''whitewash-
ing" alleged offenders for whom nobody
thinks any excuses ought to have been
made.
II isn't asserted there is a disposition
TO continue these persons in their present
positions No doubt. it is admitted. they
will be gradually reiegated to obscurity.
People Want Example Made.
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
wrong doing TO light.
Buelow's own record has received a
good many hard knocks in the course of
the gossip which has attended the recent
Investigations. He himself eloped in his
youth with d married woman. Though
he welded her as soon as he could and
has since lived an exemplary life. the
circumstances have naturally never been
quite forgotten.
Intimations that Buelow can't say
much concerning others inf0rmalities be-
have not been the kind 10 do the chan
cellOT any good.
Industrial conditions, however, have
done more tfan all the court scandals
put together to injure the administration
with the public. Berliu's unemployed are
now estimated 70 number 40000. DepTes-
sion is growing steadily worse.
The companies which insure against loss
OF employment are heavily burdened.
Suspension or some OF them is predicted.
Small merchants are suspending in large
numbers. and the city is full OF employ
ment bureaus.
Burden Put on Poor.
Revenues have been curtailed, too. The
people don't like the measures the admin
istration is taking to replenish its Golfers.
II feels that the burden is being made
to fall on the poor, and that the rich
suffer from the pinch practically not at
all
The German laborer. who takes his
drinks with his meals and considers them
a necessity, can't understand why he
should be compelled TO stagger under a
heavy tax on liquors as proposed in the
Reichstag, while the direct taxation of
the wealthy is not increased at all
The commotion over Prussian manhood
suffrage being confined TO but one of the
German states does not perhaps bear
quite SO heavily on the administration
as complaints concerning policies in which
the entire empire is concerned. NeveTthe-
less. it has furnished ground for bitter
criticism of the government.
The Berlin press has openly declared
Buelows attitude reactionary in the ex-
treme, and his methods unnecessarily