Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-12
KAISER'S SUBJECTS
DEMAND REFORM
Government of AISace and Lor-
raine to Be Changed in
Constitution
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE COMING
Socialists, Center Party and Old
German Party Disagree on
Proposed Switch

BERLIN, Dec 1.-THE fervent de-
sire of the inhabitants of Alsace and
Lorraine to be placed on political
equality with the other states com
posing the German empire WILL to
certain exent, shortly be realized.
The bill embodying proposals for the
reform of the constitution of the
Rechsland has already received the
placet of the emperor and of the
Prussian ministry of state, and is now
being considered by the federal coun-
ell of the empire. After it passes the
federal council it will be laid before
the Reichstag, and it is hoped that
the new order of things will come in
to effect on July /, 1911.
Since the year 1877 the laws for AL
SAGE and Lorraine have been issued
by the emperor with the concurrence
of the federal council of the empire
and the acquiescense of the Landes-
Ausschuss. though the acquiessence
of the latter local body could always
be replaced by the assent of the
Reichstag.
The imperial government has made
great concessions to the Inhabitants
of Alsace and Lorraine, if it has not
gone so far as many of them wish.
The population is very democratic,
and it is, moreover prepared to re-
sist with its most strenuous efforts
any attempt to "Prussify" it. The
Center party in Alsace-Lorraine has
demanded that the new state shall be
granted full autonomy, while the So
cialist party demands republican
form of government; the old German
party, on the other hand, which is
anxious that Germanizing influences
shall predominate fears that too
much independence is being placed in
the hands of people who cannot yet
be quite trusted There seems to be
general satisfaction over the pros
pect of obtaining a second chamber
to which the deputies will be elected
on the basis of universal suffrage with
equal, direct and secret voting for
which the Radicals and Socialists in
Prussia itself have so long struggled
in Vain), but opinions are divided on
the subject of the first chamber.
VIEWS ARE OPPOSING
The Center, Democratic and Socialist
parties consider that the introduction
of a first chamber is in itself as retro
gressive step, and fear that reaction
will be served by the manner of its
composition The opposing parties. on
the other hand, desire a first chamber
that will act not only as a check TO
the progress of Socialism, but also as a
safeguard against the encouragement
1t is understood that the proposals
for the constitution of the first cham
ber are on the following lines In the
first place, it will include several mem
bers whose official position naturally
entities them to belong to it; that is
to say, the Roman Catholic bishops OF
Strassburg and Metz, the president of
the supreme court Of justice at Kol-
mar, the president of the high consist
ory of the churches of the Augsburg
confession, and the president of the
synod of the Reformed churches. Fur
thermore, as elected members, one or
binary professor of the university or
Strassburg, one member each from the
town councils of Strassburg, Metz Kol-
mar and Mulhausen, one representative
of the three Jewish consistories for
Lower Alsace, Upper Alsace and Lor-
raine, a representative of each of the
chambers of commerce of Strassburg
and Metz and one representative Tor
the two chambers of commerce of Kol-
mar and Mulhausen, three representa-
tiyes of the agricultural council. one
representative of the chamber of trades
and handicrafts for 'Alsace-Lorraine,
and, should legal bodies representing
the workmen be established, one to
three representatives of these corpora
tions. In addition to these eX-officio
and elected members there are to be
others nominated by the emperor at
the suggestion of the federal council;
the members thus nominated may.
however, never exceed in number the
half of al the members of the first
chamber.