The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-06-04
DISCIPLINE FOUNDATION
OF GERMAN SOLIDARITY
Continued from paxe l.

trade unions, and held for two hours
each night. There are over SO of
these schools in Berlin. A college
is located in the central labor temple.
Twelve professors are engaged, and
the attendance Is limited to seventy.
These are sent by trade unions
throughout the empire, and their ex-
penses are paid by the unions: Three
courses are taught each year. They
are of six weeks duration each, and
the school continues in session six
hours each day. '~~
Trade union leaders are tutored in
political economy, social science, COM
mercial law, the science Of govern
ment and kindred subjects The Ber-
lin university does not permit It's
professors to teach in the labor col
lege. At one time DR.. Arons, SOM
1n-laW of Bleichruder, a German
statesman, and a prominent member
OF the faculty of the Berlin iiniver=
sity, was engaged. He had not been
teaching these workingmen. very long
before he became attached to then:
environment, and ultimately gave ut
terance to some Socialistic theories.
When this was learned at the univer-
sity he was promptly dismissed.
Since then no teachers have been
supplied by Germany's famous uni
versity.
To show the interest German work.
ingmen take in science let me. relate
this incident which was told to me
/ by Mr.. Baumeister: Dr. Archibald,
the famous astronomer, had been
struggling for some time to- save his
institute from failure He appealed
to the German government, but his
appeals were unheeded J He then
asked the public through the daily
newspapers to, come to his rescue,
but no attention was paid to him.
Finally the trade unions took the
matter up and 100000 marks were
subscribed, the unions taking tickets
OF admission in payment. for their
subscriptions. This institute Is the
Greenwich of Germany. 1t was the
contributions from the unions which
saved the institution, and now it is
self sustaining.
started this letter by asserting
that thorough discipline was the key
note in Germany. The police refused
the big parks for a Sunday gather
ing. The men wanted to meet, but
1t they did it meant a clash with
the police. Word was sent out to
all the local branches with this slo-
gan: ''Who is to refuse us the right
to walk in the parks on Sunday af-
ternoon." The men understood, and
on the next Sunday without any
other publicity there was gather
ing Of 100000 men. Speeches were
made and the meeting adjourned long
before the police had an opportunity
Of getting there.
On another occasion application
was made to the chief Of police for
the use Of Treptow park for a mass
meeting. This official promptly re-
fused. and ordered, 10000 of his -po-
lice to- be on hand to prevent any
gathering. The working1nerl's Of
'f1cials were not to be-; discouraged, SO
they issued an order for all the
members to meet at their respect
i've halls at 10 A. M, Sunday morn
ing. There are $4,000 of these local
halls in Berlin. Guides quietly
passed among the men and in low
terms informed each of them 10
walk to Thiergarten park at exactly
o'clock. Every man was requested
to be prompt At the hour fixed
there were assembled 100000 people
IN Thiergarten, and a very successful
meeting was held. Thiergarten is six
| miles from Treptow park. Word
was sent to the police that the meet
ing was being conducted, but when
the 10000 police arrived at Thier-
garten the speeches had been con-
cluded, and the workingmen' were
on their way to. their homes.
The German empire consists of 20
prlnclpallt1es, or states, or small
Kingdoms. Each of these has law
making body similar to our state
legislature, and known as the house
OF deputies The largest of the states
is the kingdom of Prussia. While
there is universal suffrage in the
election of members of the reichstag,
there is only property suffrage in
the choosing of members Of the
house of deputies: The ballotine is
done publicly. Each person votes ac-
cording to the amount of income tax
he pays. AS a result the big prop
erty interests control the house Of
deputies. So
IT, a laborer who has the right to
vote should cast his ballot against
an employer he is frequently black
listed To retaliate the workingmen
boycotted merchants who did not
vote with the laborers. In Berlin
alone 100 bankruptcies followed this
politico-industrial war. Finally the
merchants Joined with the working
men, and now a demand is being
made for a secret ballot.
There are 100000 soldiers in the
empire. 1t is the foremost military
nation In the world. In Berlin 40, 900
soldiers are constantly stationed.
They patronize all the public halls
and beer gardens. The military Of
ficers sent word to the owners of
public, halls that if they permitted
Socialist meetings to be held there
the soldiers would not patronize their
halls on other occasions when dances
were being held. The Socialists re.
taliated by not natronizing the RES
taurants and beer gardens run in