New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
GERMAN DEMOCRACY IN THE SAD
DIE

| The result Of the German elections,
or of the first balloting is significant
and indeed startling beyond all antici-
patton. A considerable gain for the
SoCial-Democrats was expected. but
nothing like that which was actually
achieved. Some thought that the popu-
lar vote Of that party might rise from
8 3,260,O00 in 1907 TO as much as 4,000,-
600. In fact it rose to 100000, an in
crease Of nearly 3S per cent. But more
impressive still was the result in seats
secured, in spite of the apportiOnment
which practically DISTINGUISHES half Of
that party The fact is that while
every other party or group of parties
failed 10 elect as many as It did in the
first polling I'm 1901 the Social-Demo-
Gratis more than doubled their numbers.
The Conservatives fell from 80 to 80,
the National Liberals from 1S to <, the
Radicals from Q to none at all, and
stant and impregnable Of all, from Jos
TO 102. while the Social-Democrats in
creased from 80 to "a. Indeed. the last
named party has already secured on
this first ballot. eleven more seats than
It had in the Reichstag at tbe time Of
dissolution, so that if it did not get
single seat on second ballOting its po-
sition would still be greatly improved,
with 64 seats against only 80.
But we must expect still further
Democratic gains on the second ballot.
It is to be observed that that party is
qualified. by standing second in the
first polling, to enter great many
more second ballots than any other.
The Conservatives can enter 80. so that
If they should win them ALL which is of
course not to be expected, they would
have a possible maximum of only III
seats. The Centre can enter only AZ,
and If they won them all would have
14j. The National Liberals can enter
ca, with possible maximum Of only 60,
the sad remnant Of a once great party.
The Radicals can contest Sc. which
would be their maximum, AZ they have
none now. But the SOcial-Democrat
are contestants I'm no fewer than 100
second ballots, and If they should win
them all they would have 1856 seats. or
course there will he combinations Of tho
other parties against them SO there
were the last time, yet then they won 50
many second ballots as TO increase their.
numbers from 80 on the first to 53 in
the completed Reichstag IL may CON
fidently be assumed that they will Sc
cure many more seats this year. and It
is by no means unlikely that they will
in the end stand second to only the Cen
ire in numbers In the Rcichstag.
1t is impossible to regard this other
wise than az indicating a tremendous
advance Of democracy In the empire.
For. as we have already said. while for
the sake of convenience this militant
party is commonly called Socialist, II is
not that in the sense In which the term
is used here but is rathcr, democratic.
Doubtless its most conspicuous leaders
are theoretical socialists, opposed 10 pri-
vate ownership of property and the like.
and certain proportion of It's member
ship is Of that faith. But there Is no
doubt that the great majority Of those
who vote it's ticket are not socialists at
all IN our common acceptation of the
word, but are believers In republican
ism or democracy. Their campaign is