The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-21
Pope IS POWERFUL
FACTOR IN GERMANY
Strength of Catholic Church
in Present Political Strug-
gle Is Recognized.
LEADERS ARE WORRIED
Tide Of Political Freedom
Swells; Conservative Par
ties Turn to Rome.
LEADERS ARE WORRIED
BY FREDERICK WERNER.

Special Cable TO The Tribune,
BEtGIN, July 20--No phenomenon I'm,
presses the observer OF politics in Ger
many as strongly as the admira BILE disc,-
pune and strength Of the Catholic church.
Aside from the Socialists, the party OF
the center Is the only ono In GERMANY
that has any influence to speak Of among
the working classes. but even this marty
does not dare to hope 10 be able "a re-
sist In the long run the Irresistible Mt
traction. which the idea O, free Isbo-
exerts upon the working men. even ~
,hey Were opposed TO Socialism. and for
this reason II desires close co-opera-
tion on as many points as possible with
the Protestant parties.
But cooperation OF this kind Is pos-
sioie only as long as the party OF ths
center is able to pose as a party which
Is absolutely Independent; Of the Catholic
church In all purely political and social
questions.
Party Leaders Worried.
Eor this reason the party leaders are
dsno', dsT,ousy worried over a growing ten
oShcy within the party itself to condemn
al LABOR organizations which dn 1nt
Spenly recognize the sovereignty OF the
tLn nLa'n@oile @ church. which desires 10 possess
poIitinai res, on.iy aui1honty alike in social and
~ ttb.it,eai question. which do not concern
ths interests Of the church directly at ali
-, C many weeks the wing OF the party
ot OK ,ne center which has its headquarters
at at to'ogne stubbornly fought for its
rights OF independence in ali r.oI;,,caI
questions, while the Berlin wing chan
p1oned the right OF the Catholic church
party throughout. - '-'o
tneo came the decision OF the nope
ijo1a ijiorr''ns absolute supremacy in all ques-
sss1hs; satbor and before the dictum OF the holy
Immediately: II anything is pIsjn IN
German politics It is the undeniabie fac,
that the great and powerful party ~ rho
len uen'er mas undergone an almost incred-
Nindhorst, and that II Is now entirely
subject to the will OF Rome.
Turn to Rome.
With 10 Socialists sented in N.
relchstnS the conservative parties who
litical freedom, have seen no waY bnt to
turn to Rome, and the holy father Is to-
Hhy aumlttedly the most powerful man
in irn Germany prisoner though he be with
IN the walls OF the Vatican
While Germany, very much against ths
Wlsnes or It's thrifty and energetic citl-
gems; is being ruled from above with
!S Rand OF Iron. the tendency in all other
european countries is towards greater
and broader political freedom. France Is
preparing n great election reform. from
which results Of the greatest Importance
are expected.
Gambetta once eXpermented with ic,
but his system was only permitted 20
exist Tor TWO years. far too short time
to judge Of It's merits When Boulangur
reached his greatest popularity and tho
man on horseback seemed to threaten
the safety OF the republic, the new sys-
tenn was blamed and quickly abolished,
but now II Is TO be given a fresh chance,
and upon Its success or failure Will de-
pend the trend OF political evolution IN
many countries