New-York tribune., 1912-01-26
.RE|CHSTAC SOCIALISTS 10
Final Elections Completely Wipe
Out Late Conservative Majority.
PROGRESSIvES IN CONTROL,
National Liberals, Headed by
Ernst Bassermann, in Com
manding Position.

Berlin, Jan. 25.-The political complex
ion of the new Reichstag, as determined
by the result of the last thirtythree bal
lots taken to-day, is shown by the gem
eral party groupings, as follows:
Socialists, 10; Progressive non-Sociai-
ist groups, 95 Qncluding l6 National
Liberals, ~ Radical Peoples party and
I Progressive peasants); Clericals, with
Polish. Alsatian and HanOverian Par
ticularists, 100: Conservatives, allied
parties, 20; independent. lex Minister
OF the Interior, Count Won Posadswsky-
Wehner
The results completely overthrow the
working majority of the Conservative
Centre in the last ReiChstag, which IS
now able TO muster only 19l, counting
every possible vote, and places the con e..
trol in the hands of the National Lib
erals who will he able to form a major
ity by throwing their strength with
either the Right or the Left.
This makes the National Liberal
leader, Ernst Bassermann, a command
ing figure in the next Reichstag. He will
be able to swing certain avowed Ma
tional Liberals, who. under proper in
ducements, would probably be prepared
to cooperate with the government on
most questions.
The hostility of other Progressive
groups to the sO-Called reactionary
bloc" apparently is too great for any
working understanding, except on ques
tions Of national defence and the in
crease of the army and navy.
The Socialists return as the strongest
individual party bringing their total
up to 40 by winning eleven of the
twenty-one rcballots in which they par
ticipated to-day This is more than
double their strength which was - at
the time Of the dissolution, and %
above their previous maximum i'm 1903.
The Reichstag Centre is the next
strongest individual party, with 93 seats,
which is 2 falling off of TO- the result
of Widespread resentment at their
share in the unpopular financial reform
Of 1909 and the prevalent high cost OF
living.
Having accomplished what the utmost
efforts Of Won Buow and the govern
ment were unable to effect in 1907. the
Poles return with nineteen Of twenty
former mandates. They had hoped to
pIay a big role and obtain important
concessions for the Polish policy as an
essential factor to the new government
majority, but the extent Of the Opposi-
tion victory dashed their expectations.
one of the most striking features of
the elections is the fact that the Cleri-
Gals. for the first time since 1881, are 10
longer the strongest party and no longer
hold the deciding vote among the parties.
They have alone ninetythree members,
the same number ~ they had in lS77-'1S.
The Socialists particularly signalized
the day by capturing POtsdam from the
Conservatives, where DR.. Karl Lieb-
knecht, son of more famous father,
was elected. His chief constituent is
the Emperor.
The honors of the closing Reichstag
contests fairly belong to the Left, which
won twenty-five of the twenty dis
tricts in which the party contested. Only
eight Of total Of thirty-three fell 20
members of the Right and Centre Five
old Conservative seats were lost to So
cialists and two to Radicals
In Marienburg. Herr Won Oldenburg,
Conservative, was defeated. He is the
man who about year ago said: THE
Emperor must have power at any time
to say TO lieutenant, Take ten men
and dissolve the Reichstag'"
The bitterness engendered by this ex-
preston. it is said. brought about his
defeat.
The prominent leaders re- e-elected in
clude the Clerical DR. johann Giesberts.
of Essen, and Prince Shoenaich.