Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-03-18

spirit of the Social Democratic masses,
lmpresses even those who are far
from sharing their aims"
Some Causes of Party's Growth.
The German government>tried force
TO suppress the growth of the Social
democratic party and then prosecu-
ton of its leaders, but without avail
Workmen's insurance followed-minus
the unemployed benefit of Great
Brltain-but this, too, had no effect
The party continued to grow. The
immortality suggested by the adver
Using In the newspapers and by the
terrible fact that one of every ten
births in Germany is Legitimate, the
low wages and crowded housing of the
working classes, the official caste sys-
tenn, even the democracy taught in
the schools, where sons of kaiser and
day laborer sit on the same bench
were causes contributing to it's
growth.
The founder OF the Social Demo
cratic party in Germany was William
Liebknecht who began, at the sugges.
ton Of his wife, the movement. Lieb-
knecht was a poor journalist. When
he had created and organized the
party and was serving in his old age
as editor Of Vorwaerts, after having
been in Jail from time 10 time for
his political opinions boldly ex-
pressed, he was sharply cross
| examined by a committee of the party
as to his household expenses and
censured for keeping a domestic
servant and accepting q salary as
editor instead of living like an ordi.
nary workingman
Not a Job-Getting Party.
The party has succeeded to the
present time i'll maintaining a strict
democratic equality and a rigid disci-
pine among it's members. 1t is aid
cd, of course, in its discipline by the
spirit of organization which is drilled
into the German from childhood. It's
leaders are never beyond party crici-
cism, but it's masses act as unit
under the leaders direction. 1t has
added strength because it has not per
mitted itself 10 be used by politicians
to get jobs. 1t has been cause which
has held the members together rather
than a campaign to get Offices. All
this, added to the considerable and
widespread Industrial discomfort, has
increased the membership Of the
party, bringing 10 it at the elections
many bankers, merchants and profess
sional men of advanced Liberal views
who were disappointed at the ineffect-
iveness of the Liberal parties-which
like most else in Germany live under
government inspiration and dis
| pleased at the ineptitude of their lead
| ers.
Is Substantially a Unit
What is the future Of the Social
Democratic party? Others than the
German kaiser and those Of the estab-
lished order are asking this question
most seriously. In part due to its
| influence, though perhaps more large
/ ly due to the paternalism of the gov
! eminent and other causes, much
! progress has been made in the wide
field of social reform. The party has
remained substantially a unit. Bebels
! towering influence aided in maintain
ing this unity. His successor, with
out Bebers historical Importance
| though possessed of his ability, may
| not be able to prevent the rise Of dis
/ cordant factions and the destruction
Of the party, as SO many other parties
have been destroyed, on the rock OF
/ personal ambition.
Already three distinct schools OF
factions struggle for supremacy. The
| older and more radical faction wish
| to insist on all their reforms in their
! entirety or none; the younger or re
| visionist elements, apparently now
| the stronger, are willing to join with
| the Liberals and others to get half a
| loaf today rather than no bread, ex
: pecting the whole loaf tomorrow; a
third and influential faction seek to
! harmonic the old and the new
schools. preserving unity of action.
Party's Future Provision.
| Discussion of the general strike as
| q political weapon is acute just now
as is criticism by the radicals of theiH
| representatives. III llLS ACACASboSo ~
| voted, according TO the reYislonist
| principles. for direct instead OF indl
| rect taxation for military purposes as
| the lesser of two evils. These discus
| sions are Of less consequence than
consideration of the future of the
party as a whole. There are no signs
| that this future will be less important
in the empire than has been the
partys past Indeed the contrary ap-
pears probable. The Social Demo
cratic party, in country where men
and women are educated to under
stand and do what they are told with
| out asking for any reasons, is superb
| ~ organized It's leaders have cour-
age. common sense, ability, the con
f1dence of the rank and file. 1t is the
one potent political force for democ
racy in Germany today. All that II
hopes it may not soon, if at all, &C
complish. Under its influence, how
ever, or the influence Of the party OF
! parties into which it breathes life
bureaucracy, feudalism and caste, now
| so obnoxious in this mighty nation
will be shorn of much of their OF