The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-05
THE GERMANY OF TODAY


In his far-reachin.g vision of a
great and powerful empire, Bis
marck fostered the idea that the in
duatrial classes of Germany should
| be made prosperous and contented .
He held to the axiom that if the gov
eminent demands that every able
boaied man shall work, it is equally
/ the duty of the government to see
that he has work. Insurance has
reached such a condition in Ger
many, that it is said that nearly
every subject of the empire who re-
ceise an income of less than $500
is a beneficiary under the insurance
laws. The people are bound to the
empire, therefore, by ties of benefits
received, and in time Of war they
are willing to rspond to the call OF
the kaiser.
Labor is protected from exploita-
ton by industrial courts, and in
them about 100000 cases are report
ed to have been tried last year
There are over 800 free labor ex-
changes in the empire, and these ex-
| changes not only afford an oppor-
/ tunity for a surplusage of labor in
one district to be sent to another
but even strikes are averted by the
trausference of men of the menaced
reicD, and thus an equilibrium is
established which reduces the
danger and the loss occasioned by
protracted labor troubles. AS has
been said, Germany is the land OF
the school master" Not only schools
for elementary and advanced educa-
ton are maintained, but technical
schools have made Germany a lead
ing Industrial nation of the world.
T.e agriculture. like thcindustry
OF Germany, has been reduced to a
science. In no other way can we ac-
count for the wonderful skill with
which the resources of the empire
have been conserved during the
present war But all this efficiency
had to be developed in times OF
y ace. In no country is the health
ri the people made the subject of
more intelligent concern than in
Germany While men are being kill
ed by thethousand8 in the war, the
soi.cltudc of the government pow
crs has ever been manifested for the
preservation of human life. and for
hep reNcntion If disease in times
vr nearo. Thus Germany now has
the ablo-bodicd population, and the
sturdy elements with which to
prosecute a successful comabt with
outside powers
While it would rot necessarily
,olloN th3j it a rcpublic like ours,
Mnnicipal ownership of public utili-
tios wodld always give out as good
"'sal,s as these rcaDad in Germany,
it is worth while to notice that the
last available reports of the condi-
tons in the empire, state that of 81
cities of over 10000 population. 80
owned their waterworks, 65 their
sas works. 63 their electrical sup
ply. - their street railways and 80
their slaughter houses. Indeed, in
the cities indicated. no cattle can
he killed except at the public
abattoirs. Not only the quality bu,
ther lices to be charged for food. is
regulated.
Gocmany goes further than to
merely supervise the industries, tn,
financial interests, the food supply
and the public service of the people,
but Il also looks after the recrca-
tioa and amusement TO the com
munities. Many cities own and opcr-
80" tor2trCs ana opora houses. fur
nish music and band concerts at
puhlic expense, and sustain hiea
class dramatic productions. ana
there is a chance for the most hum
bic ID enjoy these PRIVILEGES. There
is no wish TO praise Germany for
things She does not accomplish. The
ruling spirit Of the empire is sim
autocratic. The old Prussian land
ovti" class still holds sway. IN
a sy1tcm Of double and treble vot
in6 power given to certain elements.
the rnl2 of the masses is curtaile9.
A tariff schedule is maintained in