Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15
Mnkers Would Retain Shred of
Old Power in Backing Reform
Kaiser:s Message on Franchise Changes Not
Unexpected Methods of Carrying Out
Decree Are Cumbersome.

chancellor can only declare himself
ready to introduce the desired reforms
as speedily as Shemachinery OF the
large part OF that machinery. The
reichstag will have to cooperate with
the bundesrat in order to reach a sat
isfactory conclusion. The bundesrat,
will, therefore, be called together as
soon as possible.
Count Hertling tho Bavarian prime
minister, who is president of the for
eign committee Of the bundesrat, Is
due in Berlin today. He will it is
pairing the bundesrat for the great
task awaiting it. The air Is full of
plans connected with the parliament
arization of the government Chief
form reichsrat or imperial council
which will take the place of the SEN
ate in other countries.
Under the headline. The End Of Old
Prussia" the Deutsches Tagezeitung
mourns for tho old reactionary insti-
cards as only question OF time,
'since there cannot be any doubt that
with the Introduction of ballot reform
the old basis Of authority is forever
undermined"
The paper seeks to show that the old
Prussian system is not such complicated
affair as to render poor service in connec-
ton with the empires system, even If 1t
differed from the latter. 1t says that
Prussia has been more to Germany than
merely the largest territorial state, that
its value Is internal strength. which
means that Prussia has drawn the lines
Of duty toward the state closer and harder
than any other modern state. 1t goes on:
Here we hold the categorical impera-
tive transformed into flesh and blood,
which perhaps is the greatest gift made
by Prussia to Germany. We admit that
old Prussia had need of some changes and
Lrll 10,
that would meet any reasonable expecta-
tons Of the masses.
Conservative Idea.
1.-THE conservation idea, however. was
that the people were not merely masses
and numbers. but organism and organi-
cation. and that ballot laws must be
suited to the conditions of the state, not
to the wishes of individuals. Thus the
conservatives were ready to put old
Prussia on the new and modern basis,
but they declined to see Prussia robbed
of what has made her great.
IF the present measures are often ex-
planned by saying that the people have
displayed such maturity in this war
that they must have suitable election
laws. we insist that 1t does not show
good judgment to base the existence of
shows the ripest> political understand
ing which conducts itself in accordance
with its destiny and not to suit the
masses. Prussia will not make any
Roadway with equal ballot laws. but
will slide back into the immaturity of
democratic ideas"
Traces Reform Movement.
The article goes on to trace the his
tory of the present reform movement
and raps the present government for
not having warded off all attempts at
innovations from the start, but instead
promised various reforms under the
collective name Of new orientation."
1t concludes:
they ask US to make the sacrifice? If
they would insure US the victory, there
would be some excuse, but instead we
are being switched on to the track of
peace or of a compromise that would
destroy Germany's future. These sac
rifces are too much to pay for the
peace formula of Erzberger and Schet-
demann. They are not even conces-
sions to the German people, but they
lead us to the point where our enemies
would like to see US. That is why we
call July II the blacklist day in 'Prus-
sia's history"
The party leaders of the lower house
OF the diet have decided not to call an
hmm eolate session. since the govern
ment VIII hardly be in position to sub
mt the Dill until autumn. especially as
q thorough reform of the upper house
must go hand in hand with ballot re-
FORM Both houses will meet again any
way October 8. by which time the pre-
liminary work for reform will have
been done.