The Washington times., 1917-04-01
GERMANY Is NEAR
POLITICAL TURNING
People Have Lost Confidence
in Chancellor Won Beth
mann-HolIWeg.
BY JUDsoN c. wELLIvER-

BY JUDSON Z. "ELLltEh-
LONDON, April 1.-Germany is in
dubitably nearing a political crisis.
The people have lost confidence in
Won Bethmann-Hollweg because he
has failed to keep the United States
out OF the war and also because, de-
spite great expenditures for intrigue
and espionage, he was utterly unin-
formed of the real course of events
in Russia leading up to the revolu-
tion.
The German reactionaries think he
should have known the truth and pre-
vented the revolution. while the demo-
cratic elements are disguised because
the central empires now stand as the
last surviving European autocracies
opposing the worlds democracies.
The eyes of all Europe are on the
United States now, awaiting the ses-
sion of Congress. The German tories
expected Hollweg to convince the
United States that Great Britain and
not Germany was the real aggressor.
His failure weakens his hand.
Mutterings against the Kaiser In
Germany are echoed in France and
Great Britain in the demand that the
entente allies notify Russia that they
never will negotiate peace with the
Hohenzollerns, and insist that Ger
many provide itself with popular gov
ernment before discussing peace.
Americas Best Chance.
Much depends upon the temper OF
the American Congress tomorrow. A
high authority declares that Amer
ica's best chane to keep out OF the
war lies in making the strongest
showing in favor OF war now.
The government has introduced a
bill which is almost certain to pass
quickly, which provides for state
domination of practically all indus
tries. The munition acts. already
effective, enumerate many industries
which the minister of munitions may
take over and operate for the govern
ment. The new bill proposes to nive
the minister OF munitions power to
do this with any industry IL 1t Is
deemed necessary, thus making the
whole industry OF the nation a war
works.
The bill provides that in case the
government takes over a given In
dustry and suspends the trade union
regulations governing output and
conditions of workmen and the like
then limitations on profits also will
be imposed.
The million men heretofore refused
for military service who are now to
be re-examined will yield a large pro
potion of recruits. 1t is assumed that
government control of an industry,
supplemented by the national service
system which requires people to go to
work wherever their services are
most needed in the public interest
and the combing out will materially
strengthen the nation.
Liquor Problems Solution.
Conflicting statements regarding
Premier Lloyd-George's recent pro-
nouncement on the liquor question
have caused the giving OF an authori-
tative statement of what occurred
when he addressed deputations of
prohibitionists and laborers.
1t develops that Mr.. Lloyd-George
plainly indicated that the government
would purchase the liquor business as
the first step toward its suppression,
and that suppression would be the
next step II a continuance OF the war
made it necessary to muster the full
est national strength. He declared:
ain every branch of life there are
tragedies directly attributable to the
temptations of liquor. II this Is true,
or all causes II is bound to interfere
with and impair the efficiency of the
nation whether in peace or in war.
The only difference is that in peace
we could perhaps afford to pay the
damage, in war we could not"
1t is suggested that probably large
sections of the country will soon be
dry, and perhaps all ultimately.