New-York tribune., 1917-07-15
Helferich Used
By Kaiser to End
Popular Unrest
Imperial Vice Chancellor
Employed Printing Presses
to Produce Billions

Karl Helferich, German Vice-Chan-
cellor and Secretary of the Interior,
who has apparently been made one OF
the scapegoats in the present popular
protest against the German bureaucra-
cy, was appointed a member OF the
Chancellor's official family (there is no
cabinet in Germany when the Kaiser
needed a resourceful fnancier Of very
liberal tendencies. 1t was desired 70
instil new confidence in the people re-
garding the economic ability OF the
Fatherland 10 hold out as far as the
golden ammunition is concerned, and
to silence the distrust of the masses as
10 the future course of the interior
policy. And Karl Helfferich was the
right man; no better choice could be
made.
His father, a wealthy manufactures
of Neustadt an der Haardt, was per-
haps the foremost leader Of the Pro-
gressives, of Rhenish Bavaria, who
amalgamated with the semi-Socialist
brand of Democrats as represented by
such men as the eminent lawyer, Herr
von FEEDER, of Mannheim. and the mer-
chant prince Adolph Kroeber, of Mu-
mich, when Karl Helfferich was on the
threshold of manhood.
Neustadt an der Haardt, then a city
Of about 10000 population, was hot
bed Of radicalism, and, the keeper of
the republican traditions of the Ham
bacher Fest of 1882 and the revolution
of lSis-Y9 il was permeated with the
spirit OF Frey and Wirth, two noted
German revolutonists.
Praise for First Booklet
When Karl Helfrerich published his
first booklet treated the question OF
gold standard Ludwig -Bamberger, the
splendid progressive Parliamentsrian
and the noted authority on banking and
money matters, wrote an introduction
full Of praise of the youthful author
whom the Radicals hoped 20 see after a
short while in the midst of the political
fray Helfferich did not enter - no
litical arena He became a. re ,sly
early age a professor Of politi. Iaw
and political economy and high 'ial
of the German administration. r'. no
was evidently more salts 4 his
position with the AnAt0li.. road
and as director president Ger
man Bank.
During all these years he r4d never
become unfaithful 20 the progressive
traditions Of his father When the
Kaiser and his encourage heard the dis
nal rumblngs OF discomfort over
the misery brought about by the war.
they offered the resourceful hnancier
Helfferich, who was also known as a
radical the post as Secretary OF the
Imperial Treasury. Helferich accepted,
duced, as by magic, the billions neces-
sary TO carry on the war. Although not
Of noble birth, he was elevated TO the
post of Vice Chancellor, and now he
must 60 buck 70 private life. The real
rulers Of Germany don't expect any
more benefit for themselves by continu-
ing Helferich in office.
He worked pour le Roi de Prusse"
(for the King Of Prussia. and a few
months ago even sacrificed his honest
opinion when he. after the passage OF
the civil population service law, told
members of the Reichstag to their
faces the law would have been forced
on the people. without any regard TO
the constitution. by imperial decree in
case the Reichstag had withheld it's
consent.
The radicalization Of the German
people is rapidly progressing. Men Of