The Washington herald., 1917-04-05
Ger MANY TAKES
DEMOCRACY STEP
VOTE, 277 To 38|
Reichstag Appoints Commit
tee to Revise Constitu-
ton of Empire.
DEBATE PROTRACTED
Resolution of National Liberal Party
Overwhelmingly Adopted Despite
Chancellor's Hesitancy.
By KARL III. Won wIEGAND.
international New. service1

Berlin, March 30 (via Sayville wireless
April D.-The first step in the direction
of the characterization Of Germany was
taken by the adoption in the Reichstag,
by a vote Of "a to Ss, Of measure pro-
viding for the appointment of a con-
stitutional committee of twenty-eixht
members This committee is to revise the
constitution Of the empire.
The vote was taken after a protracted
debate, the keynote of which was that
Germany must not remain behind the
great states Of the world in the political
progress of democracy and freedom.
Despite Chancellor Won Bethmann-Holl-
weg's attitude OF hesitancy and his dis
position to put or the electoral reforms
in Prussia until after the war, the reso-
luton of the National Liberal party was
overwhelmingly adopted Both wings of
the Social-Democratic party, the Catholic
Centrists, headed by DR.. Erzberger, and
the Progressives. who occupy a political
position Of liberalism between the So
cialists and the National Liberals, unanI-
mously voted for the resolution Only the
conservatives, the so-called 'tunkerS' op-
posed it
Liberals Led by Prfnc-.
SiShlhCdnI Ieature or inc Sill ton Is
that the National Liberals are ed by
Prince Schoenaich-C Carolath In thu. fisht
Tor a parliamentary characterization. The
socialists withdrew a somewhat farther
reaching resolution, yielding in favor of
he Natiohal-Liberal motion.
TIE proposed constitutional committee
IS to receive and examine all resolutions
on constitutional reform and make rec
-mmendations.
The Socialists show a strong disposi-
ION to work with the consent OF the
Reichstag. Small as the step taken is, n
Is welcomed by all Democratic, Socialis-
sic and Liberaltistic organs 1t Is as
serted on all hands that the course Is in
he right direction
The chief Socialist organ, vorwaerta
warns that the committee must not be
allowed to become crypt In which the
hopes of the German people are to be
buried This journal significantly points
TO Russia where the government refused
to believe the handwriting on the vail
and the signs of the times.
Republic Is Goal.
DIR. David, one of the leaders OF tn.
Scheidemann wing of the Socialist party.
in speech expressed the hope that the
chancellor's offer Of peace to Russia
would also be taken as an offer to enter
a general peace. He attacked the Con-
servatives who declared for a contfnu-
alton of the war and against German
characterization. He said. in effect, thai
the Kaiser himself was for a peace more
liberal than that desired by those poIitl-
clans.
Deputy Schiller. National-Liberal, in a
speech. declared that the war had drawn
loser the bond between the Kaiser ana
the people. He demanded. however, that
the spirit of caste and arrogance of POSI-
tion and birth must disappear.
Deputy Ledebour, leader of the small
radical Socialist wing. declared that tbs
Kaiser had given the Gar advice not tU
resist the justified wishes of his people
for reform. He demanded to know why
the Gar had not given the Kaiser the
same advice. He then shouted:
Our goal is a republic and We will
get it