The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-13
Will Probably Grant Reforms
Demanded by Progressive
Element of Reichstag
CRISIS NOW AT
AN ACUTE STAGE
Universal Suffrage Proposal
May Be Submitted to Prus-
sian Diet-Bernstorf Looms
Large on Ministerial Horizon

Amsterdam. July 12.-Out of the
political chaos that is shaking the
German empire in its foundation
there seemed tonight but one way
out-the resignation not only Oh
Chancellor Won Bethmann Hollweg.
but of the entire ministry. Late dis
patches from Berlin indicated that
this was an immediate probability
The resignation of Bethmann-Ho
veg has been announced by the Noss
sische Zeitung. The emperor Is said
to be holding his decision in ahey-
ance.
The one way out is cot, however.
confined to the mere resignation Of
the present cabinet and acceptanc0
bv the emperor. A supplementary
step OF tremendous historic conse-
quences must be taken to make the
escape from political revolt completes.
only one man can take 1.-THE kaiser.
And those who know William II.
and know the gravity OF the crisis.
expect him to take tina sep. In .
ien9m@ocnrnAl OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
his throne heir In Potsdam Palace.
whittier the crown prince hurried by
special train from the verdun front
in response to his fathers summons
the momentous decision was reached
II is believed.
Believe Hohenzo1lerns Will Yield
Close observers here believe that It
Ia the decision Of the proud House OF
Hoheazoliern to bow to the will OF
the people and make the first full
concession since N-ilAsin.s grand
father was crowned German emperor
at Versailles.
BY a master stroke. which will cost
him a great deal OF his power. EN-
peror William is expected TO solve the
situation When the Reichstag meets
tomorrow or Saturday for its oft-post-
roned p1enary session, the kaiser VIII
make it known. il Is predicted. by an
imperial message to the German peo-
pie that he leaves to their represents
atives the appointment OF a successor
to Bethmann-Hollweg and the rest
of the cabinet.
Thus-and thus only-can the storm
be silenced, it is believed here. Ono
of the chi/ demands in the reform
movement is to make the chancellor
and the ministers responsible to the
reich/ag. The voluntary granting OF
this concession would inevitably APP
pease the opposition. Confronted with
the task of creating a ministerial
body. the four main parties would
promptly get together on this work,
/ il is believed, and the other issues
would be temporarily sidetracked.
! Political dissension would calm down
bly-temporarily at least
and with coalition government the
! empire would once more show a solid
front against the outside world.
Crown Prince Has Liberal Views.
| Whatever may have been the out
come of the conference between the
kaiser and his eldest son those fa-
miliar with the political principles
of both are certain that they agreed
to heed the handwriting on the wall.
| The crown prince particularly 10
known to hold extremely liberal
views, due to a large extent to his
long experience at the front where.
as he has often emphasized In public
utterances, ''one learns to know and
value the worth of man. from the
| highest down to the humblest."
| The decision OF the emperor and
crown prince. 1t is believed. was sub
/ mitted later to the crown council. At
which the kaiser presided In person.
! In explaining the summoning Of hfS
son from the front. the monarch said
i the reforms demanded by the reich-
stag affected not only himself but his
! successor on the throne as we'll.
| An official statement to this erect
was issued in Berlin. Later 4 dis
patch via Basic stated that the kai-
ser has instruAted the chancellor that
the reform bill to be submitted to
the Prussian diet must include equal
franchise. This in itself Is a sweep
| ing concession and virtually spells the
death knell to one of the main evils
of the Prussian system. sinces II re-
moves the circular voting In which
wealth, not the majority Of the voters
counts
American Intervention Cause.
Dispatches from the turmoil-shaken
| Teuton capital make 1t more and
more apparent that one of the main
factors. II not the predominant one.
| that led to the whole political up
!, heaval Is Americas Intervention n
( tho war. The present minfsety.w
says Berlin's leading editor. ThedQe
woof in the 0agebiatt. must -
in the first place because Of the hung
ling way OF handling matters which
has brought us into the war wl1A
America"
/ Curiously enough. Bethmann- Hollis,
veg is the very man who stood ont
until the last against the inaugura-s
! ton of unrestricted U-boat warfaYe.1
| DIR. Matthias Erzberger,~ the Centr1e&
leader who Embossed the storm. e3to4
as . main motive for his attaN& o4
the government his oppoataon -
twprfAreS hecause II haA ~ :