Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-10
KAISER OUTLINES
REFORM
GERMAN EMPEROR DECLARES
THAT ALL SHALL HAVE SUE.
FRAGE At CLOSE OF WAR.

Amsterdam, via London, April p
The emperor's Easter message on cleo
toral reform, addressed to Chancellor
| Won Bethmann-Hollweg, is treated by
| the Berlin press as Of the highest i'm
portance. The only paper which ex-
presses dissatisfaction Is the Kreuz
Zeitung, which finds little consolation
in the fact that the execution Of the
reform proposal is postponed until
after the war. as it believes the chan
cellor should not now halt on the path
Of the complete 'democratization OF
Prussia and Germany.
The Lokai Anzeiger thinks that the
message will have useful enect
abroad. mo one can interfere with
our affairs" says this paper, while we
have strong and self conscious mon
arch who finds the right way at the
right time"
The vossiche Zeitung says that the
message must be regarded as state
act by the Prussian crown. which also
binds the emperor's successors.
The vorwaerts comments under an
article headed:
"Prussia's resurrection
1t believes that the emperor's proc.
lamation cannot sink into nothing.
Considering the solemn seriousness
of the time at which 1t is made and In
the inner spirit It breathes."
The Tageblatt says it is essential
that Prussia should have equal voting,
abolishing the present bad plural sys-
TEN. 1t reminds the emperor that
Prussian franchise reform is only one
~ AaN hv
many and that the whole imperial in
stitution needs remodeling.
Emperor William declared that in
view OF the gigantic deeds Of the en-.
tire people there is no more room in
Prussia for reflections by the classes
In connection with this phase Of his
proposal the kaiser said:
Reform OF the Prussian diet and
liberation of our entire inner political
life are especially dear to my heart.
For the reform of the electoral law
of the lower house preparatory work
already has been begun at my request
at the outbreak OF the war.
II charge you NOW to submit to me
sdefinis proposals: iof the ministry OF
state so that upon the return of our
warriors this work. which is fundamen.
tally for the internal formation of
Prussia. be carried out by legislation.
In view OF the gigantic deeds Of
the entire people, there is, in my opin.
ion, no more room in Prussia for cleo.
ton by the classes.
1.-THE bill will have to provide fur.
ther for direct and secret election OF
deputies. The merits of the upper
house and its lasting significance for
the state no king Of Prussia will mis-
judge.
"The upper house will be better able
to do justice to the gigantic demands
of the coming time II 1t unites In its
midst. in more extended and more pro-
portionate manner than hitherto, from
various classes and vocations Of pec
pie, men who are respected by their
fellow citizens"
The message was made public too
late last night for extended comment
and the Germania. the Centrist organ
was completely 'scooped" having gone
to press before the statement was Is.
sued.
The Lokal Anzeiger has nothing but
liberal and radical papers find fault be-
cause the emperor suggests delaying
the reforms until after the war The
conservative and reactionary newspap
ers are anything but pleased with the
fact that the emperor should promise
any reforms at all.
The PanGerman Deutsche Tages
Zeitung says 1t will withhold comment
until the text of the coming ministerial
proposal Is available. The conserva'
tive Kreuse Zeitung says with an al.
of resignation:
"The news was not unexpected. 1t
convinces us that halt on the way ia
the introduction of reichstag cleo
toral system and full characterization
of Prussia and Germany can no longer
be expected from the policy Of the
chancellor"