South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-05
SOCIALIST LEADER
DEFENDS GERMANY
Predicts Demonstration of
German Empire-Mlst Re-
tain AISaCe-LOrraine.

BERLIN. Sept. -"Alsace-Lor-
raine is German and will forever
remain a part of the German en-
pire," said Phillip Scheidemann, the
leader of the majority faction of the
German socialists, in an interview
granted to a representative of the
Danish paper Socialdemokraten
AS far as this question is con-
cerned. the German nation is UNI
animous Even the minority fac
ton of our party does not want TO
see these thoroughly German pro-
vinces returned to France.
The Russian socialists have pro-
posed that the decision of the flu
ture of the provinces be left TO the
population. We would not object 90
a plebiscite. because we are sure the
vote would he overwhelmingly in
favor of Germany, but the French
do not want such a solution. They
do not care about the sentiments of
the population as they simply want
the land and its rich resources"
In regard 10 the charge of the en-
tente press that Germany is pur-
suing imperialistic aims and started
the war for conquest, the socialist
leader said:
We lived at peace with the Whole
world A years. while our present
enemies carried on innumerable
wars All of these wars were ag-
gressive and had a decidedly imperi-
alistic character. Ii is true that we
also have imperialists and annexa-
tionists. but these elements are far
less powerful in Germany than in
England and France The German
nation wants no conquests. and is
only defending itself against the i'm
perialistic aims of the allies. which
have been proclaimed again and
again by the responsible ministers
of England and France and I'm the
parliaments of all entente coun-
tries.
Great German Influence.
The German nation has great
or influence upon its government
than the people of the so-called
democracies." Scheidemann contin-
ued Proof for this fact is fur
nished by the conditions i'm the diff
ferent parliaments. The British
government tolerates no opposition
I in the house of commons. and i'm
France any representative who dares
20 criticize the conduct of the wan
4 and the policies of the government
is promptly branded as a traitor To
his country while in the German
reichstag we do not have TO wear
I muzzles We can state our views
/ freely and our criticism is always
| needed
The characterization of Germany
/ is progressing swiftly and will soon
/ be an accomplished fact" Scheide-
mann concluded. lin England.
France and America am government
7 al power is i'm the hands of "a small
group of imperjanStic capitalists.
who rule the middle classes and the
. workusmen. The MASSES have little
! 10 say. althouEh they can vote al the
/ elections All policies are decided
/ by the great industrial and financial
interests. which control the politi-
CLANS. The German democracy is at
least strong enough 20 keep the i'm
# 'titllNtlN anu Ndilt"il~tl' war poll-
ticians in check. So that they cannot
get control of the government. Last
+ ing peaceful relations between the
nations viii only be possible when
/ the entente countries become really
I democratic Their boosted present
/ democracy is nothing but a phrase
I and a sham. because the people do
/ not rule In England. France and
Italy. and even less i'm the Uni,ed
States. the greatest oligarchy Of all
/ times"