South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-12
NO CHAN ES OF DEMOCRACY UNDER
THE PRJSSIANIZED BUNDESRATH AS
1T DOMINATES GERMAN REICHSTAG

n EADING about the German reichstag and that
II body's demands upon the German autocrsey for
political reforms is getting to be considerable OF
pastime latter days. What We in America.
OF know about the reichstag would make just
about the size Of book did Greeley's
What Know About Farming; about interesting
as Ebert Hubbards Essay on silence.
Through rather prejudices sources whether they be
anti German pro-German. we get occasional
the reichstag doing OF may do but the
day somehow we to lose H. The latest Is some
thing the effect that this wonderful body be
the popular body OF what may be called the German
congress. has secured reforms, u
tocracys promise OF them Because OF this foIbU
have hope OF radical changes in Germanys form OF
government and consequently early efforts for peace
But when study Germany's scheme OF
government find that was concocted especially
enable her autocracy to defeat such popular move
ments, and we must draw the conclusion that II tbs
rechstag really anything Important from
autocracy changes OF the highest import world
incubating
The German congress-as We would call IT. is
the bundesrath. corresponding somewhat
L. s. senate and the reIchsag elected by popular
vote. is house.
the head of the -and-ahslf OF German
kings. princes. grand dukes ard dukes and
this royalty chooses the bundesrath king OF the
greatest of these states Prussia. emperor OF
Germany, and ne and the bundesrath hold power
business and foreign affairs final decision as to
action n affairs. the nucleus OF
German autocrscy.
The kaiser, his family immediate friends and the
heads Of the states and their families friends so
big business. They invest in and control tho
Krupp concern, steamship lines railroads. powerful
franchises even in institutions right in our own country
and under German military organization, the banker
manager o big commercial concerns IS part OF
the military organization So that German autocracy
royalty big business combined. with absolute
power to elect itself power legislation power
matters-an the legislative. com
mercial power certain and fixed.
1t is some autocrscy. and besides. picks the min.
listers all by itself These ministers very useful
autocracy. When the popular wolf-pack gets 20
snarng and biting too close 10 the autocratic sleigh
minister be thrown overheard to stay hungry
pack While aUtocracy continues its journey.
There's the reichstag It a tribute. or sop 70
democratic sentiment. 1t is elected by so-caned uni
suffrage" the franchise limitations
the in overans and such shiftings
in population that it present comes about as near
popular and national representation as does our own
method OF making up a senate wherein Rhode Island
is powerful New state, and sometimes mora
Besides the reichstag drive in any
where without consent OF the bundesrath.
In other words. the German people have nothing y
do with picking their president their senate cabi-
net. their courts their commercial financial or war
policies either directly by relegated authority The
only body in their 20 them ia prac'
tcally, limited offering suggestions Their govern.
is Divine Rights" amalgamated with big Bust
ness.
How'd YOU like 10 have that forced upon America
That's what is about.