New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-15
The Prussian Electoral 'Retorm
Proposed Change, if Enacted, Would Be Only Announcer
Fraud in Long Series
By Gustav Miller

ment~ of the Prussian electoral system was
announced in a speech from the throne Inc
bill introduced in the Landtag did ho' .o''N
I'M TO the Just demands and EXPECTATIONS
NJ the people; it was only maneuVre W
daceiva the masses. Nevertheless, u was
defeated by the combined efforts OF the 0oh-
servatives, Centrists and National Linei
although the National Liberals an Inc
Centrists had pledged themselves III la'0'
of universal, equal, secret and direct e'e@
tom of the representatives. progressive
motion to adapt the electoral system 10 'he
poicbstap WAS voted down in the Prussiatl
Iandtag By all parties except the Soclai
Democrats, Progressives, Poles and James
on June 27, 1911. Three years later SHORTY
before the present war, the Prussiah Win
ister Of the Interior stated IN the Lahdlas
that the government had kept its promise OF
,o08 nv the introduction Of the ballot re-
form hill in 1910, and that no other attemp'
would be made at amending the elec'i"h
law. This statement justifies the SuSp'e'o"
With which the speech from the throne de-
Ii,,ered nv the King of Prussia IN January
I.s+ wos regarded from the outset. Again
the government promised an electoral ie
form. limiting, but not explicitly sta',ng' a.
2 universal. equal, direct and secret paiio''
Prussan Treachery
The latest newspapers from Germany tell
.be Same old story OF official Prussian treach
orv The government plans REFORM -
uncertain what reform-not only or the
House of Representatives, but also o. .ne
House Of Peers, and an amendment OF the
constitution in other respects.
lin TO now the House of Representatives
eniovs. in all matters pertaining to the bud
get. greater power than the House OF Peers
Rut this mower does not amount to much so
long as the ministers continue being respon-
sible not to the Landtag, but to the KING
who appoints and dismisses and has the
veto. and so long as the Landtag may not
refuse the means necessary to keep the
governmental machine running.
it is intended not only to decrease the
power of the House of Representatives in
favor Of the House Of Peers, but also TO
transform the House Of Peers to certain
degree into a House of Representatives OF
agrarian (Junker) interests. The Kings
right of appointing members Of the House
of Peers shall be continued, but limited re-
any attempt at peaceful development of
the Prussian constitution in the direction of
more liberty would be permanently thwarted
without the consent of the Junkers, who are
the benefciaries of the reactionary system
and were always opposed to any real re-
form. At present two-thirds of the peers
are landed members of the nobility and
reactionary to the core.
By limiting the number of members ap-
pointed by the King the liberalization OF the
House of Peers would be practical impos-
sibilty, and the Junkers would securely con
troll Prussia through the Herrenhaus alone,
no matter how the Abgeordnetenhaus blouse
of Representatives. be composed and the
constitution be amended regarding all other
points
In short, the announced Prussian electoral
reform would be fraud should it eyel be
enacted.