The Springdale news., 1917-11-16
By DaviG r. Houston.
Secretary of Agriculture

toeracy against which is arrayed four fifths of the world? How has such an influence persisted in nation which many have regarded as fore most in science, ia sociology, and in
 acts in community living Does it really exist? Many Ameri- cans find difficulty in believing that there is such q force today in Ger many. This is natural. Until recent ly they have for the most part thought almost exclusively in terms of German art, education, science, in cluudng medicine, and industry. For many generations Americans went to school in Germany German univer- sity training was considered almost a prerequisite for academic advance ment. German industry was known to be making giant strides. Germany was assumed to stand for the maxi mum of efficiency in everything. It was the home of science, the final ex- pression of modernism.
 In respect to all these things the worlds impressions contained large amount of error Germany has nev- CT been supreme in science. In dis covery, in creative science, and inven- tion she has Jagged behind England and France and has been inferior to this country. Her peculiar merit has been that she has made system of science, organized it back of in dustry and especially back of those in- dustries which are fundamental to military pursuits and has applied it intelligentiy and consistently. Espe- cially in applied chemistry has her achievement been marked. In indus try her chief performance has been to organize 1t through every possible form of State aid or support. Prussia in particular has been highly organiz- ed at the top. She is really a great public corporation for military and industrial purposes. Sheis feud- al estate Writlarge and, as such, well administered She has been over or ganized and organized on an unsound basis; and there IS truth in the asser- ton that much of her dissatisfaction with pre-war conditions was due to the unwholesomeness of her economic situation. Tn measure she was try ing to lift herself by her bootstraps. She was strong at the top and weak at the bottom Taking it by and large, Prussia Is not and never has been as efficient as the United States or Great Britain. These have been insuffi- ciently organized at the top, but they have been immensely strong in their foundations; and what organization they have had has been in the main for peace and not for war.
 Deceived by Appearances.
 Americans, even those who travel and read much, have not concerned themselves deeply about foreign polit- ical institutions. They have taken note of what lay on the surface and have not always carefully examined it. They have observed that German cities are orderly and clean, that Ger many is confederation, and that sui frage for the Reichstag is universal 1t was not unnatural for them hastily to assume that German institutions were modern, as her science was, and that they were therefore democratic. It is not uncommon for people to be deceived by names and appearances, especially in politics.
 To understand Germany politically we must examine her history and fix our attention on Prussia. There are two Germanies to-day-modern Ger many. Germany of the masses, kindly, orderly, and industrious; political Ger many, governmental Germany, medic val, absolutist, miltarist, aggressive. The latter is passing; the former is the Germany of tomorrow.
 The Start of the Hohenzollerns.
 About the time of the discovery of America. the Hohenzollern family rul- cd over an insignificant tract sur rounding the village of Berlin. Tn 161l, it's power was extended by the union of the Mark of Brandenburg and hte Ouch. ~ Prussia; In 164o Q strong charae ter, Frederick William, came inso power He exercised des- potic rule, out put his house in order and developed relatively strong standing army with which to make