The Washington times., 1917-10-05


working on an estate near Berlin
over which 1 had shooting rights. She
told me that at the commencement OF
the war she and her family were
working in Germany, and that since
the war they all desired to return to
Poland, but that the Germans would
not permit it
This hard working of women in
agricultural pursuits tends to stupefy
and brutaliZe the rural population,
and keeps them in a condition Of sub
lection to the Prusslan Church, the
Prussian system and in readiness for
war. Both Prussian Junkers and the
German manufacturers look with IA
vor upon the employment OF SO many
women in farm work. because the
greater the number of laborers the
smaller their wages throughout the
country.
Too Tired to do Anything, Else.
When I first came to Germany !,
of course, was filled with the ideas
that prevailed in America that the
German workingman had an easy
time. Ny mind was filled with pic
lures OF the German workingmen sit
ting with their families at tables
drinking beer and listening to clas-
steal music. After / had spent some
time in Germany 1 found that the rea-
son that the German workinRmen sit
about at tables was because they
were too tired to do anything else.
l sincerely hope that after the war
the workingmen OF this country will
induce delegates Of their German
brothers to- make a tour OF America.
For when the German workingman
-
, leans are he will return to Germany
and demand shorter hours and higher
wages; then the American will not be
brought into competition with labor
slaves. such as the German working
man OF the period before the war.
As one goes through the streets of
Berlin there are no evidences OF pow
erty to be seen. But more than IS
per cent OF the families in Berlin are
families living In one room.
The Germans are taken care OF and
educated very much in the same way
that the authorities here look after
the inmates of a pOOrhouse or peniten-
tiary.
German seIf.Made Men Few.
Such a thing as a German railway
conductor rising to be president of
the road Is an impossibilIty in Ger
many, and the list OF seIf-made men
is small indeed-by that 1 mean men
who have risen from the ranks of the
workingmen.
The Socialists, representing the ele-
ment opposed to the Conservatives,
elect a few members to the PrussIan
lower house and about one-third of
the members to the Reichstag, but
Nf he l.
the government. No Socialist would
have any chance whatever IL he set
out to enter the government service
with the ambition OF becoming a dis
trict attorney or Judge. Jews have
not much chance in the government
service. A few exceptions have been
made. At one time Dernburg, who
carried on the propaganda in America
during the first year OF the war. and
who is a Jew, was appointed colonial
minister OF the empire.
In my opinion, the liberalization OF
Prussia has been halted by the fact
that there has been no party protest
except that OF the Socialists. The
Socialists, because they have, in ef-
feet, demanded abolition OF the mon
srchy and the establishment OF the
republic as part OF their program,
have been unable to do anything in
the obtaining OF the reforms within
the German state as at present or
ganized.
Was Grent DISantIsfnctIon.
Up to the beginning of the war
there was great dissatisfaction among
the people with the order OF things.
The people were irritated by certain
direct taxes, such as the tax upon
the matches, and because every Prot
estant in Prussia was compelled to
pay a tax for the support OF the
unless he made a declaration
that he was an atheist.
The only class in Germany which
knows something of the outside world
10 the Kaufman class. The ruling
class OF Prussian mobiles are not trav-
elers. They are always busy with the
army and navy, government employ
ments or their estates, and, as a rule,