Evening star., 1917-05-27

based on popular election, but Il has
little genuine power. Estimates for
taxation are submitted to 1t and II ex-
ercises some control over the finances.
1t is even possible that in these days it
could not be dissolved by the arbitrary
VII! OF the kaiser. as In Bismarck's day
without a revolution resulting. But IL
lative body.
It's status Is somewhere between that
OF debating society and legislative
oody. But the reichstag is all that Ger
many has in the way Of a parliament
or congress. and membership in il is
representative of the different political
tendencies. The members form them
selves into groups. and the jqnker
group Is one of the most potential, It
Will remain SO until the electoral sys-
tenn Is reformed, and its extraordinary
privileges in voting are decreased.
The 5unkers in the reichstag usually
hnd themselves in opposition to the
representatives from the great indus
trial communities. II they could have
had their way. these communities
would not have grown up so rapidly,
but as 1t is. they have acquiesced in
the development, whiIa Insisting that
Germany's real progress is due to her
agriculture.
The great syndicates. as reflected in
the captains of industry. have accepted
this situation and have undertaken to
work In harmony with the junkers in
the evolution of Germany's system Of
monarchical state socialism. Captains
of industry and syndicates, however.
are rarely able to control an Industrial
population.
1t has not been possible to prevent
the growth of the socialistic party,
and the socialistic party is the
black beast of the junkers. The
social democrats do not comprise all
the German socialists. but they are the
most effective working group.
Elections to the reichstag have shown
that there are apparently 1000 900 So
cialists in Germany. for the aggregate
vote sometimes has reached that fig
ure, but in many instances part of
this vote is merely the voice of pro-
test on the part of those who are not
socialists. but who have no other means
of expressing their opinion than by
supporting socialist candidates
The involved electoral system, under
which the big land owners are given
representation so much greater than
their numbers would permit, has been
a means of limiting the power of the
socialists in the reichstag. but 1t has
not operated to influence popular senti-
ment. This has been strong enough to
force the kaiser's government to con-
slider electoral reforms without watt
ing until the end of the war.
The socialists. in the pending situa-
tion in Germany are the out-and-out
opponents of the junkers. They ad-
vocate peace without annexation, and
they are persistent in their demands
for a peace program. The kaiser's gov
ernment. at present, gives them spe-
cial consideration. because 1t is using
them in the plan to influence the Rus
sian socialists to insist on separate
peace. Should this intrigue fail, 1t will
probably be less considerate.
Yet the socialists will continue their
peace propaganda, and are likely to
continue it with greater boldness. The
junkers. on their part, will be just as
aggressive in demanding that Germany
make no peace except on the terms Of
victor. Some of them may believe
that this is possible, yet since, as a
know somethWg Of the world outside
of Germany. the real question is how
far they expeok-it will be necessary to
go in order tof save the face of the
kaiser's government.
A peace which does not infringe or
threaten the privilege of the junkers
may be practicable without a 1aSo1u-~
ton. A peace which does threaten
their. privileges is more likely to cause
a revolution than one which is unsatis-
mactory to the socialists.
The 5unkers are for the Hohenzo1lern
dynasty and the divine right of kings
as long as the dynasty bulwarks thenf
When it ceases to do this they arf
likely to conclude that the divine rigtN
of kings is not, after all, the foun16-
tion of German agriculture and the
bulwark of the landed classes.
against which this well managed love
story is projected. This is, in effect,
rather more than the mere course Of a
hoC IN do xryff
character and with certain vivid per-
sonalities as well The influence of the
war upon the English heart and feeling
Is sant used nne here NV with eaSepsionaily good
fellow who. without any doubt what
ever. stood in need Of just this re.
forming process. This is, in substance,
a portrayal of people. of a group of
plausible and interesting people. who
make use of the line of action here to
demonstrate character. However, 1t is
a pleasing picture of English life under
calculated to stress
every feature of that life a fact which
the writer uses with restraint and good
judgment.
THE PHOENIX. By Constance NJ War
rem. Illustrated by Christine Tucke
Curtiss. Boston: Houghton Miffiin
Company.
The principal figure Of this novel is
that increasingly familiar figure, the
wife. Two-thirds of the
story develops through the medium of
Boston society. This covers the period
of mismatching and unmatching-of
marriage and separation. The rest of
the matter unfolds in France with the
young woman trying to make amends !.
for some of her mistakes in the sober
ing work of an army hospital. Tho
story closes with enough Of a new de-
termination on the part of the girl to
suggest to the author the rebirth Inn
piled in the title. The book is a pleas
antly readable one that moves over the
skill
DnnVn nrnruTn