Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-11-01
COUNT Won HERTLING
New German Chancel-
lor Long Leader Cath
olic Center in Reich
stag

Copenhagen, Oct. 31.-Count Won Hert-
ling who has been appointed to succeed
DR.. Mchaelis as German imperial chan
cellor, was for long years the leader of
the Catholic Center in the Reichstag. He
was one of the few forcible and first
grade personalities among the non-Social-
ist representatives.
Even after his retirement from the
! Reichstag to become premier of Bava-
ria the count remained one of the guild
ing influences in the Catholic party and
as head of the government OF the second
largest federal state he has played an i'm
portant role in imperial affairs during the
war. lie supported Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg against the Conservative
! campaign for q long time and when he
withdrew his support Won Bethmann-
Hollweg fell.
Anathema to Pan-Germans
The new chancellor's name has been an
anathema to the Pan-Gernans OF the
Count Won Reventlow stripe, owing to the
/ belief that he is not their man as far as
the anneXa ton program is concerned.
Won Hertling and Foreign Minister Kuehl-
mann have been coupled in the Pan-Ger-
man abuse, but Won Hertling's conserva-
tive orthodoxy concerning parliamentary
. reform may be sufficient to overcome this
prejudice 1t is possible Won Hertlng
has asked for time to consult Reichstag
leaders before accepting the tender of the
chancel orshp. In this event much will
depend on his attitude on Prussian fran
chise reform. concerning which he has
: ell lnG hot II &c
PrussiAs own affair.
Only Imperial Chancellor
The Berlin newspapers agree in stating
that Count Won Hertling was rendered
only he post of imperial chancellor and
not that of Prussian premier. Accord
ing TO well-defined report it is purposed
TO retain DR.. Michaelis in the latter post
to SUPERVISE the fate of the Prussian
franchise reform measures and to di-
minish, so far as possible the loss Of
prestige caused him by his short tenure Of
office in the chancellorship.
The Socialist newspaper Vorwaerts says
+ understands that the Prussian fran
chise measures have now been drafted
and viii be ready for submission to the
Diet as soon as they receive the royaf
signature.
A survey Of the German press shows
Count Won Hertings candidacy is re-
carded on all sides, except by his own
centre party, as decidedly Qucstiona-
bic, il not as a subject for grave con-
ceIn The tone Of the radical and So
ciahst press indicates the probabil-
ity that the appointment, if accepted,
! would not end the latent crisis but
would occasion it's revival at an early
date.
The organs of these two parties, de-
spite the ecod impression made by the
counts procedure in consulting with
the Reichstag leaders before making
his decision, frankly oppose his eleva-
tion to the chancellorship.
The conservatives themselves take
a most reserved attitude towards the
candidacy of a man whose views on
their anneXationist foreign policy are
more than suspected, who is considered
l'hy them the rcprehensible agent and
rs preventative in Germany of the far
more rcprChensible Count Czernin, the
Austro Hungarian foreign minister,
and who would he totally una ccepta bic
10 Them as Irussian premier entrust-
ed with the duty of reforming Prus
sian legislative institutions, should it
ultimately he determined to appoint
him to the double office.
Perhaps for interval Only
The possibility is to be considered
that Count Won Hertling is intended
only as a chancellor for an uncertain
interval and that hidden powers be-
hind the scenes have desired to use
him and Or. Michaelis to keep the
place warm for the candidate whom
Prof. Rudolf Nalentini, chief of the
E[mpcror's civil cabinet had intimated
The Emperor was keeping in reserve
/ for the peace negotiations.
The Lokal Anzei9er prints the repor.
that Arnold Wahnschaffe, former un-
der secretary and chief of the Imperial
chancellory under von Bethmann-H Holl-
veg is scheduled to return to a SINH
lar confidential president if Count Won
| Hertling takes the chancellorship. The
newspaper expresses the fear that this
means the return of Dr. Won Beth
, mann -HOllWe2'S system.