Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-17
DIR. MICHAELIS IS
NAMED CHANCELLOR
OF GERMAN EMPIRE
Predecessor Quit Several Days
Ago. but Emperor Delayed
Decision - Appointee Is of
Reactionay School

LONDON. July 1.-THE political tur-
MOL which has been convulsing Germa-
NY ever since Russia's first startling sue
cess on the resumption of her offensive
has eliminated for the present in the
resignation OF the imperial chancellor.
DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg. but all indi-
.cations serve to show that his resigna-
tion. far from being the last act in the
drama, is but the beginning of far-Eeach-
ing developments which are bound TO af-
feet the fabric of the German empire
and have momentous consequences on
the progress of the European struggle.
The resignation OF the chancellor came
in the end quite Unexpectedly, for DR..
Won Bethmann-Hollweg, in the prolonged
party discussions and heated debates of
the main committee of the reichstag,
which have been proceeding all through
the week, seemed TO have triumphed
over his opponents. who have been clam
oring for his head. by making. conces-
sions which were tantamount to the
formation of a kind of imperial coalition
ministry.
At the same time, the chancellor. by
the declaration that Germany was de-
'fensively lighting for the freedom of her
territorial possessions, evolved a formu-
la that seemed satisfactory to both those
who clamored for peace by agreement
and those who demanded reputation of
the formula. mo annexations and no in
IDENTITIES"
In all this DR.. Won Bethmann- II ollweg
was strongly backed by the en-
peror. The advent of the crown
prince upon the scene summoned
by his imperial father to shape the
deliberations affecting the future of the
dynasty-seems to have changed en-
tirely the position with regard 10 the
imperial chancellor The crown prince
at once took a leading part in the dis
cussiOns with the party leaders, and
his ancient hostility toward DR.. Won
Bethmann-Hollweg, coupled with his
notorious dislike for political reform.
undoubtedly precipitated the chancel-
lOT'S resignation.
The fact that Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg. chief of staff, and General
Won Ludendorf. first quartermaster
general. have been most prominent
throughout these discussions and that
a section of the press has been clamor-
ing for a joint dictatorship by them
hardly augurs well for the realization
of the Prussian franchise reform.
which the emperor has just decreed. or
for the movement toward a diminution
of GeTmany's war aims. and. therefore.
toward peace. on which the Austrian
emperor has been doing his utmost to
persuade the German emperor to EN-
bark.
The Ravarian ministers have been
among the most active in these Berlin
combinations and the fact that the
Centre Catholic party has rallied to
the peace gospel preached by Matthias
FsrZberger directly on his return from
Vienna, where he saw Emperor Charles.
shows that the Austrian emperor is
backed i'm his determination to secure
peace by at least one. and that the
most powerful Of the states in the Ger
man empire Whether other southern
German states will join in what APP
pears to be a movement toward the re-
lnunciation Of Prussian hegemony.
events in no distant future probably
will show.
Dr. Won Bethman Holiweg's success
sor DR. Georg Michaelis. is a burea-
crat OF the old type. whose appointment
lean scarcely he regarded as promising
much i'm the direction of the parlia-
naturalization of Germany. Entering
the Prussian civil service i'm 1879 at
the age If %. he followed the custom
larry placid career of Prussian officials.
holding various minor posts at differ
ent provincial places until he was APP
ministry in 1909. In February, 1917. he
received the additional appointment OF
Prussian food commissioner. a special
post authorized by the PrEssian. cabi
net.
The only break in this mOnotonous
routine up to 1909 was a period of four
years. which he spent at Toxic as lee
iurer in the German law school there.
. Germany has settled one of the main
points in her present crisis by insti-'
.tutng a new electoral system for Prus-
STA
There remains in the parliamentary
controversy settlement of the reich
stays future place i'm government. To-
day the main committee or the reich
stag held a meeting with most OF the
state secretaries. except Chancellor
HoIIweg present. The meeting was
brief Adjournment was regarded as
demonstrating TO the kaiser that con-
ference is not possible on the situation
until the cabinet is made responsive 10
ne committee.
The new Prussian electoral system.
as announced I'm the kaiser's rescript.
provides for equal. secret and direct
suffrage. According to liberal leaders
the new plan will benefit equally the
millionaire and the beggar, giving them
Hitherto Prussia has been the lead
ing state i'm its influence on the Ger
man empire. Its politics have been re-
dictionary. They are now being democ-
ratified. although naturally Prussias
influence is against such a move, as
proved by the furious opposition to
reform of the conservative press.
IL is generally understood that the
crown is determined 20 carry out its
reforms regardless of opposition.
Although on other questions the de-
mocrstizing of Germany is not Yet
solved. the movement is advancing.
The chancelIor's repeated conferences
with parliament members is proof Of
his earnestness. according 10 officials.
The reform in the Prussian system.
hears upon the entire constitutional
life OF the empire.
The German people are intensely in
arrested in the situation but discussions
OF the matter are mostly confined to
parliament and the ptess.
Yesterdays dispatches gave the text
of the kaisers resCript putting into
effect at once the ACCOMPLISHMENTS