The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-03
NM -Four Years In Germany"
Ambassador Gerud's Experiences at German Court
Until Entrance of the United States Into
the Great War
Kaiser Won to War Largely BY Vote OF
Censure of Chancellor in Reichstag Which
FoNowed Officers Brutal Assault on Lame
Shoemaker of Zabem
the Great Var

reichstag, which took place on the
4th, 9Th and sth Of Decemher, 1919.
Three South Germans, a member OF
the Centrum, Hauss, a Progr essiye
named Roser. and the Socialist dep
uty from Mulhausen in Alsace, Peiro-
ties. commenced by moving and sec
onding the Interpolation and related
In vehement language the occurrences
at Zabern.
OF the government. Unfortunately
he had that morning received family
news of a most unpleasant character
which added to his nervousness. II
spoke with a low voice and looked
like a downhea<ted and sick man II
was whispered afterward in the lob
bies that he had forgotten the most
important part OF his speech
The unfavorable impression which
he made was increased by Won Faik-
enhayn. appearing for the FIRST time
before the reichstag. If the reich
stag members had been disappoint-
ed by the chancellor, they were
stirred TO the highest pitch OF bitter
uess hv the speech of the war min
lister.
In a sharp. commanding coice he
told them that the military officers
had only done their duty. that they
would not he swerved from their path
by press agents or hysterioal indf-
viduaIS. that Furstner was very
Young officer, who had been severe
lv punished. but that this kind OF
courageous young off1cer was the
kind the country needed and so on
Immediately after his speech the
Progressive party moved that the AZ.
tituSe OF the chancellor did not meet
the approval of the representatives OF
The pespIe, and 1t became evioen'
that for the frst time in the history
or the German empire, vote or cen.
sure directed against the government
would be debated,
GERMAN GOVERNMENT
BROUGHT TO ACCOUNTING
The debate was continued all the
next day. the chancellor making an
other speech and saying what he prop
ably had intended to say the day De
fore. He related what he had acnlev'
ed az Donaueschinsen, that the emper-
or had issued cabinet order directing
that the military authorities should
ha kent within legal bounds. that all
the guilty persons would be punished
that the regiment number ntnsty-ntne
Rad been removed from Zaoern, that
tie absolute law of 1920 had been
abolished for Alsace-Lorrafne and that
no chancellor should for ono moment
tolerate dawegard OF law by any gov
eminent officials. civil or military and
remain In his position.
This second speech OF the Chancel-
lor made a better impression and
somewhat affected the more extreme
morrlhers of the Ystchstag, but IL came
too late to prevent the passage OF the
vote of censur~ by the remarkable
raJoritv of 293 to 50. Only the Con
servatives voted against II.
A few days later. when the Socta
Democrats demanded that the chan
cellor take the consequence or the
vote OF distrust and resign. the atti'
tude of the members OF all the other
parties who had been favorabfy I'm
pressed by the second speech of the
chancellor, showed that they were not
yet prepared to go the length of hold
ing thar vote OF distrust In the reich
stag must necessarily mean the resigr
nation OF the chancellor.
Public excitement gradually calm et
down and complete change OF the
officials of Zabern helped to bring
about normal condition OF affairs.
The viceroy. Count Wedel. and Sec
rotary OF State Zorn Won Guiack re-
signed and were replaced by Won Dali.
WITT and Count Rodern.
THE EVERLASTING
QUESTION CAME UP AGAIN
However. the everlasting question
came UP again a little later durinf
the regular budget debate Of the reich
stag The chancellor made his speech
giving review of the political inter
national situation. He was follow ed
by Herr Scheidemann. leader OF the
Social Democrats. who mercilessly at.
tackled the chancellor and stated tia,
II the chancellor still thought that hi
was the right man at the helm. hs
(Schetden1ann) would show that tbs
contrary was the case.
He then enumerated what he called
the many political failures of thu
chancellor. the failure Of the bill te
amend the Prussian franchise law
and stated that the few bills which
had been passed. such as the bill Civ,
ing Alsace-Iorraine a real constitu.
ton. had been carried only with IN.
help of the Social Democratic party
The speaker then once more re-
hearsed the incidents of the ZAberr
matter. referred to the attitude of thu
emperor, who. he said, had evidently
ben too busy with hunting and fes
tivittes to devote time to such trivia
matters as the Zabern affair. and also
said that II the chancellor had rcfuset
to withdraw. the only possible con.
elusion from the vote of the 29S reich
stag mem bers, who were certainly not
influenced by personal feelings agsins
the chancellor. was that tho ehaneel.
Tor must be sticking to his post ONLY
because OF the mistaken idea OF tbs
emperors authority and because h.
must believe In the fetish OF persona