Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-17
BY CARL W. ACKERMAN.

LL
Registered according to the copyright
act. Canada. 1917. by The Trib-
me association.
Copyright. 1917. The Tribune Assn.
Socialism q been growing 30 rapid
ly in Germany during the war that II
q national election were heldstoday and
all men permitted to vote the socialist
party would dominate the reichstag.
Officials and army leaders realize this,
and it is one Of the reasons there were
no elections for parliament last fal!,
az tbs German constitution provided.
Socialism and democracy go hand in
hand in Germany. JUS before Ambas-
sador James w. Gerard left Berlin
every one was talking about the reform
which would come after thASaar. De-
string peace above everything else, he
socialists and the people. h want
changes In their system of government,
are supporting the military leaders be-
cause they believe a united Germany
can get the best terms from the Ameri-
canized entente.
To keep up with the growth in So
cialism the government has had to
make a large number OF changes in
first became very scarce the socialists
demanded that the government on
fiscate all food supplies. SO that the
available food might be equally dis
tributed. Philip Scheidemann, the
dominant kocialist figure In German
politics, is credited with having origi-
mated the bread card. When the gov
eminent food department was estab-
lished and President Won Batocki was
called from East Prussia to head 1t
he socialists demanded that they De
recognized. And for the first time IN
the history Of Germany the kaiser APP
pointed a socialist-Dr. Charles Mueller
-as n Of the members of the food
board. Last fall, when the emperor
uation with representatives from all
parts OF Germany be held a long con-
ference with DR.. Mueller at the chan
cellor's palace. Afterward the news
papers announced his majesty had re-
ceived this socialist and discussed earn
estly with him the food situation. 1t
had a good effect upon the socialists
and the people when they read that
their kaiser had really consulted one OF
their number.
Radicals Oppose Credits.
h When the war broke out the socialist
members of the .reichstag as a unit
voted with the other members for the
first war credits. But since then the
party has split, and at present there is
a social democratic party led by
Scheidemann, a socialist labor
W ~ W tfSi1SoAS Slll ht1Sk
Eduard Bernstein. Scheidemann's
group has been the strongest supporter
Of the chancellor and the government
in the reichstag, and because the chan
cellor has made so many concessions to
this group Scheidemann has been con-
sidered a semiofficial spokesman of the
government. The radical wing of the
party, however, is not only opposed to
the principles Of the social democratic
group, but its members believe the So
cialists made a mistake in voting for
the first war credits. During the last
two sessions of the reichstag, when war
credits were voted, this minority party
voted against the proposed funds for
the continuation OF the war.
It is difficult to tell in wal times
which n Of these groups represents
the most people. In the few elections
which have been held to fill vacancies
in the %reichstag caused by the death
OF members the two groups nave Jared
about equally. Scheidemann, because
of his popularity among the people,
and because he is practically the only
socialist who is permitted by the gov
eminent to travel about and lecture, is
considered the most influential social
list in Germany. Bernstein nj his fol-
lowers, who are secretary anti:Hohen-
zollern and anti-army, are prevented
from holding public meetings, and the
government has refused to recognize
their group as a special political party
When the chancellor calls the party
leaders to his palace for a conference
he never invites the r~adicalists. Blu,
from the standpoint of democracy ir
Germany this small socialist labor
group has the most advanced ideas
Bernstein was OF the first Germans
to approve the ideas OF the American
League to Enforce Peace, and he has
been an exponent OF American ideas in
Germany. He fe an old man, and there
fore not as daring as Scheidemann o,
Liebknecht, but having spent some.
thing like IL years in England and
a heart q thorough democrat n a MAJ
who believes in a republican Germany
scheidemann Forcefui Leader.
Personally Scheidemann impresses
one as being sincere and earnest. He
Is as we'll educated as any public mar
in Germany today. He is one OF the
most forceful orators there, and i'm
presses every n he meets with his
masterful executive ability. He is prac-
tically the dictator Of the policies and
ideas Of the "Vorwaerts." Many of the
leading editorials in his newspaper are
written by him. He has his office or
the fourth floor of a factory building
together with other of his socialist col
leagues, and because of his advice and
help are sought by Sc man people he
is n OF the most difficult people in
Germany to see.
The chief socialist centers in Ger
many are Berlin, Munich. Essen, Leip-
sic and Stuttgart. The Berlin social
lists are not as radical as those in Ba-
varta and in h Rhine Industrial Sec
ton. For instance. last fall when food
became so very scarce that many peo-
pie began Ito fear there would not be