Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-28
.M|cHAEL|S HEARS FRANK
DISCUSSION OF POLICIES
Liberal Press States 1t Will Not Isc
Satisfied With Half
Measures.
REFORM MOVEMENT GROWING
Chsncelior Explains Newly-Created
Council. Which Brings Promise OF
Cooperation From Leading Par
ties, on Pledge Of More Relief.
tBy Associated Press. /

pctLIN. sunday. august 20 (Vla Lon
don. August 27).-If frank discussion
and unblushing criticism are capable of
bringing on parliamentary reforms It
may be said that Saturdays proceed
ings In the Reichstas main committee
has given increased momentum to the
movement. To this must be added the
volume OF plain spoken editorial COM
mont by the Liberal press. which
j, states frankly that IT will not be salts
" held with half measures or substitute
makeshifts.
Tho discussion OF national politics
was continued by the committee yes
terday
Chancellor Michaelis twice took tho
hoor to explain his newly created coun-
ell. made up OF seven Reichstag Depu-
ties and seven members of the Bun
desrat. over which he Is to preside.
The new council will hold Its f1rst meet
ings Tuesday. to discuss tho govern
ment's reply to the Papal peace note.
Tho Social Democrats. Centrists. Ma
j, tional Liberals and Progressives have
NaSreed to cooperate with the govern
ment on this issue. The various fac
tons however. have informed the
Chancellor they have accepted the
newly-organized body as q provisionary
device. and consider It the harbinEer
Of moro substantial permanent meas
ures which will secure to the Reich
stag constitutional prerosatives and
greater responsibilities.
Among other demands. the coalition
Will urge notification Of paragraph 9
OF the imperial Constitution which pro-
hibits Reichstag Deputies from bccom-
ing members of the Federal council.
Elimination OF this restriction would
facilitate apo intment OF members Of
Parliament TO sccrctaryship, which
carry with them membership In the
Bundcsrat
STRIVE TO Guido EACH OTHER
IN CASDOR OF CRITICISM
Detailed reports OF yesterdays ses-
\ sion. OF the main committee. at which
I ,ha various factions apparently strove
~ Guido each other In tho candor of
their criticism. indicate that the Chan
ceilor was an attentive auditor. and
showed no inclination to oppose some
OF tho more emphatic demands. In
statement experimenting his speech in
the forenoon. he said he would consent TO
consider tho seven Reichstag Deputies
In the new council as representatives
OF THAR political factions. The sea-
sion Afforded the party representatives
ample opportunity to bring up their
grievances. Among them was tho
statement OF Matthias Erzbcrger. leader
OF the Centrists. that his party has no.
received proper recognition in the dis
tribution OF government honors.
The session save tho impression that
advocates Of parliamentary reforms are
I inclined to support the Chancellor in
his opinion that reorganization cannot
be undertaken hastily. II Is plain at
this date. however. that the coalition
which has been augmented immeas-
urably by the adhesion of tho national
Liberals now constitutes an invincibIe
Reichstag majority with which the
Chancellor must reckon. which will
enter tho new session next month with
definitely outlined program.
NO PERMANENT IMPORTANCE
FOR NEWLY CREATED COUNCIL
That tho majority parties are not
inclined TO give tho newly created coun-
ell permanent Importance Is indicated
by press comment Tho following depu-
ties have been elected by their parties
to membership in tho council:
Socialist Democrats. Philip Scheide-
mann and Friedrich Ebert; Centrists,
Matthias Erzberser and Herr Fehren-
bach: Progressive, Friedrich Won Payer;
National Liberal, DR.. Gustav Strese-
mann; Conservative. Count Won West
arp.
While slip OF the tongue by the
Chancellor and bungied report OF
Wednesdays session were directly re-
sponsible TOR the tension OF the past
week the existence of much combus-
tible material OF n political and par
liamentary nature is likely to
call forth other fiare-ups, on &C.
count OF the present mood and temper
OF the Reichstag majority. wednes-
days ruction is symptomatic OF the
majority's growing appetite for in
creased authority and responsibility,
and further conflicts in the attempt to
appease that appetite are hardly avoid
able
II has now become known that Chan
Gcllor Michaelis made his second state
tnent OF Wednesday. definitely fixing
his attitude toward the Reichstag's
peace resolution before the tntroduc.
ton OF the majority's declaration re-
garding the establishment Of full con-
,cordance between 1t and the statement
of the Chancellor on July 10.
notwithstanding the Chancellor's re-
vlsed statement. which made this pro-
test supernuous. the declaration was
read. The mischief was thus done, and
preston that another crisis had come,
For this the mismanagemant Of tho
censorship over reports Of the COM
mittees deliberations must be blamed.
Over this boiling cauldron there pre-
sides 4 new Chancellor. who made his
record as a capable official and orr
ganizer in governmental departments
He LIS admittedly a tyro In tho handling
of practical politics.
- Opposing the Reichstag majority is
the numerically small. but powerful
conservative and pan-German faction
which just now Is standing idly by
while liberalism Is threatening to re-
shape political and parliamentary in
stitutions.
These reactionary forces, for the most
part, represent the nations finance. big
business and landed interests.
II tina Chancellor to-day feels that
the wind temporarily is being tenn
pered to the shorn lamb. It Is due to
his conviction that German eyes ara
riyeted on the various fronts, and the
resistance being offered there by the