The Detroit times., 1917-09-07
Fake German Reforms
Will Bear Watching in p
Days Nearing Peace


rulers would net be enough. Z would
have to be endorsed by the German peo-
pie.
OF course. this is an invitation for the
Germans TO make their government "a
constitutional monarchy or republic or
whatever form suits them, just SO ;he
people themselves do the ruling
The United states and the allies DO not
wish to do business with an autocraey
which makes war or peace according 70
it's own sweet will. and drives the plain
people to pay the price in blood and gold.
Spurred on by their desire for an
armistice Of five or ten years 70 prepare
for the next war. there is every indica-
ton the Hohenzorerns VIII soon'stage a
false change in German government
methods. to befool the allies.
Listen to the New York Staatszei.ung
chirping:
The German nation long since discovered
an earnest intention Of setting ~ poAlcal -S
IN order, determination % make iis cat.
officials responsible 20 The relchshg, ara 10
create out Of the latter something more than
Eilded forum FOR discussion
And again.
The German people are now 20 speak
They can have more war or they can have
peace apparently az once.
The only thing asked OF them s. thing which
they have expressed their intention q acHieFlns
mentAry government
Making the cabinet ministers responSi-
bic to the reichstag and speaking Of par
hamentary government will not be
enough.
If the Germans do not desire to part
company with their precious Hohenzol-
lern tribe, they must at least make
these descendants Of Brandenourg rob
Der barons no more than g1lded figure
heads.
M present, to speak Of Germany as
a constitutional or limited monarchy is
huge joke.
Nominally the kaiser is limited by the
Bundesrat and Reichstag.
Actually, he imposes his viii as truly
as did the car of all the Russians in his
palmiest days
The Bundesrat is packed with his
partisans.
The Reichstag is kept from represent
ing the great masses Of the people by
the greatest gerrymander in all history
The sparsely settled agricultural dis
tricts of East and West Prussia have
more representation than the largely
populated industrial cities.
A real government. in which the Unit
ed States and the allies could put some
trust, would be made up as follows:
A kaiser who was a mere fgurehead
A bundesrat or upper house not
packed with appointees Of the junkers
but really representing all the people.
A reichstag Of members elected from
districts equalling each other in popUla-
ton.
A chancellor and cabinet responsible
TO the parliament alone and drawn from
the party or block Of parties Temporal
rily in command just as at times in Eng
land the cabinet is conservative or lib
eral, according to the parliament ma
jority.
Such government would justify con
sidering peace negotiations.
Peace could then really be concluded
with the German people and not with
their masters.
And in the future there would be less
danger of war. because it wqaig have 20
be declared by the people.
Anything short of this would be
sham reform. an alleged parliamentary
government shon Of all power the mo-
ment peace had been concluded
With the army at his back. the kaser
would quickly show who was master
The German government with which
we deal about peace must be so firmly
established that he army viii be IFS
servant.
While fighting TO make tho world safe
for democracy We can't afford 20 be
tricked into making Germany safe for
the kaiser