The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-08
It's Kaiser's War. Not Peoples,
Says TeutOn Paper.
Claims Right of People TIC
Guarantee Treaty of Peace.
AROUSES bunker" PRESS
democratic Rule Would Be
Ruin of Germany" Is Reply.
Demand for Franchise Reform
Urged Upon Reichstag.

Berne, Switzerland, Sept. S.-Declar-
ing that President Wilson in his re-
ply to the pope has demanded moth
ing more than has been demanded
by the people of Germany themselves,
the Vorwaerts, in its September 3 is
sue, replies to the pan-GermaIHic press,
which has been railing at the original
reception given the Wilson note by
the Vorwaerts
The situation at the moment is
this" said the Vorwaerts. IAN en-
envy power before beginning negotia-
tions with US demands of Germany
that which the German people them
selves demand. 1t is natural that
adversaries of German liberties should
try to complicate matters. 1t is also
natural that peaceful men carefully
study the American note and protest
against efforts to twist its meaning.
Wilson Demand Acceptable.
I'm reality the Wilson note con-
tains nothing that is unacceptable to
us. 1t imposes but one condition, that
is an extremely acceptable one. The
people OF Germany are willing to fur
nish the guarantees that President
Wilson asks for. If we are obliged
to fight against four fifths of the uni
verse, it is not the fault of The Ger
man people. AS America cannot con-
quer us and as we have but little
chance to enter Washington, this car
mage is senSeless and absurd. When
it is proposed to end it by reforms
which the German people have de-
manded for years, the proposition de-
serves to be welcomed. The ranting
of the conservative press will change
nothing
The Wilson note. according to the
Frankfurter VolkSStimme (SocialiSt)
leaves in doubt the question of wheth-
er America will support or oppose the
entente annexation plans. Meanwhile
the paper holds that it is incumbent
upon the reichstag to take a stand for
democratic reforms that will force
President Wilson to speak out clearly
and unreServedly on the question of
anneXatiOnS.
Junker Press Indignant.
The original article in the Vor-
waerts commenting favorably upon
the note has thrown the junker press
into paroxysms of indignation. The
Kreuz Zeitung says:
THE efforts of the Socialists to or
ganize German democracy in the
midst of the war tends to weaken the
resistance of the empire. Those max
ing this move are walking hand in
hand with one of Germany's most re-
lentleSs enemies"
The Deutsche Zeitung declared:
Democratic rule would be the ruin
of Germany. It is the only means by
which our enemies can bring about
an, ending of the war happy for them"
1t demands that the authorities con-
Germ themselves with the articles in
the Vorwaerts and that it prevent a
people in arms being delivered up to
the enemy by traitors who are active
in its own ranks.
Urges Pope Continue Effort.
In the September issue, Germania,
after rejecting the suggestion of con-
verting Germany into a democracy,
suggests that the pope continue his
diplomatic work, inasmuch as Presi-
dent Wilson has. not shut the door on
such efforts, but has merely delayed
consideration until the allies have had
time to attempt another military Of
fenSive.