The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-07
Feeling That Democratiza-
ton Is Necessary Move
Grows Rapidly.
RADICALS DECLARE
ACTION INEVITABLE
Nation Will Lose All Pres.
tige Unless Old Institu-
tiOns Vanish.

SOpC1u06Cus hHAn W -" A~O@AoOAA'
Americas entry into the war evil
IDENTIFY has had an immediate and
strong effect upon the reform move-
ment In Germany. The conviction
that the instant modernization of the
Prussian constitution and the procla-
nation OF a more democratic basis of
government and diplomacy in the en-
pire, without waiting for the end Of
the war, is necessary as military
and political measure to counteract
the tempest Of the worlds public
opinion" as the Vorwaerts puts it, Is
evidently gaining ground in all except
reactionary circles. ~-1
The demand that Germany follow
the example OF Austria Hungary and
declare itself in favor of a peace with
out annexations is heard from mod
crate liberal as well as from socialist
quarters. This demand no longer rep
resents alone the belief OF many think
ing persons that annexation. except
for slight frontier alterations, would
be against the real interests of Ger
many, but also the realization that
after the United States Joined the
ranks of the enemy the time had
passed when Germany could hope to
dictate terms OF peace or even mod.
crate terms.
No Hope Of Victory.
The Associated Press correspondent
heard this view in even gloomier
terms from various sides in Germany
at the time Of the rupture Of relations
between the United States and Ger
many, namely. that II the United States
decided to take an active part in The
war, Germany could no longer hope to
gain victory but, after holding out
for year and a half or two years,
must inevitably submit to the eco
nomic pressure of the blockade
Significant evidence of this change
in sentiment is given by yesterday s
leader in the VorWaerts on America
The Enemy" The Vorwaerts, which
only a few days ago characterized the
reform movement as a question of
secondary Importance to that Of Sc
curing peace with Russia, and at
tracted wide attention by an article
arguing that even the socialists were
not working against Germany's mon-
archist government, now swings
around and declares that the adapta-
tion OF the antiquated constitutional
forms in Germany to those prevalent
in the rest of the civilized world is
the vital and burning question of the
hour. The newspaper says:
Reform Necessary.
'The German nation is fighting fol
the defense of it's house and hearth
and not for antiquated conditions
whose reform long has been promised
and which must disappear immedi-
ately in order to counteract the tenn
nest Of the worlds public opinion
based on the belief that Germany is &
tyrant and despotic conqueror ant
that its enemies are the harbingers o.
liberty
The vorwaerts speaks of the grea
strength Of America as peace-mak
ing power and points out that withou
its cooperation at the peace confer
ence It would be impossible to secur,
the possibilities for economic develop
ment which Germany will SO sorel!
need after the war. It concludes b.
saying that the most urgent need o
the hour is the organization of tn
national defense under the auspices o
sweeping reforms and the clearest AM
most definite announcement of tn
nations intention to conduct the wa
only to foil the hostile designs of an
nexation and to end the war.