The Washington times., 1917-10-06

ernAtionAl. 1871. by the Public Ledger Col
affair, and their evident and growing
dislike of militarism. The fact that
the Socialists, at the close OF the
session of the Reichstag, boldly re-
mained in the chamber and refused
to rise or to cheer the name of the
Emperor indicated a new spirit OF re-
sistance to autocracy. and autocracy
saw that II IL was to keep its hold
upon Germany II must lead the nation
Into short and successful war.
This is no new trick OF a ruling
and aristocratic class. From the days
when the patricians OF Rome forced
the people into war whenever the
people showed a disposition to de.
mand their rights autocracies have
always turned to war as the best
antidote against the spirit of democ'
racy.
People of other countries have been
wondering why II is that the Ger
man government Is able SO easily to
impose its will upon the German
people. 1 have set out in another
chapter in detail the political system.
froln which you nave seen that the
Reichstag is nothing but a debating
society. that the Prussians do not
really have universal suffrage, but
by reason OF the vicious circle sys-
tenn OF voting the elective franchise
remains in the hands Of the few, and
that the government o. the country,
through the landrats, regferrngs
presidents and over-presidents, is q
central system from above down.
ward and not by the election of the
rulers Of the people, and, In the
chapter on militarism and zabern, l
e1NI 49,
Of the army is kept In the hands OF
the class OF mobiles.
These are not the only means by
which the system controls the
country. These alone would not suf-
fee. From the time when ha Is four
years old the German is disciplined
and taught that his government Is
the only good and effective form. The
teachers in the schools are all gov
ernment-paid and teach the children
only the principles desired by the
rulers of the German people.
No Saturday Holidays.
There are no Saturday holidays in
the German schools, and their sum-
mer holidays are for only three to
dve weeks. You never see gangs Of
small boys in Germany. Their games
and their walks are superintended
by their teachers, who are always
inculcating in them reverence and awe
for the military heroes OF the past
and present On Saturday night the
German boy is turned over by the
state-paid school teacher to the state
paid pastor, who adds Divine author
ity to the principles OF reverence for
the German system.
There Is q real system of caste in
Germany. For instance, was play
ing tennis one day with a man, and,
while dressing afterward, I asked
him what he was. He answered that
he was q "RRufmann." or merchant.
For the German this answer was
enough 1t placed him In the mer-
chant class. j asked him what sort
Of a Kaufman" he was. He then
told me he was president of q large |
company.
OF course, with us he would have |
answered first that he was president |
Of the electrical company: but, being |
q German. he simply disclosed his |
caste without going into details. 1t |
Is q curious thing on the registers of |
guests in a German summer resort |
TO see Mrs. Manufactory-Propr
Schultze registered with Mrs. I.andrat |
Schwartz and Mrs. Second Lieutenant |
Won Bingi
OF course, there is no doubt as TO |
the relative social positions of Mrs
Schultze and |
Mrs. Second Lieutenant Won BInR.
Mrs. Manufactory-Prop Schultze
may have a steam yacht and a tiara,
an opera box and ten million marks.
She may be an old lady noted for her
works of charity. Her husband may
have made discoveries OF enormous
value to the human race, but she will
always be compelled to take her
place behind Mrs. Second Lieutenant
Von Bing, even II the latter is only
seventeen years old.
Seek Ofneer Husband,
or course, occasionally, officers OF
The army and navy condescend to
marry into the merchant caste, and IL
/ girl has a choice of three equally
attractive young men, one a doctor,
earning $4,000 e year: one a manu-
'acturer, earning the same amount,
md one an army officer with a won"
before his name and $4,000 a year.
here is no hesitation on her part.
;he takes the noble and the army Of
icer.
For years all the highest official
ositions of the government have been
leld by members OF the Prussian
loble class. When Zimmerman, OF a
family in East Prussia,
'ut not OF noble birth. was made for |
ign minister, the most intense sur
rise was exhibited all over Germany
t this innovation.
One OF the most successful ways of
isciplining the people is by the rat"
ystem. Rat" means coJncllor, and
5 a title OF honor given to any one
rho has attained certain measure
Z success or standing in his chosen
usiness or profession. For instance,
business man is made a commerce
at, a lawyer a Justice rat. a doctor
sanitary rat, an architect or builder
building rat. a keeper of the