Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-13
ENTIRE MINISTRY
MAY QUIT OFFICE
WITH CHANCELLOR
Holland Hears Rumor That
designations Are Imme-
diate Probability.
EMPEROR IS HOLDING
DECISION IN ABEYANCE
Kaiser Expected to Make Conces-
sion That Will Bring End to
Political Revolt.
CONFERS WITH GROWN PRINCE
Predicted He Will Leave to Repre-
sentatives OF People Naming
OF New Cabinet.
EMPEROR is HOLDING
DECISION IN ABEYANCE
CoNFERs WITH GROWN PRINCE

AMSTERDAM, July 12.-Out Of the
political chaos that is shaking the Ger
man empire to it's foundation there
seemed tonight but one way out: the
resignation not only Of Chancellor yon
Bethmann-H ollweg. but of the entire
ministry Late dispatches from Bcr-
lin indicated that this was an immedi-
ate probability. The resignation Of
Bethmann-Hollwegh has been announced
by the Nossische Zeitung. The En-
peror is said to be holding his de-
cision in abcyancc.
The one way out is not. however.
confined to the mere resignation of the
present Cabinet and acceptance by the
Emperor. supplementary step OF
tremendous historic consequences must
be taken TO make the escape from po-
litical revolt complete. Only one man
take 1.-THE Kaiser.
And those who know William H..
and know the gravity OF the crisis.
expect him TO take that step. In
long nocturnal hcart-to-heart talk with
his throne heir in Potsdam Palace,
whittier the crown prince hurried by
special train from the Verdun front
b
the momentous decision was reached.
II is believed.
Close observers here believe that 1t
is the decision of the proud house OF
Hohenzollern TO bow to the will OF the
people. and make the first full con-
cession since wnhelm's grandfather
was crowned German Emperor at Yer
sailles.
4. T. L.
s.. TO SOLVE SI1UATIOy
BY Il master stroke which wwill cost
him great deal of his power. Emperor
William Is expected to solve the situ-
alton. When the Reichs,ag meets to-
morrow or Saturday for It's oft-post-
poned plenary session. the Kaiser will
make 1t known. it 10 predicted. by an
imperial message to the German peo-
pie that he leaves to their representa-
tives the appointment OF "a successor to
Bethmann- -Hollweg and the rest OF the
Cabinet.
Thus-and thus only-can the storm
be silenced 1t is believed here One Of
the chief demands In the reform move
ment is to make the Chancellor and
the ministers responsible to the Reich
stag. The voluntary granting OF this
concession would inevitably appease
the opposition. Confronted with the
task Of creating n ministerial body. the
four main parties would promptly get
together on this work. II is believed.
and the other Issues would be tenn
porarily sidetracked. Political dssen-
sion would cain. down considerably
temporarily at least-and with a coali-
tion government the empire would
once more show a solid front against
the outside world.
Whatever may have been the out
come OF the conference between the
Kaiser and his eldest son. those ia
miliar with the political principles OF
both are certain that they agreed to
heed the handwriting on the wall. The
crown prince partit uIarly is known TO
hold extremely liberal views. due TO a
large extent to his long experience at
the front whore. as he has often en-
phasized in public utterances, "une
learns to know and value the worth of
man, from the highest down to the
humblest."
The decision of the Emperor and
crown prince, it is believed, was sub
mitted later to the Crown Council, at
which the Kaiser presided in person
In explaining the summoning of his
son from the 'front.' the monarch said
the reforms demanded by the Reich
stag affected not only himself but his
successor on the throne as well.
REFORM MUST INCLUDE
Equal FRANCHISE
An official statement to this effect
was issued in Berlin. Later a dispatch
via Basel stated that the Kaiser has
instructed the Chancellor that the re-
form bill to be submitted to the Prus-
sian Diet must include equal franchise.
This in itself is a sweeping concession,
and virtually spells the death knell to
one of the main evils of the Prussian
system. since 1t removes the circular
voting in which wealth. not the ma
jority Of the voters. counts
Dispatches from the turmoil shaken
Teuton capital make it more and more
apparent that one of the main factors.
II not the predominant one, that led
to the whole political upheaval Is
Americas Intervention in the war
THE present ministry" says Berlins
leading editor. Theodor Wolf. In the
Tageblatt. must go. in the first place
because of the bungling way of ham
ding matters which has brought us
into the war with America"
Curiously enough. Bethmann-Hollweg
Is the very man who stood out until
the last against the Inauguration OF
unrestricted U-boat warfare. DR..
Matthias Erzberger. the Centrist leader,
who unloosed the storm. cited as the
motive for his attack on the govern
ment his opposition to that warfare
because 1t had not fulfilled Its mis-
sion; in the period originally specified.
Continued on Second Page.)