New-York tribune., 1917-12-23

Austrian Socialist, who supports the
medieval autocracy on the banks of the
Danube,
"Der Kampf," of Amsterdam, is the
best informed paper, regarding condi-
tons in Germany, printed outside the
Kaiser's realm, and it dares to publish
the truth. Every edition contained
sensational, matter of-fact disclosures
and bitter attacks on the Hohenzo!-
lerns, the junkers and their criminal
war policy. Roesemeyer's "Freie Eel
tung," OF Berne, although oftener
quoted, is neither so strong an oppo-
nent TO the Berlin government, nor has
il the intimate knowledge Of present
day German affairs, nor does II display
the same updaunted daring as the Am
sterdam "Kampf." And the German
government, whose accredited diplo-
matte representatives in this country
were the brains and the paymasters OF
the plots to blow up ships on the high
seas without any consideration for the
then existing neutrality of the United
States or for the lives Of passengers
and crews. and the instigators OF
many other crimes not less heinous,
certainly would not hesitate to do away
with such "A bitter adversary as Minis
ter. if there were a chance TO silence
the fearless critic; and the less so, as
the Netherlands, in case plot should
finally be uncovered, would not go far
ther than 20 make a formal diplomatic
protest.
Raised in Fighting Atmosphere.
Carl Minister was born about forty
two years ago in Rhenish Bavaria,
only few miles from the famous
Hambacher Sloss (IIambaeh Castle),
where the first great revolutionary
German demonstration, known as
Hambacher Fest (Hamhach Fair,
took place in 1882. Minister'S father
attended the Hanback, Fair, and sew
enteen years later took part in the
revolution, when he was wounded in
| the battle of the Murg. So Carl Min
ster grew up in decidedly radical sur
roundings.
At the age Of twenty he was an ac-
tive Social Democratic propagandist OF
/ the most advanced type, and soon af-
terward refused a position on the staff
of the Social Democratic "Mann-
heimer Volkstmme," because il was a
so-called Revisionist; that means
moderate Social Democratic newspaper.
Within the Social Democratic organi-
zation he fought Franz Ehrhardt and
Adolph Dresbach, the Reichstag depu-
ties from Ludwigshafen and Mann
helm. respectively, and then the most
influential Social Democratic leaders
of the upper valley Of the Rhine.
Although able-bodied, Carl Minister
was declared 20 be physically unht for
military service in 1897. Then II was
the policy of the German government
20 Keen we'll educated Social Demo-
cratic propagandists out OF the army,
because they were regarded 70 be too
clever TO be caught in the traps OF
army discipline, and II was feared they
would expose certain conditions within
the barracks after their term OF SER
vies with the cOlors was over. As soon
as he was freed from military oblga-
tions Minister emigrated TO the United
States. First he lived with his two
brothers in philadelphia, later he came
TO this city, where he was employed
on the stats of German-language pa
ners In 1905 he was admitted to
American citizenship.
Five wears ago he returned, at the
continual. urgent sequests Of his home
sieL wife. TO Germany, where he was
noIitical editor OF the "Bergische Ar
beiterstimme," Of Solingen. The dis
trict OF Solingen is represented in the
Reichstag by Philip Scheidemsnn, the
Ksi.er's present confidential agent.
Thanks 20 Minister'S efforts, Schside-'
mann received vote Of lack Of conf
d.nes by his constituents, on account