Denver labor bulletin., 1917-12-15

(And there is no non-elected Supreme
court to set them aside) "The Bun
desrath represents the individual
States of Germany, and the Reichstag
the German nation. The SO members
of the Bundesrath are appointed by
the individual states for each session
while the Reichstag, 397 in number,
are. elected by universal suffrage and
ballot for the term of five years.
Both the Bundesrath and the
Reichstag meet in annual session con-
voked by the emperor The emperor
has the right to prorogue and dissolve,
after vote by the Bundesrath, the
Reichstag. Without the consent of
the Reichstag the propagation may not
exceed thirty days; while in case Of
dissolution new elections must take
place within sixty days and a new ses-
sion must open in ninety days. All
laws of the empire must receive the
/ votes of an absolute majority of the
Bundesrath and the Reichstag The
Bundesrath is presided over by the
chancellor of the empire and the presi-
dent of the Reichstag is elected by the
members. No funds can be raised ex-
cept by vote of the Reichstag. Twelve
administrative departments as treas
ury, army, navy, justice, post, bank,
of the chancellor.
"The Constitution provides for en-
tire liberty of conscience and for com
plete social equality among all re-
ligious confessions. Education is gen
eral and compulsory throughout Ger
many"
The Bundesrath is almost an exact
duplicate of our Senate and the Reich
stag is identical to our House of Rep
resentatives. Courts of justice are
also the same both in number and
kind. With the exception of the diff
ference of Kaiser and President our
government and the German govern
ment are very much alike. The single
item which Mr. Bice counts as of lit
tie importance-th the Reichstag is
the master of the treasury-is of i'm
mense Importance. What could the
kaiser or the "junkers" do without
money? In fact it is not as Mr.. Bice
indicates that the Reichstag "can talk
and threaten, but only under the heel
of Prussian agrarian." Not at all, but
the kaiser and the junkers can faunch
and get blue in the face-without the
consent of the Reichstag, the peoples
elected representatives, they could not
get as much as shoes for their horses
About the only serious demand agi-
tated in Germany is reform in the vot-
ing franchise, from which cause we
ourselves are suffering much reproach
and persecution.
Let US not deceive ourselves by
thinking that because Germany has
kaiser the German people are in hell
and that because we have a President
we are in heaven. With the advent of
the war the passing of democracy and
the coming of autocracy is inevita-
BILE. When Mr.. Bice says that
a fighting nation cannot be a
democratic nation"' the fate of
our liberties may be reasonably
predicted. Military efficiency above
all demands concentration of author
ity. Government coordination must
take the place of private profiteering.
The nation which will direct the la
Dor of its people most comparatively
and scientifically in this war will be
the victor. Every hour of labor lost,
every acre of land untitled, every mine
half worked, every railroad independ-
emily scheduled, every ship idle, every
dollar boarded, detracts from an early
and complete victory. Only when the
American machine" can outrank and
outflank the German machine in pro-
duction and transportation will vic
tory be in sight. Much of this will
depend on the power of initiative and
adaptation on the part of the gov
ernments involved. 1t will be strictly
a case of the survival of the fittest.
Ancient or modern constitutional pro-
visions will have little to do with it.
System. organization, efficiency will
carry off the prize.
J. G. SCHWALM.
Sterling, Colo, Dec. 0, 1917.