The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-10
Scheidemann Says 1t Serves as
Basis for Wilson Peace.
Calls on President To Demon
strate Faith in German People.
BELIEVE THIS is LAST WAR
Democracy Can Win Better in
Germany Without War;"
"Guarantees by the People Alb
sOIutely Right" He Says.
BY JOHN GRANDENs.

Copyrighted by the United Press.)
Berlin. via London. Sept. 10.-Pres-
1dent Wilson can bring immediate
peace if he will prove by acts the faith
In the German people he has express
ed in words. Philip Scheidemann,
leader of the German Socialist major
ity party, declared today in an ex-
elusive interview with the United
Press.
Further bloodshed is now unneces-
sary, If America believes in and does
not under estimate the reichstag's
power and the strength of the German
movement which pushes irresistibly
toward characterization of the entire
public life" Scheidemann asserted. TT
is pushing on, altho, as in America.
war offers the worst chance for fur
ther development of democratic insti-
tutions.
The German advance will be
quicker the sooner the obstacles of
war are removed"
Scheidemann WieIds Influence
Special significance attends Scheide-
mann's views on the American note
and as to Germany's characterization
The German Socialist majority leader
is now at the head of a special com
mittee charged by the kaiser with in
vesugatlng Germany's constitutional
system and recommending reforms. 1t
was Scheidemann who fostered the
plan for a Socialist International
meeting at Stockholm, in an effort to
obtain basis of mutual understand
ing. His interview was granted the
United Press after detailed ANALYSIS
OF President Wilson's reply to Pope
Benedict
The irritative tone of the Ameri-
can note" he said. referring to this
same way by the greater part of the
German press.
But one in public life must We
mindful of the English saying tfrSt
words do not break eggs.
Reichstag Vote Was Basis.
L find the American government
phrases its war aims in such a way
that 1T looks as if the reichstag's peace
formula had served as a base.
AS already known, the reichstag
demands, with its program of peace,
understanding and durable Cancellation
or peoples; declares forcible extension
of territory as well as political. COM
mercial and financial oppression in
compatible with such a peace; re-
pulses all plans for commercial re-
strlct1on and popular enmity after the
war, and declares willingness to pro-
mote the establishment of internation-
al guarantees.
The idea that this peace in order
to be durable ought not only to be
guaranteed by the government, but by
the people, is absolutely right-not-
withstanding the fact that the sugges-
ton is made in a form offending to
the German government
Eager for World Peace.
FROM these guarantees must be
found future mediations which in my
opinion cannot be anchored deep
enough within the people.
practically, the matter looks thus:
For at least one generation after
the war, the people will be unable to
commence another war and peace will
be guaranteed automatically by the
law of exhaustion.
During this time, the cause of de-
mocracy and socialism in all countries
will rapidly progress, making it pos
sible to strengthen and extend the Sc
curities of worlds peace.
II believe this is the last war of
civilized nations"