South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-06
REFORM WAVE
IN GERMANY
GAINS GROUND
People to Demand That Reich
stag Repudiate KaiSer'S
Policies and Institute
Political Reforms.
International News Service

International News Service:
AMSTERDAM, Sept 6.-Senti-
ment in favor Of reforms which will
make for peace" is sweeping
throughout Germany. Despite eff
forts Of the inspired newspapers to
still the demand for readjustments
the liberal element is gaining ground
daily. In consequence it already is
certain that with the reconvening Of
the reichstag the question of reform
and its application TO peace pro-
posals will be forced TO the front.
Demands that the German people,
for their own sake, repudiate the
-Germanistic program and insist
that the reichstag take into it's own
hands direction of the national for
eign policy are coming from many
sources. To all the only argument
that the conservatives and the war
party has been able 10 muster has
been that Pres't Wilson has inter
fered in the internal affairs of Ger
nation must maintain a united front
OF opposition 10 reform. And with
the constantly increasing pinch OF
hunger and cold, with the economic
situation increasingly dangerous, and
a general realization that the war
must go on TO a bitter conclusion.
this argument is growing increasing
" futile.
ErZberger Important Figure.
Matthias Erzberger becomes more
and more the man OF the hour. ac-
cording 20 advices fltering across
the frontier He looms today far
larger than Chancellor Georg Nj
chaelis. And the men who are
most closely following the situation
declare that he will accomplish the
overthrow of Won Bethmann- Hon-
weg's successor before many months
are past.
Erzberger leader as he is Of the
Catholic Center i'm the reichstag
knows that Pope Benedict has
pledged himself to bring about
peace by Christmas if that is hu-
manly possible. And. he knows, as
does the vatican, that there is not
the slightest hope that peace can
come so long as the military chiefs
can dominate Germany's foreign
policy.
Will DenOunce Michaelis.
Erzberger will demand when the
reichstag reconvenes that the re
form program be resumed where u
was abandoned before DIT. Michaelis
was elected chancellor
In this connection advices re
ceived here indicate that Erzberger
will denounce Michaelis for his fail
ure 10 take a positive stand on the
peace program already adopted by
the reichstag It then is expected
that on behalf Of the Catholic and
socialist group a demand will be.
made that the entire reform pro-
gram. including the making Of the
chancellor responsive 70 the reichs-
tag instead Of the emperor. be put
through In this connection Il now
seems likely that a general election
on the subject with arrangements
made that all soldiers everywhere
shall vote will be demanded.
Peace II Reformers Win.
While IL still is too early 10 say
what the outcome will be, the i'm
pending political struggle is being
followed from here with the deepest
interest. If the reformers win an
early end OF the war is well nigh
certain II they lose it viii continue
indefinitely and already il is certain
that the European neutrals viii
suffer almost as much as hlOckadel
Germany and her allies