The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18
ARMY RULES GERMANY.
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR is UT.
TERLY WITHOUT AUTHORITY
IN WESTINGHOUSE
OPINION.
Crisis I'm Germany Ccnters Principal
ly on Questions OF Peace and Re.
forms.

Washington, July 13.-The German
political G sis centers principally on
the questions of peace and internal
reforms. according to a review of
State department advices issued to-
night by the committee on public in
formation and there is not the slight
est reason to believe that it will re-
suit in anything remotely approach
ing revolution. or any diminutions Of
Germany's military power.
The review says it is apparent that
Germany's food supply will hold out
till the present crop is harvested, al
though the sufferings of the poor have
been intensified greatly during the
past five months
Military domination has reached
such a stage in Germany, the review
says. that the imperial chancellor 10
utterly without authority over the mill
itary leaders who do as they please
land leave the civil authorities to
come along behind and apologize"
Information reaching the depart
ment Of State" says the committees
review, indicates that the German
political crisis now centers primarily
in the questions of internal reform and
peace. and that the question of
changes in the personnel Of the gov
eminent is subordinate in import
ance. The dispute is over measures
rather than men, and whether or not
the chancellor and several secretaries
of state lose their position it is unlike
ly that the political storm can he
stilled until definite action has been
taken in regard to internal reform
and peace -"
In spite Of the bitterness of the
present contest in Berlin, there is not
the slightest reason to believe that 1t
will result in anything remotely ap-
preaching revolution, or in any dimin.
ution of Germany's military power.
THE most that can be expected to
result from the crisis in the near fu-
ture, is first. abolition of the Prussian
three-class voting system and the es-
Establishment Of equal manhood suf-
,frage: second, demand by the reich
stag that the government should de.
clare its adherence to the so.called
war program of August 4, 1914 which
stated that Germany was ot--dsdxep
to war by the desire of conquest, but
that the German people took up arms
only in defense of freedom ana m
guard their territorial possessions.
Should election to the Prussian
diet be based on equal manhood SUI
frage. control of the diet would pass
from the junker parties. -. But
splendid as this reform would be ). .~,
Germany will not be on the road to
political freedom until the chancellor
has been made responsible to the
reichstag and until the chancellor has
been given control over the military
authorities.
AT present not only has the reich-
stag no authority over the chancellor
who is responsible to the emperor
alone. but the chancellor is utterly
without authority over the military
leaders Unless the present cri-
sis develops far beyond its present
scope, it will not begin to make Ger
many democratic nation.
Passage by the Reichstag Of q
resolution demanding that the gov
eminent declare its adherence To the
war program Of August 4, 1914
would not be SO important a step to-
ward peace as it would appear to be
on its face" 49,.