The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-06
MAKE GERMANY
into DEMOCRACY
IN JUST 5 DAYS
"Quietly Crosses Political Ru-
bicOn," Says Erzberger.
Declares Kaiser Gives New
Chancellor Free Hand.
COURTING "OPINION ABROAD"
''MOst MOmentOus Week Since
Founding of Empire!"
But CentriSt Leaders Talk
Smacks of CamOuflage.
COURTING "OPINION ABROAD"

Berlin, Monday, Nov. 5.-'While
the troops of the central allies were
forcing their way across the Taglia-
mento, Germany at home quietly
cross the political Rubicon. and in the
space of five days changed from an
autocracy into democracy, declared
Matthias ErZberger, leader of the Cen
trist party, in an interview today. with
the Associated Press correspondent.
This has been the most mo-
mentous week since the founding of
the empire" said Herr Erzberger in
recital of the incidents leading to
the solution of the recent political
crisis.
Its achievement represent a per-
manent political gain for the Ger
man people, in view of the July and
october happenings the majority
leaders were convinced of the help
lessness of permitting the old system
to prevail. Thru the chief of the civil
cabinet they impaired their convtc-
tions to the crown urging the impera-
tive need of a co-ordinated cohesive
governmental policy in foreign and
domestic issues and harmonious gov
ernmental collaboration with the
\ reichstag during the war at least"
New Political Era Dawns!
Herr Erzberger then told how
| Count Won Hertling reserved his de-
| cision to accept the chancellorship un-
]
| leaders. On the advice of the latter
the emperor's plan for separating the
| chancellorship and the presidency of
the Prussian ministry, he said, had
been dropped. Foreign Minister Won
/ Kuehlmann had also participated in
the conferences Herr Erzberger de-
| clared, urging the need of instituting
a parliamentary procedure because IL
was the only solution of the crisis and
! because of the unfavora BILE impression
10 Ia a1f .a1 n q 10
! rent attempt failed to succeed.
/ DIR. kuehlmann is desirous that the
| outside world should know that new
political era has set in in Germany
that his intercession was not in vain,
as it was decided to take parliament
arians in responsible positions, con-
tinued Herr Erzberger.
I I desire to say" concluded the
Centrist leader, that not only are the
majority leaders and Chancellor Won
! Hertling in complete working har-
mony in foreign and domestic issues
but that the pact has the full sanction
of the emperor, who has given Count
Won Hertling a free hand"
The Clerical party now has the
chancellor, and the progressives in all
probability, will be awarded the post
of vice-chancellor and one other i'm
| portant secretaryship. while the ma
tional liberals will be represented in
the vice e-presidency of the Prussian
cabinet.
Reviews 'Promissory Democracy"
About the only conclusion reached
upon reading of Herr Erzberger's in
terview is that he has left a great deal
unsaid or that he is toying with cam
ouflage'-rather amateurishly. Just
how he arrives at the conclusion that
Germany has made the gigantic leap
of autocracy to democracy in five
4 days" still is quite obscure. His in
terview very closely resembles the
last democratic flyer the kaiser took
in promising political reforms-which
never came to pass.
As to the "unfavorable impression
abroad" which might follow another
failure of parliamentary reform, one
may readily surmise that Herr Erz-
berger realizes he is talking to an
American audience-thru the As
sociated Press. President Wilson has
laid down quite decisively that the
United States will not talk peace
treaties with the kaiser-that the
, guarantees must come from the peo-
) pie. 1t may be that Erzberger has
the plan up his sleeve" whereby Ger
many will suddenly blossom out as a
! democracy, whereby the reichstag
will have power in foreign affairs
further than a mere debating society,
! but if so the performance has only
started. and the bona fide. sleight-o Of
hand trick he and the new chancellor
. are about to develop may be witnesses
openly later.
Erzberger is leader Of the Centrist
| party in Prussia. The new chanceI-
Tor. Won Hertling. a Bavarian, is of the
same party. Undoubtedly it is the
formers aim to set the new chancellor
| right with the reichstaR, and for q
starter he again has revived +-promis-
sorry democracy"