Evening journal., 1917-04-11
Resurrection OF
PRUSSIA Hailed
Socialists Organ 'VOrwaertS'
Bids Lator 10 Stand
by Kaiser
PRAISES STEP
TOWARDS REFORM

THE HAGUE, via London, April IL.
The Emperor's Easter message on
electoral reform is treated in the Ber-
lin press as of the highest importance
The only paper which expresses DIS
satisfaction is the kreuX Zeitung
which finds little consolation In the
fact that the execution OF the reform
proposal is postponed until after the
war, as it believes the Chancellor
should not now halt on the path OF
the complete characterization OF Irus-
sia and Germany.
Under the heading. "Prussias Re
surrection," the Socialist newspaper
Vorwaerts joyfully halls the message
as a promise entirely distinct from all
previous announcements and a depar-
ture from the old spirit of things. ~
urges that all the political powers or
the people be mobilized in behalf OF
the most energetic possible realiza-
tion of the reform declares that unity
in the labor movement is more neces'
sary than ever, and finally draws the
moral that for the success of the peo-
ple's movement it is absolutely essen
tial that labor steadfastly persist in
the defense of the fatherland, the
more so las the last neutral great
Power has now openly entered the
ranks of our enemies"
THE monarch himself guarantees
the new orientation in Prussia con-
tinues the Vorwaerts "The throne
pledges itself, even in the case OF a
ministerial change, to intrust no one
with the leadership of Prussian State
affairs who has not internal reform at
heart in at least the same measure as
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg.
1--WE are here faced with a break
by the Government with that danger
GUS spirit sometimes falsely called the
old Prussian spirit, which hitherto,
like a leaden weight, has hampeTed
the progressive development OF our
internal conditions"
Equal Suffrage Inference.
After incidentally arguing that equal
suffrage, not a graduated, plural vote,
must logically have been meant by
the message, the VOrwaerts con-
tinues:
1T is therefore more necessary than
ever for the labor movement to stand
unitedly, its members shoulder to
shoulder; and just as necessary is 1t
for the victory of the peoples move
ment that labor hold fast sOlidly in
the countrys defence. The foreign
situation requires this attitude more
than ever. Without being in the least
menaced by us, without the slightest
necessity, the peaceable American
people have declared war upon us
not surprised by an absOlutist govern
ment. but in the cold blOOded vote OF
a parliament that has chosen the slo
gan Of a war of peace And yet they
dare speak of US there as the danger
GUS enemies Of the world war, while
they themselves make war for the
millions in profits of the American
war purveyors."
The Lokal AnZeiger says: "All ma
ture minded politicians will be CRATE
full to the Emperor for his resolute
Intervention in the unsavOry conflict
of recent months. Abroad as at home
this message will have a useful effect
There can be no interference in oul
affairs so long as we have a strong
monarch, sure of himself, who in hi:
own time finds the right way. Today
as before, the Emperor can with as
surance place his trust in every Ger
man. The German people stand behinC
him and his Field Marshal and behinC
no others
Theodor Wolf. in the Tageblatt
says that President Wilson in his mes
sage pointed out that America wa
not hostile to the German people, bu
only to the Prussian autocracy and t
non-responsible government whicl
was the natural enemy of freedom
Wilson's Hint.
"The President drew a line sepaI
ating democracy from the lmperia
Government" says the writer. "an
gave the German people a hint - d
likewise. It is necessary to answe
that the German people must not b
held in bondage and must remain th
masters of their own house. Secret
direct suffrage is now projected, bu
whether equal or some form of plura
voting is contemplated, the messag
does not say. For the parties of tn
Left only equal suffrage can be az
ceptable since any plural syster
which again favored the prOpertied Q
so-called educated classes would caus
new inequalities and provoke fres
strife.
"The refashioning of the form {
government of the German empire
becoming daily more imperative. Th