Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-13
TERM OF DR.. M|CHAEL|s
PROMISES TO Be SHORT
: he Is a Compromise Chancellor, an
"Interlude" to New Era
in Germany.
REIcHsTAG HAS wHpHAND
at Last 1t Feels It's Power, and Can
Force Kaiser to Do It's Bidding by
Keeping Firm Hold on Purse
Strings Of Empire.
NY KARL II. Won wIEGAND.

NY KARL II. Won wIEGAND.
llhe last American correspondent to
leave Germany. who has just arrived In
New York from scandinavian coun-
trIes.)
copyright. 1917. by the International
News Scrvicc.)
NEW YORK, August 12.-Thc term
OF DR.. Gcorg Michaelis. new Imperial
chancellor OF Germany. promises to
be short one. He will not last.
AS concession" and compromise"
Chancellor given by the old govern
ment to the liberal elements. he has
all the political qualifications of fail
ure. With many excellent personal
qualities. he has never been anything
but an administrative official. though
very able one. and he IL largely an
omciar to-day. Politically he came
Into his high Office neutral" with
no known pronounced convictions one
way or the other but conservative in
his tendencies
MERELY AN "INTERLUDE"
TO TIL: NEW EZRA COMING
The Socialists. Liberals and demo
Gratis look upon him merely as an
interim" or an "interlude" to the
now era coming in Germany, unless he
accepts their wishes. If he lasts as
long as Bethmann-I Iollweg did--name-
ly. eight years-he may be fortunate.
In forcing the Kaiser to retire Beth
mann-HoilwcG the Reichstag got a
taste Of blood--a taste of power. 1t
is generally supposed that the Reich
stag has no power. 1t is less n ques-
ton OF that than the using of the pow
ers Of it's hands. 1t is the difficulty
to organize an oppositional majority
among the ten or twelve different po-
litical parties in the Rcichstag. The
many parties make 1t easy for the
against the other. When, however.
there is a majority against the gov
eminent, as WAS the case in June, then
the government is compelled to capitu-
late.
The Rcichstag holds the financial
strings OF the osnpire. When the Kali
ser. personally much attached to tho
Chancellor, was reluctant TO let Beth
mann-Hollweg go. the Reichstag, af-
ter the first reading. simply held up
the new budget of $1,000. 00o, 600 marks.
The Kaiser tried to pry II loose by
his decree ordering Bethnann Hollwcg
10 put through the electoral reform
granting Prussia universal male SUI
frage and the equal. direct and secret
ballot
In February or March that would
have suniced. In July IL did not
The Reichstag had no confidence In
Bethmann-H oilweg's personal determi-
nation. He must GO The liberal ele-
ments wanted. besides, some form of
parliamentary government. They knew
Bethmann- HollwcG was opposed.
RElCHSCAG HAS DEATH
GRIP On PURSE STRINGS
The Reichstag had a death grip on
the purse strings OF tho empire. and
refused to loosen up until the Kaiser
lie, Bethmann-H ollweg walk the politi-
cal gang plank.
And the Kaiser surrendered to the
Reichstag.
Michaelis "commoner." but not a
political leader WAS named. He. too.
is opposed TO parliamentaria govern
ment in Germany. In this the rulers
and state governments of the twenty
six states, which mako up the German
Confederation, arc largely with him
but tho rapidly growing democratic
elements consisting OF the Socialists,
liberals and progressives, usually called
radicals here, demand parliamentary
system of government and ministers
responsible TO the Reichstag.
Michaelis proposes 20 try what he
calls .'parliamentisation" as distin-
guished from .'par!iamcntarian." By
'parliamen,isation" he means drawing
upon the political parties TO furnish
material for ministerial posts and Cabi-
net places. who. being selected by the
parties, would indirectly be responsible
TO them.
Only one party, and only one part OF
that. has 80 far accomplished that pro-
gram. Aside from --u ehlmann, who
believe. has that party's support, DR.
Peter SPAIN. aged seventy-one, for
merry presiding judge of the upper
courts In Frankfort. leader OF the con-
sentative wing of the Catholic Centrist
party, has taken the portfolio of Prus-
sian mot Germany Minister Of Justice
All the other parties so far have re-
fused TO go in on AIichaels's program
Herr Legin. head of the German
trade unions. or DR.. David. one OF the
leaders in the majority wing of the
Socialist party. was slated for the
Secretaryship OF the Interior. a new
post to be created. Tho Socialist:
promptly informed him that no mem
her OF their party would be permitted
to accept any portfolio except in 9
PARLIAMENTARY form Of government
responsible to the people through the
Reichstag.
EXPLAINS LONG DELAY
IN ANNOUNCING MINISTRY
1t Is because OF this attitude of the
various political parties that the gov
eminent was so long in announcing
the Prussian ministry.
Michaelis. unable to get the Reich
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