The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-12

|
movement there had been definitely
advanced Whatever the outcome Oh
the present crisis it seemed assured
that tho democratization OF Germany
| had been brought little nearer. Inc
road is very long one as yet' pul
| the start has been made.
One interesting collateral TACT cltea
today was the astonishing frankness
of newspaper comment which had
Ibeen permitted by the German censor.
| Against this, however, was the lnueh-
mite suppression of one prominent
voice for reform--Maximilan Hardens,
| Die Zukunft Harden has been sum
moned for duty as military clerk ana
his paper stopped. He has a long
record as a consistent campalgner LOT
democracy Probably the editorial
which was directly responsible Ior ms
suppression was one last Week Vlo-
jlently assailing Bethmann-HollWeg.
Hollwes Not to Retire.
AMSTERDAM, July 12.-The Ber-
lin Tageblatt was quoted in a dis
patch reaching here this Afternoon as
declaring:
Chancellor Hollweg's position has
been strengthened by the emperors
confidence. He will not retire
THE Tageblatt's statement varied
from other reports here OF Hollweg
resignation.
Situation Grows Worse.
ZURICH, July 1.-THE situation IN
Berlin between the government ana
the majority parties Of the reichstag
of the new orientation has become
appreciably worse in the last twenty
four hours, according to word re-
ceived here. The four great parties
in the reichstag which constitute
majority, were said to have been I'M
able so far to unite on peace
agreement.
One report today declared that the
kaiser was about to issue a procla-
nation to the people of Germany
covering the crown councils dect-
sion on the Prussian electoral sltua-
ton and the general reform of the
ministry and the imperial parliame ed
tary machine.
This report reiterated reports cur.
rent for more than two months that
Count Won Bernstorff, former ambas-
sador to Washington would succeed
Zimmerman as foreign minister. The
patches received here today as vio-
lently assailing Chancellor Hollweg
and advocating a dictatorship for
Germany by Field Marshal linden
burg and General Ludendorf.
May be Plot.
by Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
Cores pOndent.l
I,,lv
in her apparent internal strife, may be
playing a big peace game, officials
and diplomats warned today
Following on the heels of official
reports today that the kaiser's cabi-
net had undergone sweeping changes,
the state department cautioned again
against exaggerating the existing
state Of affairs in Germany.
at is important that the meaning
of the present German political situa-
ton should not be exaggerated" Act
ing Secretary of State Polk declared
1--WE should await further facts be-
fore Judging its significance. One
thing is certain, however. The with
drawal of political officers is Of far
less Importance than the withdrawal
of military men, such as. Hindenburg
would be. And there are no signs
that the military men are involved In
the present situation"
Dispatches to the state department
and to embassies here today showed
that Secretaries Zimmerman and He'll
ferich had been dorpped from the cabf'
net and members of the Prussian diet
were to quit soon and that even Chan
cellor Hollweg may have resigned.
There were reports of fiery speeches
in the reichstag against the U boat
warfare methods.
But officials and diplomats here
scent trickery. In both quarters it is
frankly stated that the kaiser may
have created the present turmoil him
self as the ground work for peace
move that would fool his enemies into
believing peace was forced by Internal
troubles.
BIG BUSINESS