Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-05
Leaders of the Working
Glasses Planning Big Re-
organization of the Ger
man Government at End
of the War.
DESIRE FOR PEACE
HELPS THEIR CAUSE

They Believe a United
: Germany Can Get Best
Terms from the Entente.
BY CARL w. AckERMAN.
Copyright, 1917, Tho Tribune Asso-
oiation.)
Socialism has been grow
ing so rapidly in Germany
during the war that if a ma
tional election were held to-
day and all men permitted to
vote the Socialist party
would dominate the reichs-
tag. Officials and army
leaders realize this, and it
is one of the reasons there
were no elections for parlia-
ment last fall, as the German
constitution provided. So
cialism and democracy go
hand in hand in Germany.
Just before Ambassador James w.
Gerard left. Berlin every one was
talking about the reform which would
come after the war. Desiring peace
above everything else, the Socialists
and the people, who want changes in
their system Of government, are sup
porting the military leaders because
they believe a united Germany can get
the best terms from the Americanized
entente.
: To keep up with the growth in So
cialism the government has had to
make a large number of changes in
policies during the war. When food
first became very scarce the Social
lists demanded that the government
confiscate all food supplies, 80 that
the available food might be equally
distributed. Philip Scheidemann, the
dominant Socialist figure in German
politics, is credited with having origi-
mated the bread card. When the gov
eminent food department was estab-
lished and President Won Batoch was
called from East Prussia to head 1t
the Socialists demanded that they be
recognized. And for the first time in
the history of Germany the kaiser
appointed Socialist-Dr. Charles
Mueller-as one of the members of
the food board. Last fall, when the
emperor came to Berlin to discuss the
food situation with representatives
from all parts of Germany he held a
long conference with DIR. Mueller at
the chancellor's palace. Afterward the
newspapers announced his majesty had
received this Socialist and discussed
earnestly with him the food situation.
1t had a good effect upon the Social
lists and the people when they read
that their kaiser had really consulted
Dne Of their number.
RADICALS OPPOSE CREDITS.
When the war broke out the Social
list members of the reichstag as a unit
voted with the other members for the
first war credits. But since then the
party has split, and at present there
is a Social Democratic party led by
Scheidemann, and a Socialist Labor
party led by Wolfgang Heine and Ed
uard Bernstein. Scheidemann's group
has been the strongest supporter OF
the chancellor and the government In
the reichstag, and because the chan
cellor has made SO many concessions
to this group Scheidemann has been
considered a semi official spokesman
of the government. The radical wing
of the party. however, is not only OPP
posed to the principles of the Social
Democratic group, but its members
believe the Socialists made mistake
In voting for the first war credits.
During the last two sessions of the
reichstag, when war credits were vot-
ed, this minority party voted against
the proposed funds for the continu-
alton of the war.
It Is difficult to tell In war times
which one OF these groups represents
the most people. In the few elections
which have been held to fill vacancies
in the reichstag caused by the death
of members the two groups have Jared
about equally. Scheidemann, because
of his popularity among the people.
and because he Is practically the only
Socialist who is permitted by the gov
eminent to travel about and lecture,
Is considered the most influential So
cialist in Germany. Bernstein and his
followers, who are secretly anti Hob
enzollern and anti-army, are prevented
from holding public meetings, and the
government has refused to recognize
their group as a special political party.
When the chancellor calls the party
leaders to his palace for conference
he never invites the radicalists. But
from the standpoint of democracy in
Germany this small Socialist Labor
group has the most advanced ideas.
Bernstein was one of the first Ger
mans to approve the ideas of the
American League to Enforce Peace,
and he has been an exponent of Amer