The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-21
BERLIN IS QUIET
Streets Look Same as on Any
Saturday.
City Does Not Look Like q
Storm Center.
PUBLIC IS NOT EXCITED
Food News Eclipses That OF
Revolution Now.
Ebert-Haase Cabinet Apparent
ly Is in Control.
CBy the Associated Press.l

Berlin, Nov. 21.-Rerlin has now
had a week of revolution yet the
streets have the same appearance they
presented-on any Saturday during the
war with the exception of the absence
of newspaper reference to events
along the front. A casual visitor
woul not be aware that this has been
the storm center of a gigantic political
uphsaval. The mass of the public ap-
pears anything but excited over the
future progress of eN ~nts. Its 1aded
war-weary nerves are apparently no
longer capable of responding to the
thrills, no matter how inspiring.
1t is no reflection on the Germans
sense of patriotic duty to say that
news of American food relief tempo
rarily eclipses curiosity ov the po-
litical drama. After four years OF
grinding war the listless attitude OF
the middle class elements in the early
stages of the re- tuition is typical OF
the apathy that prevails.
While parliamentary leaders OF the
middle parties beat headlong re-
treat when The abdication of Emperor
william was announced and left the
Social democratic party undisputed
masters of the tangled situation, the
ma jority Of the middle class citizens
appeared oblivious or unperplexed in
the face o. grave ents. 1t was only
after the Socialists had worke, fever
olution in the hearts and minds of the
working men that the middle classes
decided to issue their first call to
arms.
The Ebert-Haase cabinet apparently
is in undisputed control, altho its or
ganiza ton is still somewhat chaotic
1t has taken over such elements of the
old bureaucratic regime as were in
dispensable and placed its party men
in strategic positions without, however,
! u
bias. The hastily created subordinate
bodies and committees are gradually
| introducing a semblance of method
and continuity into their work.
The conflict of authority and dis
puted jurisdiction which made the
reichstag building a Babel early, in the
| week now has disappeared. The ex-
ecutive committee of the soldiers and
| workmen's organization is supposed
! to be the highest authority in the
present government but it does not at
| tain that distinction. 1t is subordinate
to the final authority of the council
| formed by the six Peoples commits
sioners. Until the national assembly
| has decreased the structure of the
| new republic, the present apparatus
makeshift. 1t is the best the social
democrats have been able to devise
in the hour of revolutionary travail.
| Cabinet Is Busy.
At present the Ebert cabinet Is con =
! corning itself with the urgent prob
| lens Of food and rehabilitation. The
| gravity of both is such that the radi-
calls are wisely refraining from in
| dulging in any Ctopian experiments.
They have been more than circum-
spect and their reiteration that they
| propose to convene the national as
sembly is interpreted to mean that
they do not propose to offer affront to
| Io Il OLE
| itional development IN jeopardy. Ebert
| and Scheidemann are not feared.
| Lansberg is a professional lawyer.
| credited with poise and moderation.
i He asserted today that he does not
| favor experiments, and the present
| time. above all. is not suited to
| tampering with capital and industry.
Haase. Dittmann and Barth bAve been
less. satisfactory. Haase is credited
with being an extremely astute poll
tician. He inherited party leadership
| from August Ferdinand Babel, former
S chief in the reichstag. but
| lost commend when his party split
] four years ago. Haase probably sur
| fers abroad because of his violent ut
| terances in the reichstag. He should
| not be measured by them but should
rather be given credit for realizing his
| responsibility.
Not Much Friction.
during the course of the week nc
serious friction in the cabinets de-
iberations has been reported althC
the left wing has not declared for ar
! early converting of the national as
sembly. 1t desires to exploit the in
term in fortifying proletarian rule
Ebert and Scheidemann, on the ether
hand are contented to rest their cause
in the elections. The coming week
will bring the middle class parties
into belated acttHp. The merger OF
the national liberals and the progress
sives has virtually been effected
Leading men and women all over the
country issued a stirring call for the
founding of a new democratic Irty
today. The appointment of Kar
kautzky and Edward Bernstein a:
under secretaries of foreign affair.
and finance. brings two of the bes
known theorists into the soldiers an(
workmen's government; both are con
WINGED. however, that Germany is no