The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-30
Berlin Workmen Organize In
surgent Council of 800"
Govt Spurns Strikers; Prohib-
its Labor Meetings.
SOCIALIST EDITORS ARRESTED
Scheidemann, Majority Leader,
Joins With Minority Wing.
Formal Demands for Peace
Aims and Vote Reform.


C.openha gen. Jan. 3O-Rumors were
circulated here today that German SOL
diers on the east front had shot some
of their officers. 1t was also reported
that there were disturbances among
sailors of the German fleet at Kiel.
No direct confirmation was obtainable.
zurich. Jan. 3O.-Two hundred and
fifty thousand workmen were Striking
in Berlin early yesterday and fltty
thousand additional were to go out
before night, according to copy Oh
the Berlin Yorwaerts, Socialist organ
received here today.
Official Berlin dispatches reachln9
here today declared that the SOCIALISTS
"stiu adhered to the strike
on good authority it was reporteu
come of the workmen in the great
KruDp works were striking
The entire war industry is at d
standstflI. according to the Vorwaerts
At Hamburg ship workers in the
great Vulcan yards quit their places
Munitions makers in Kel and navy
yard employees there have been out
since Sunday.
quitting in great numbers. the Nor-
waerts said.
Includes Men and Women.
Copenhagen, Jan. 30.-Berlin's
strike is growing hourly.
The movement is spreading to pro-
vincial towns.
Danzig and Hamburg are now af-
In Berlin worknen's council of
500 has been formed.
This information came today in dis
patches filed late last night from Ber-
lin.
The workmen's council, the DIS
patches reported. is to be represented
by an action commission, composed
OF ten men and women.
Scheidemann Joins Council of 500.
Doctor Haase. Ledebour. Dittman.
PHILIP Scheidemann. Doctor Ebert ana
Doctor Braun-a1l Socialists of vary
ing degrees-have Joined the council.
German Under-Seeretary for the In
terior Won Wallrolf, formally prohib-
tied all labor meetings and announced
he would not negotiate with strikers.
He declared, however, that he would
receive delegation of reichstag mem
bers of the Socialist parties.
Philip Scneidemann, German major
ity Socialist party leader with Doctor
Haase leader Of the Independent So
cialsts, and two workmen, formally
told Wallrolf of the formation of the
workmen's council and demanded that
all negotiations relative to the strike
TO be held in the presence of the work
men.
Berlin reported that cit was not
known whether Wallrolf would agree
to this"
One dispatch passed by the German
censor estimated the number of Ber-
Inns strikers at $1,000. Another ap-
parently filed early this morning put
the total number then out at rs. 900.
The first named message declared
hundreds were Joining every hour
Socialist Factions Unite.
It is of tremendous siopifioapca
that Philip Scheidemann, the German
Majority Socialist leader. has Joined
with the German minority leaders,
Haase, Ledebour and Dittnann. For
the first time it appears that the Ger
man Socialist parties are united.
Heretofore, Scheidemann's subservi-
ence to the German governments pol
icy has been so marked as to raise the
suspicion that he was merely a tool of
the government
1t was Scheidemann who conceived
the idea of a Stockholm conference of
Socialists of the world to discuss
peace-a conference which was ex-
posed at the outset as scheme to
twist Socialist sentiment into support
of Germany. by planting of a ma
jority of German Socialists in the con-
vention.
Scheidemann as late as last sum-
mer was named by the kaiser to hea d
reichstag committee considering q
constitutional reforms indicating the
government relied upon him as safe -
Bitterly Attacked Chancellor.
Last week. however, Scheidemann
apparently expressed violent change
of heart. Dispatches quoted him as
making a bitter assault of Chancellor
Hertling for the conduct of the Brest-
Litovsk peace negotiations.
The German Majority Socialists
have consistently supported the Ger
man government. altho protesting
radical beliefs. The minority Social
lists have as consistently opposed
every move of the Junkers
1t was their persistence that pre-
cipitated the cabinet CRISIS over Chan
cellor Bethmann-Hollweg