The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-10-31

ton OF the people is being legally de
Yeloped and safeguarded. The first
act Of the new government has been
to lay before the Reicbstag a bill to
alter the constitution OF the empire
so that the consent Of the representa-
ton OF the people is required for de-
cision on war and peace.
"The permanence of the new system
il, however, guaranteed not only by
constitutional safeguards, but also by
the unshakable determination of the
German people, whose vast majority
stands behind these reforms and de-
mands their energetic continuance.
1.-THE question OF the President
with whom he and the governments
associated against Germany are deal
ing-is therefore answered in a clear,
uneQuiVocaI manner and by the state
ment that the offer of peace and an
armistice has come from a govern
ment which is freesfTom any arbitrary
and irresponsible influence, is sup
ported by the approval of an over
whelmfng majority Of the people.
"SOLF."
May Be GsrbIed.
As received by wireless the note is
believed to be slightly garbled in the
important sentences regarding the
evacuation of invaded territory and
for an armistice, but, nevertheless, it
is regarded as an awkward attempt
to meet the conditions laid down by
President Wilson for consideration of
an armistice. And it makes the sig
nificant declaration that the govern
ment in Berlin no longer is respon-
sible to a single arbitrary influence
the kaiser-but is supported by an
overwhelming majority of the German
people.
Kaiser Shorn of Power
The declaration that the kaiser is
being shorn Of arbitrary power is sup
ported by the statement that consti-
tutional reforms are in progress in
accord with the determination Of the
people under which no government
can take or hold office without the
confidence Of the majority OF the
reichstag, elected by universal, secret
suffrage. 1t is accorded more consid-
Grafton here because of confidential
advfces received only today, indicating
that the German middle classes have
resolved to have peace at any price,
and if necessary are prepared to get
rid of the kaiser, the crown prince and
all military control
Thus the belief is strengthened that
the present note and those that have
| gone before are genuine efforts to OBJ
tain peace, and are inconclusive mere
ly because the Germans conducting
the exchanges are seeking to bargain
for something better than the uncon-
ditional surrender they are prepared
| to give If pushed to the wall 1t is
assumed also that they want to pre-
pare gradually the German public for
a realization of what has happened to
| their military machine and the war
lords dreams of power, so as to avoid
a complete collapse Of government.
May Be No Response.
Diplomatic observers point out that
| the President is at liberty, with per-
/ feet consistency to make no response
at this time, but to await develop
ments; to await the performance Of
the promises Of the Germans not to
torpedo passenger ships, their implied
! promise to work no more destruction
during their retreat from Belgium and
/ France than military necessity re-
quires, and finally to await further de-
velopment Of the political Ieaven that
evidently is working toward the COM
plete overthrow of military and auto
! cratic power in the empire.
War VIII Go On.
No one believes that an immediate
cessation OF hostilities is in sight
The opinion most generally held is
that IL Mr.. Wilson decides to make a
reply, and if the entente governments
agree, the only step possible at this
time would be to sanction arrange
ments to <se dictated by General Focn
in the field for withdrawal Of the
Germans without further fighting.
Such arrangements, Of course, would
be contingent upon guarantees OF con-
tinued supremacy of the victorious
Allied armies, and consequently vir-
tually would mean surrender for the
Germans.
The official view here so far has
been that evacuation of invaded ter
ritory must be completed before there
can be an armistice. Should Presi-
dent Wilson, after consultation with
the Allies, adhere to this view, the
work Of driving the Germans to and
across their own borders would pro-
coed and the opportunity for fixing
details which the new note suggests
''be brought about" would come only
through a request from the German
lines under a white flag on the battle
field.
Hun DeniaIs Not important
Little Importance is attached to the
protests and denials in the note re-
garding German brutality and ruth
less destruction of property. The i'm
portsnt thing is whether atrocities
now stop As to an investigation by
q neutral commission, as suggested in
the note, the President indicated long
ago that such investigations come to
nothing except in connection with ar
4 rangements for final peace.
Little Progress Made.
: Ny nephew on returning from school
the first day was asked what he had
J learned. He replied: Nothing but
how to stand I'D and sit down, and /