The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-18

Independent Soc aIist Party of
Germany Decides in Favor of
National Assembly.
LIEBkNECHT IS VOTED Down
Session of Congress of Delegates From
Soldiers and Workingmen's coun-
ellis in Near Riot Over Contro-
versy Concerning New
Government

Government.
Copenhagen, Dec. 1S.-A general
meeting of the INDEPENDENT Socialist
party of Berlin has decided that the
party shall vote in favor of nation
al assembly. The Berlin correspond
ent Of the Berlingske Tidende of Co
penhagen says this is big defeat for
the SpartacUs group.
Berlin, Dec 1S-A revolution has
broken out in Bulgaria, according to in
formation received by the LOkal An
zeiger from Bulgaria, by way Of Hun
gary.
German Soviets Down Reds.
Berlin, Dec. 16-Tne central con-
gress of delegates from soldiers and
workingmen's councils from many
parts of Germany opened in the build
Ing formerly used by the Prussian diet.
There were three women among the
$50 delegates.
During the organization of the con-
gress it became evident that the indie
pendent socialists and the Spartacus
group were greatly outnumbered. A
significant development was that none
Of the important posts in the congress
was given to delegates from Berlin.
The Spartacus group made futile
attempt to intimidate the congress.
Early in the session resolution was
submitted that DR.. Karl Liebknecht
and Rosa Luxembourg, leaders Of the
Spartacus group. be invited to attend
the conett IS as guests With. advisory
powers Less than IS per cent Of the
delegates voted for the resolution.
Presentation of the resolution
caused a great tumult throughout the
hall. The followers of Doctor Lieb-
knecht and spectators in the gallery
Joined in the uprear, which lasted 20
minutes and threatened to result in va
rious fist fights.
A contest is expected Tuesday when
the question of summoning a national
assembly comes uD for discussion.
Sparsacus Program HoWIed Down.
Later, while Herr Mueller chairman
| Of the workingmen's section Of the ex-
ecuttve committee. was speaking, the
chairman Of the congress interrupted
to say: There is. a comrade pres
ent who wishes to submit a communi-
cation"
The newcomer announced that he
represented 25OG0O worlSingmen who
were then assembled outside the diet
building. He read list of demands
Identical with the Spartacus program,
including retention Of all power by the
soldiers and workingmen's councils,
no national assembly and the forma-
ton Of red guard This aroused a
storm Of protest and in the geaeral
uproar the intruder left the cham
Der.
The 25O,OOO workingmen, who, he
said, were outside the building, proved
to be about 1000 from five factories
whom the Liebknecht agents had in
duced to go on strike temporarily. In
the meantime Doctor Liebknecht sue
ceeded in entering the building and
made speech to this crowd from a
window.
Reds Have No Ticket In AnhaIt.
The elections to the national assem-
bly, in the former duchy of Anhalt,
which is the first German federal state
to vote for constituent body, result
ed in a marked victory for the ma
jority Socialists. The Socialists
polled 92,229 votes, against a total of
66,951 for the combined bourgeoise
groups. In the reichstag election in
1912 the Socialists had 31,465 against
36,649 for the bourgeoise parties.
The increase In the number Of votes
was due to the lowering of the age
limit snd the votes Of women.
The Anhalt national assembly will
be composed Of % majority Socialists,
12 German Democrats and two Con-
servatives. The independent social
| lists failed to get suff1ci. number
of signatures necessary to nominate a
| ticket The middle stand" group,
composed Of subordinate government
officials, including school-teachers.
failed to poll enough votes necessary
to have a representative in the assem-
bly,.
Asked as to bis view Of the future,
Ebert replied:
81 am optimistic, but you must re-
member that our influence upon the
course of events is limited We can
not create bread for the German peo-
pie. If the nation Is allowed to starve.
then the inevitable will follow. That
/, nation can be brought to a desper-
ate pass and burst through all re-
straints has been shown by the ex-
perienees of the past year. Our old
system came to the ground as result
Of Russian events which 1t itself pro-
voked. 1t Is poor consolation, how
ever. that In. falling one dral ones