The Washington herald., 1918-04-14

But II Is known that recently all the
Social Democratic organizations of
lower Austria held q great meeting
to discuss the conduct Of the Aus
trian strikes. The Official party lead
lers were violently attacked for hav-
ing persuaded the workers to return
to their factories. and the conven-
ton was almost equally divided be-
tween delegates who supported the
orthodox parliamentary leaders and
those who clamor for revolution to
enforce peace.
Reports of what happened were
suppressed by the censor. but such
Information has q way of crossing
Europe in defiance of any censor
ship. and ] learn that the greatest
demonstration OF the convention, in
which all factions excepting the
Official leaders Joined. occurred at
the mention OF President Wilson.
The delegates cheered for ten min
utes.
Wilson's name was also cheered
by some delegates, amidst cries of
Shame" and treason" from 9TH
ers. at a meeting held in Munich
on February s OF workers in all
the munition factories OF the dis
trict. Some OF these men had struck,
others did not. but all expressed
their sympathy with a democratic
program in a resolution. suppress
ed. of course. in the German press.
which has now reached England.
A committee of thirteen munition
makers was appointed to lay before
the government the following pro-
nouncement:
The committee OF thirty-nve
armament factories. assembled on
February 8, establish after thor
ough deliberation that the causes
of the strike were exclusively po-
litical: that IL is deliberately false
and would be a dangerous error to
assume that any part had been
played by foreign money or influ-
ence. The strike was caused by the
grave uneasiness that has seized
not only the workers, but wide
classes of the people. as a result of
the lack of direction in government
quarters.
The occurrences of the last few
months have evoked among all the
depressing feeling that those infiu-
ences are dominant in the imperial
government which desire boundless
schemes of annexation. provocative
to foreign countries. without regard
for the sufferings of the people. the
bloody sacrifices. the length of the
war, and our future communication
with other nations.
Their raging agitation OF these
cliQues, INSCRIPTIONS and with enor-
nous financial power, excites the fear
that they are attempting in domestic
az ffai a. tn fhroffOh fhafr
dictionary. anti-popular schemes. and
to intrigue against the necessary re-
forms promised by The government
I'VE must demand that the solemn
assurances given to the German peo-
pie by the highest quarters at the
outbreak OF war be observed and car
ried out On the ground OF these
promises, the workers ask:
81. A general peace without open
or veiled annexations and contribu-
tions, with recognition of the right of
peoples to self-determination.
80. Abolition OF the censorship. fun
freedom Of the press and Of public
meetings.
"3 No Imprisonment or other pun
ishment for participation in the strike.
~ No militarization of the fac
tories.
IS. A timely reform OF the Bavarian
constitution. and Of the measures
based on It.
&c. The speedy passage OF a gen.
eral. direct. equal and secret franchise
for Prussia.
~ RegulariZed labor arbitration.
and the provision of adequate means
OF support for discharged soldiers and
their dependents on rehabilitation.
''s Prompt measures to reform the
food conditions.
THE meeting authorizes the elected
committee to lay this resolution be-
fore the Bavsrian government. II also
expects the Bsvarian premier to win
hearing for the above demands from
the Imperial Government The COM
mittee is authorized TO report to fac
tory meetings on the result of nego-
tiations with the government. The
Workmen's Committee is to remain in
touch with the executive of the Social
Democracy. and report there all that
happens Orders or demands from
any other quarter are to be ignored.
Every worker IL bound in honor to
work to these ends
The ferment of unrest in enemy
countries Is undoubtedly mainly
caused by the food shortage. De-
tailed reports from Germany ard
Austria Hungary concerning food con-
ditions up to the last week in Fen
ruary. which have been permitted to
study, show that the temporary lull
in revolutionary agitation can be
traced to hopes of relief held out by
the peace concluded with the Ukraine
and Russia.
a few sidelights on food affairs
in Germany will make clear why the
people cling TO these probably illusory
dreams like drowning man clutching
a straw. DR.. Oienemann. the chief
medical officer of Dresden, in a report
on the "emaciation" of the people.
said: Sufferers should go to bed
early. take a midday rest, wear warm
clothing. indulge in no unnecessary
exercise. The human reserve material
is in many cases already used up.
! and the want of potatoes especially
has brought about symptoms which.
from descriptions of former times. are
recognized as Accomplishments OF
starvation. To be noted in this con-
! nection is the increase in intestinal
diseases.
THE peace requirements OF the
German nation used to be $50 food
calories per head; they have now to
be content with 200"
Terrible statistics concerning child
/ mortality are explained by the follow
ing descriptions of rations for infants
in Berlin: "The necessity for the pres
| ervation of the reduced number OF
children of the rising generation seems
clear, yet the present supply shows
\ no recognition Of this. Berlin allows
infants monthly one pound of flake
oats. and, for the present, infants
up to one year old quarts OF milk;