Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-17
RADICALS OF
BERLIN LOSE
TEST BATTLE.
Congress of Council Dele
gates Meets-Lieb-
knecht Coup Fails.

Berlin. Monday, Dec 1G.-( the
Associated Press. The central
congress Of delegates from soldiers
and workmen's councils from many
parts of Germany opened today in
the building formerly used by the
Prussian diet There were three
women among the $50 delegates.
During the organization OF the
congress it became evident that the
Independent Socialists and the
Spartacus group were greatly out
numbered. A significant develop
ment was that none of the impor-
tant posts in the congress was Civ
en- TO delegates from Berlin.
Liebknecht Coup Fails.
The Spartacus group made a flu
tile attempt to intimidate the con
gress. Early in the session a reso-
luton was submitted that DIT. Kari
Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg,
leaders of the Spartacus group, be
invited to attend the congress as
guests with advisory powers.
presentation of the resolution
brought a great tumult Throughout
the hall. The followers of DIT
Liebknecht and spectators in the
gallery Joined in the uproar which
lasted 20 minutes and threatened TO
result in various fist fights.
To Discuss Assembly.
"A contest is expected Tuesday
when the question of summoninE
national assembly comes up for dis
cussion.
Later. while Herr Mueller, chair
man Of the workmen's section or
the executive committee. was
/ speaking. the chairman Of the con
/ gress interrupted 10 say.
There is a comrade who wishes
/ to submit a resolution
/ The newcomer stated he repre-
sented 25O,00O workers. who were
! assembled outside the diet building.
/ He read a list OF demands, Identical
with the Spartacus program, in-
cluding retention OF all power by
/ the soldiers and workmen's coun-
! ellis. no national assembly and the
/ formation of a red guard. This
aroused a storm OF protest. and In
the general uproar tho intruder left
/ the chamber
The 250.0O0 workmen, who he
said, were outside the building,
! proved to be about seven thousand
| from five factories. whom the Lieh-
/ knecht agents had induced 10 90 ON
strike temporarily In the mean
! time. DR. Liebkuecht succeeded I'm
entering the building and made p
speech TO the crowd from window.
Socialists Win at Polls.
The elections to a national as-
sembly in the former duchy OF An
halt, which is the first German fed
eral state to vote for a constituent
body. resulted today In marked
victory for the majority Socialists
The Anhalt national assembly
will be composed Of % majority So
ciaIists, y German Democrats and
two Conservatives.
Solf Resignation Confirmed.
/ Copenhagen, Dec. 17.-Herr Muel-'
Ter, in presenting the report OF tho
executive committee TO the congress
of soldiers and workmen's couu-
ellis. according TO a report from
Berlin, announced that he had eN-
amiued the documents in the Ger
man foreign Office and had been un-
able to find that any had been de
stroyed. He confirmed the report
that the resignation OF DIT. Solt tine
foreign minister, had been accept
ed by the government
The elections to the national as
sembly in the former grand ducnY
? of MeckIenbuTg were announced lH
Berlin as follows. Socialists, =
Liberals, Is: "Handicraitmen. 8,
and Peasant party. !.