Evening star., 1918-02-03
Real Significance of Present
UpheavaI in Kaiser's Realm
Is Explained.
LEADERSHIP NECESSARY
TO PEOPLES SUCCESS
Greater Suffering and Conquering OF
All Timidity Also
Essential.
PEACE PARLEY RESUMED
Strikes in Central Powers Probably
Will Strengthen Russians in
Their Demands-Military
Situation.
PEACE PARLEY
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
The waves OF industrial wrath
have been breaking about the
German government. Dety1ng
anv punishment that might be ad-
ministered. the toilers OF great
portion OF the kaiser's realm have
by their walkouts openly voiced
Nleir antagonism to governmental
J policies in the present struggle;
have demanded that there be
anelioration OF exceedingly try
ing food conditions and peace
without annexations and ndem-
mites as we'll as characterization
OF governmental forms within the
German empire.
Hundreds of thousands of workers in
districts where industries are most
vital TO the con-
.u1. pr,+.s+, tinuance of the
present war laid
Cry Out Workers. down their tools
and said. I'VE protest" AS was to be
expected the iron hand of Won Hinden-
burg and his war machine mas peen
clamped tightly upon the shoulders OF
labor and workers are returning 10 the
lathe. spindles and wheels
The upheaval was believed by many
TO be the forerunner of a civil war
eventually leading to the complete
overthrow of the present government
and the immediate establishment OF
peoples rule
The present industrial upheaval will
not bear full fruit now BY many
therefore il will be called failure
1t will not be a failure, however, II IL
by mere warning of what is possible,
forces the militarist regime TO MOD
crate its present attitude
The fact always must be borne IN
mind that the present uprising Will not
be chiefly significant for it's actual
achievements. but because once and 1or
all 1t definitely proves that there exists
widespread and determined antagonlsm
to present governmental forms; to
those elements which would continue
TO yoke an unpopular war upon the
people The century-old awe and fear
of military punishment for daring TO
oppose any of the precepts OF the gov
ernment has been conquered by great
proportion of the people. and they ac-
tualIy have dared lay down their tools
in militarized factories in defiance to
the iron hand. These are the important
factors in the German situation today
But the German people as whole
have much farther to go before
strike movement such as was ushered
in the first of the past week can sue
ceed- Antipathy and fear of the gov
ernment existing among many people
is the greatest impeachment to actual
success in realization of all aims and
not the government itself. The strike
of the week will influence the more
tImid ones.
should the present government per-
sist in it's present policies and refuse to
take it's warming
When Revolt from the past
1uu weeks disturb
Will Be Success. anees and con-
tinue to override the Wishes. hopes and
aspirations of the people. and. should
hunger Of the people become greater
and economic sunerings Increase, then
the real upheaval. the one which may
be expected to bring about a change In
the fundamental forms of German gov
ernment. may he expected to take
place. Not before then.
The present Industrial uprising can
not be expected to succeed as long it
is without definite head The social
lists of both the conservative and radi-
cal groups have been cooperating, but
ii undoubtedly is true that the leaders,
Herr Haase and Herr Scheidemann
realize that the time is not quite ripe
for the real revolt, and that they have
been fearful lest the present morgan
i7ed attempt result in anarchy. chaos
and defeat, which would do great harm
TO any organized and determined revo-
lutionary movement which might be
ushered in.
The labor troubles started in Ber-
lin, where it was stated 10000
workers in various industries and busi-
ness enterprises walked out at first.
This number was augmented by walk
outs in the factory districts in the out
skirts of the German capital, where
many Important war industries We're
tied up. Almost simultaneously with
the Berlin strike came walkouts in the
important Rhenish Westphalian mining
and manufacturing districts. Bavaria
saw thousands of workers step out. as
did other sections of the empire. Muel-
helm. Lchterfelde Heringsdorf, Johan-
Hamburg. Munich, Nurnburg. Furth,
Altoona. Wandsbeck, Leipzig, Duessel-
dorf. Bremen. Aldershof. spandau and
Mariendorf districts near Berlin as
we'll as the Bochum district. near Essen,
witnessed demonstrations by workers.
There have been serious disorders
between the workers and the government
troops and Police. with the exception of
a few occasional clashes in Berlin and
Srandau The strikers have been orderly.
having informed government officials that
they would continue to be. Meetings. were
held in all sections. A strikers committee
was formed to approach the government
with the strikers chief demands in the
form of an ultimatum. these demands
reading:
Frst-Accelerated conclusions of a gen.
eral peace without indemnities or an
nexations.
Second - Participation of workmen' $
delegates of all the countries in the peace
pourparlers.
Third-Amelioration of the food situa-
tion by better distribution.
FouTth-lmmediate abolition Of the state
of siege and restoration of the right of
public meeting, SUSPENDED by the military
authorities.
Fifth-Abolition of nnilitarzation Of war
factories.
Sixth-Immediate release of all political
prisoners.
Seventh-Fundamental characterization
of state institutions
Eighth-The institution of equal cleo.
toral suffrage by direct secret ballot.
uarr