Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-01
GERMAN PAPERS
SAY STRIKERS
GOING UNDER
Unions Failing to Pay Strike
Benehts-Few Plants
Suspend Business.
SITUATION SAME
IN SOME SECTIONS
Martial Law Has Been Ex-
tended to Several Towns
Near Berlin.

While many thousands of
workers are still on strike in Ber-
lin and other parts OF Germany
the strike movement appears to
be no longer in the process of
extension, even in the capital. In
the chief industrial centers out,
side of Berlin support also is re-
ported as lacking in sufficient &c"
gree to carry the movement
along. Repressive measures in
Berlin have taken the form of
seizure of the trade union build
ing by the police and the arrest Of
several labor leaders.
Amsterdam. Feb. There was !,
clash between strikers and the police
in the northwestern part of Bernn
Thursday. One policeman was killed
and a dozen strikers injured. There
We're minor disturbances in other
sections and in, the suburbs OF Eer-
lin. ,tss
- The Gernsh press generally agrees
that the outbreak, has reached it's cli-
max in Berlin and is now recedins
The demonstrations are said to show
lack of centralized control.
Reports from the chief Industrial
sections of Germany indicate that the
strike movement nowhere is finding
the support necessary to carry it
along.
Socialists Meet.
The Socialist party committee met
in Berlin on Wednesday evening to
decide upon the attitude Of the party
in view of the extension of the strike
The committee considered program
which the Vossische Zeitung says.
was regarded as Offering a suitable
basis for negotiations with the gov
ernment. The program. was restrict
ed to political demands affecting do
n,estic affairs, omitting reference to
the desires in regard to the foreign
policy expressed by the strikers. The
committee also considered measures
to prevent the Indictment of strike
Of bakers.
The flghting yesterday in Berlin ir
which q policeman was killed was
brought about by an attempt on the
part of crowd of men and women
to interfere with the street car traf-
fc. Another policeman was injured
seriously.
Small Disturbances.
Minor disturbances are reported in
other sections of Berlin and in the
outskirts of the city. The afternoon
newspapers have been compelled to
reduce the number of their pages.
Public utilities are being operated
without interruption so far as a: lat
German newspapers generally esti-
mate the number of strikers at 180.-
900. They all say that the disintegra-
tion Of the movement is proceeding
rApidly. 1.-The riots of yesterday are
said to have been due to danger OF
the strikers on realizing that the
movement was doomed to early fail
ure. =. ..
The trades unions are declining to
pay out strike benefits. AS an indi.
cation of the lack of centralized di.
rection. it is said that only a few OF
the big plants Of Berlin were forced
to suspend operations completely.
The governing board of the Socia
Democrat party announced yesterday
that it had not taken over the man.
agement of the strike. The trade:
unions through the general commits.
sion also declined responsibility, ant
the strike appears consequently tt
have been orphaned, SO far as these
two authoritative bodies are con
cerned. +t
The part played by Philipp Scheid
emann, Friedrich Ebert and Herr
Eraun, Socialist leaders. is explained
on the ground that they are anxiou.
to prevent the strike resulting in dis
organizing and rioting. While thu
party as such endorses the politica
demands regarding domestic affair
which were made by the strikers. it Il
generally believed that it definitel!
disapproves the present strike an al
instrument for forcing the govern
mont to meet these demands.
The Tagleblatt warns Scheideman1
and Ebert against playing Trotzky'
game. and appeals to the radica
leaders to bring the outbreak to {
conciliatory conclusion. on account o
the effect abroad and for the SAX
nal reforms championed by the reich
stag majority parties. ~
Playing Into. Trotzky's Hands.
The omcial bulletin Of the nationa
!, liberal party declares that the Berlil
i strike leaders are playing into Trot
xky's hands. Most OF the newspaper
I OF the reichstag majority parties con
f tinue their criticisms of the Socialists
Tho GermAnia says that by associat
I ing themselves with the strike botl
sections Of tho party have displayed
very bad tactics. which might wei
have consequences inconvenient 4
themselves. 4 5.;;.
- lcoutinu.d on pass lo1