New-York tribune., 1918-02-25

Va TiEN tho Uertling Cabinet was organ l.
| wv zcd it looked as if Germany had
started on democratic path and
the Radical and Socialist organs were jubi-
liant. They said that new political era had
dawned in Germany, and Schcidcmann
boosted in the Reichstag that the pan Ger
mans we're down and out. Then the Prussan
suffrage bill and the bill for reforming tho
lerrenhaus, Prussan House of Lords,
were taken up and passed upon their first
reading
This all looked promising, and the progress
sive and Socialist politicians wore smiling
faces But they did not smile long. The
Fathcrland party rcdoublcd its agitation and
soon showed that it out for big game
the kaser's most intimate adviser, Won Val
cnNni, had long been the object of their
wrath He represented Bcthmann-Holwcg
ideas regarding peace and home political
questions and his position gave him a pow
erful influence imperial DECISIONS He
played conspicuous part, for example, in
smoothing out the crisis of last October and
November Hc was suspected of having per-
suaded the Kaiser to surrender to the Rcichs-
tag in the reconstruction of the government
and to accept its moderate peace policy and
suffrage reform in Prussia
Junkcrs Go After Valcntini
Hence the Junkers -Fatherland party
means the same peoplc--trained their big
gest guns upon Valentini. They operated
with rumors about his position being shaken
or .hat he had resigned. Then about the mid
die OF January he did actually resign. Junker
intrigucs had driven him out. Junker in
trigues also gave him his successor in the
person of Won Berg hitherto President of
East Prussia. Even at the time Of Beth
mann's fail the Junkers were circulating the
rumor that Valentini would go and that Berg
would succeed him. The significance of
Bergs appointment is that he is an intimate
friend OF DR.. Kapp, one of the organizers of
the Fatherland party, which Won Tirptz
presides- The Junllers cheered up accord
ingly; they had got friend at court
While all this was going they did not
neglect the Prussian reforms. The two bills
passed carly in December, were not taken up
for consideration till about the middle of
January; and then the National Liberals
strongly impregnated with Junkcr ideas of
peace and suffrage voted with the Conserva-
tivcs to postpone the suffrage bill till the
Ierrenhaus measure should be disposed Of
The postponement, which was carried, means
that the clements opposed to a full reform
OF the suffrage are determined first to fix
the Her1enhaus to serve as an impregnable
barrcr against whatever majority universal
suffrage might bring into the Chamber.
The Progressive Press Alarmed
And now the progressive newspapers are
alarmed at the outlook They have other
causes also for unhaDniness In the Main
Committee of the Reichstag Georg Gothein.
q progressive, called attention to the con-
flnued sins of the censors. They were hcdg-
ing OIL all criticism of Tirpitz, but giving
free rein to attacks upon Hertling and
others IN authority. The Prussian Minister
OF War had arbitrarily decreed that the
fatherand party was not q political organi-
zatlon, hence might carry its agitation into
the army and solicit membership there. To
all this the Minister of War, Won Stein
answered with few platitudes about differ
ent views prevailing among the censors. But
no denial Of the facts alleged, no promise of
botterment
Such is government in Germany under
military authorities are still in the saddle
and propose to stay there. They decide what
color shall be given to the sham political
agitation that is carried on in the country.
and the color holds. The military leaders are
determined that anneXations shall be made
on a large scale, and the agitation for an
neNatlons IS promoted by the censors Thus
Germany continues to be ruled bv such
strong minded, reckless men as Tirpitz. while
the bespectacled old professor who is nomi-
nAliy chancellor IS pottering around trying
to convince himself that he is ruling