The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1918-01-03
NM GERMANN- MIsT BE DElIOCRATIZED

WHY GERMANY MUST BE DEMOCRATIZED
 Writes Ambassador Gerard in his book: My com mission had read Ambassador to Germany It is char actestc of our deep ignorance of all foreign affairs that Twas appointed ambassador Co place which does not exist Politically there no such place as Germany. There are the twenty-five states Prussia Bavaria WWtemberg, SaXony etc.. which make up the German Empire but there is no such political entity as Germany These twenty-five states have votes in the bundeSrath body which may be said to correspond remotely to our United States senate But each state has different number of votes Prussia has seventeen, Bavaria six Wurtemberg and Sazonr four each Baden and Hessc three each Meek enburg Schwern and Brunswick two each and the rest one each. Prussia controls Brunswick
 The twenty-five states have total of fifty-nine votes in the bundeSuh Nine of these states cast forty three votes and Prussia alone can say how seventeen votes shall be cast Members of the bundesrah are named by the princes of the twenty-five states. Seventeen mem bels may sit for Prussia there may be but member who casts the seventeen votes of that state Upon every proposition the of each state must be cast unit
 When a new law is made for the German people it must originate in the bndesrath among the representa- ,ves of the German princes After its adoption by them to the reichsag be returned upon approval by that body for final action majority of quorum in the rechstag consists of majority of the members elected and in the bwdcsach it consists of those members pres enr It is the privilege of 5undesrath members to appear in the rechstag and debate measures in which they are interested.
 Ifany fundamental OF constitutional change in the eW pre is proposed must originate and proceed in the same manner as am ordinary law with some ceyerIy devised handcaps however, which prevents such change unless
 should be clearly in the interests of the German princes and their unker supporters With an opposition of four teen votes measure that character can pass the bund csath provision thatis douby significant when we con- sider the voting strength of Prussia alone With respect to rights expressly granted under the existing consttu- Jon any particular state they cannot be egisated away without the consent of that state
 The reichsag is the nearest approach in Germany to
 popuary elected body The elections to the body are y indirec suffrage. Every male citizen over 24 years of age vote for the deputy who is to serve in the councils of the government but for an eector who with others similarly elected will choose the deputy In the American sense the German citizen votes for delegate to the convention and when he votes he does so orally and loud voice. and in the presence of those who may have personal financial political interest in the election and at the time be in position to visit the penalty of dis appointment or dspeasue upon the citizen who does not vote right"
 With such indirect and secondhand selection the reichsag merely ha of echoes as it has been aptly designated Onethrd of its membership is ultraconser- vative wholly in sympathy with the Pssan policy of the German princes, or dominated by the unkers who are their staunchest adherents With this ultraconsevative third the Catholic Centst party is closely allied while the Social Democrats who the only visible embodi-