New-York tribune., 1918-12-26
Germany Now
Sees Need of
Strong Rule
Even Labor Admits 1t Is
No Time to Attempt Any
Socialistic Experiments
Elections To Be the Test
Strong Reliance Placed in
National Soviet Congress
and Ebert Government
Neir York Tribune

Mem York Tribune
Special Gable Scrrice
Copyright 1918. New York Tribune Incl
BERLIN, Dec. 60 (Delayed) The Ma
tional Soviet Congress is unquestionabl.
the one ray of light in the dark corner!
of present day German politics. The
aspect OF the congress. which ad
journed to-day, differed little from the
ordinary labor conferences, with theil
overwhelming majority of staid trade
union officials. who kept the working
masses we'll in hand and in the service
of the imperial military authorities
who were conducting the war, with the
usual sprinkling of Extremist Socialist
agltators intensely vociferating.
There was also the usual military
element with delegates from the sol
diers' councils, including twenty-five
officers, whose influence, though not
negligible, was not decisive. The
striking absence of revolutionary fer
vor worried the city fathers more
than a revolutionary parliament.
On the whole the Ebert -Haase gov
ernment suits the temper of the con-
gress eXcelently, and the congress
might have ended in an almost unani-
nous demonstration of confidence in
the present coalition regime had there
not been a trivial conflict between the
Moderate and Independents about the
precise powers of the new National
Soviets' Committee on issues of great
est national and international import
ance.
Assembly to Clear Issue
The convocation of the National As
sembiy will make clear whether there
is emphatic or only halfhearted opposi-
ton. The Moderate proposal to hold
the elections January 10, nearly a
month in advance of the date pre-
viously reported secured az over
whelming majority. In favor of their
Flea for an early National Assembly
and for sanity and moderation in the
general government, the Socialists
rolnt effectively to the deplorable stu-
alton to which the war brought Ger
many.
As Max Cohen, one of the ablest of
the Moderate Socialist leaders on the
Soviet Committee, pointed out to me
and afterward repeated to Congress,
the position of the country is such
that it drives responsible Germans al
NEST to despair.
The enormous war expenditure must
be financed; high indemnities must be
paid and millions are needed to rebuild
Germany's economic structure. Triple
prices must be paid for goods imported
owing to the depreciation of German
currency.
Strong Rule Needed
Unless Germany succeeds in restor
ing order in her economic life worse
will befall the people, and the continu
ance of the present state of disor-
ganizaton with the exaggerated labor
demands will lead straight to catastro-
phe. Only peaceful cooperation of all
national forces with a strong central
government resting on popular consent
can bring salvation.
Specialization is possible in certain
industries certainly, but care must be
taken not to deprive employees Of an
incentive, which was never more in
dispensable. Only national assembly
can be recognized as an expression Of
the national wlf at home and abroad.
ma ajority of the responsible labor
leaders considers Germany in its pres
ent plight to be an impoverished state
IAN unfit object of Socialistic exper-
iments whose only wish is to overcome
the present crisis with minimum in
jury to the nation
RaIlying Middle Class
Their views, moreover, are calculated
TO rally d considerable section of the
middle classes in favor of the present
government at the coming elections
The Left wing of the Independents has
put up fight to establish the Soviet
system as permanent form Of govern
ment in Germany, but this Soviet con-
gress objected to the proposal and OBJ
tanned scarcely fourth of the votes
cast. This. meanwhile, settled the issue
against Bolshevism III favor of the ira
dtional forms of democratic govern.
ment.
In this, as in other kindred contro-
versies, considerable weight attaches
i'll conflicting reports Of the Entente
governments attitude. This attitude
is interpreted by the various parties
to suit their own purposes, and this un-
doubtedly introduces the invidious elc-
ment of confusion into Germany's IN
ternal politics. A plain expression of
the Entente's real attitude would have
the effect of clarifying the situation
and bring about a better understand
ing generally.
Farreaching Powers
Another thing to be considered in
these controversies is the somewhat
mysterious, elusive, but pervading in
f1uence Of the Russian Soviet govern
ment. However, pending a meeting of
the National Assembly, the new Ma
tlonal Sovlets' Committee has been in
vested with farreaching powers over
the imperial Prussian government.
A quibbio arose between the Inde-
rendents and the Moderatcs over the
precise meaning of the term "parlia-
mentary control" resulting in the
former declining to accept represen-
tatlon upon the Central Committee.
winch Is consequently composed ex
clusively of Moderate Socialists and
may conceivably have important politi-
cal consequences by making the posi-
tion Of the independent Socialist lead
ers Haaso, Dittman and Barth, in the
government untenable
This was undoubtedly The real oh
Ject of the extreme Independents. who
forced the issue to counteract their
own leaders efforts toward union
with the moderates. AS result the
final rupture will probably see the
complete rout of the Independent So
clallsts at the coming elections. Never
theless the withdrawal of the Inde-
pendent leaders from the government
may easily undermine its stability bv
reinforcing the extremist malcontents
Bid to the Entente
Besides the fact seems to have hsen
overlooked that it can contribute to -
increasing confidence of the Fntenta