New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Americans Find Little
Hope i'm Germany

worse position than is believed by
Americans Mt home
The German outlook, as the year
approaches it's end, discloses but few
factors that make for confidence One
good factor, however. appears on the
surface; namely, what seems to be a
more reasonable attitude Of the labor
ing people. The last great strike here,
that of the metal workers, which end
ed about three weeks ago, is thought
to have exhausted the capacity of the
Berlin workmen to wage any moro big
strikes this winter. 1t was so unwiselv
begun and carried on by the leaders
that the radical elements have been
somewhat discredited. Saner counsels
are, therefore. expected to prevail in
the Berlin labor organizations during
this winter.
A greater willingness to work Is also
reported from most sections of the
country There is still considerable
munist and Socialist workmcn; but the
wiser workmen are losing patience with
those elements and are denouncing them
openly The growing willingness to
work is also shown by a voluntary re-
turn to payment by the piece on the
part Of workmen in some establish
ments. Not long ago q vote was taken
by the workmen of all the shipyards
of the country on this question;
but considerable majority was cast
against piecework. This week, however,
the workmen in several big shipyards
at Hamburg and Liibcck have voted for
piecework.
Applied Socialism War
The same thing has occurred in other
parts of the country. In all such cases
ic owl, hoy co} xyh rt
any pressure from the outside would
only make matters worse. The hopeful
thing in al this is that it is the older,
more reliable workmen who are taking
matters into their own hands, with the
determination to suppress the young,
unruly elements which had taken con
troll Of shop organization in many
towns.
But, looking further into the future,
most German manufacturers just now
are filled with grave misgivings about
the development of the relations be-
tween capital and labor. The National
Assembly is soon to pass a law for the
establishment of shop councils which
cmbodies the highest reach Of applied
socialism that the world has yet wit
messed
1t will provide for the election of
shop councils in all manufacturing and
commercial establishments, except the
smallest ones; and these councils will
be entitled to elect one or two repre-
sentatives in the boards of directors,
with all the rights of pay" members.
They viii make known the wishes Of
the working force and will be entitled
to vote on all questions.
A great fight has been made among
the three parties, Socialists, Democrats
and Catholics, over the rights of tho
council representatives on the boards.
AS now arranged by a compromise put
forth by the Democrats, the annual
profit and loss account must be submit
ted to the labor representatives in all
Establishments having at least 500
workmen and 100 office employees; but
the Socialists are still fighting to re-
duce this limit to 100 workmen.
The fight over the details of this
looked for a time as if it might cause
coalition. The Democrats, who repre-
sent largely the interests of employ
ers, along with great numbers Of mid
die class people who are neither en-
ployers nor employees, finally put
forth the proposal to limit the rights
of the labor representatives as indi-
Gated above. 1t was a case where a
compromise seemed necessary, in order
to stave off greater dangers. Never
-heless, employers of labor for the
greater part regard this innovation
with grave misgivings. 1t may prove
the first step, they fear. leading to
much more radical measures for the
control of the capitalist.
The Taxation Problem
But find also q tendency among the
smaller manufacturers to make the
best of the matter, remembering the
German proverb that "a soup Is never
eaten go hot as it is cooked" One Of
these tells me that the new law does
not trouble him at all, so far as his
business goes, for he has long prac-
ticed a system of frank understanding
with his men. He would show them
the terms Of his contracts so that they
might know just what he received for
each article turned out. Thus they
could see for themselves that the la
Dor cost could not exceed certain
limit. And he has always got on we'll
with his men. Probably there will be
many others like him, and it may turn
out that this German law shall make
for peace and not war.
But big public expenditures and big
plans for taxation supply other
grounds for deep discontent Err
berger sees clearly the need of a huge
increase in revenues and he is setting
about the task Of passing laws to get it
without much regard for all those local
interests which are still so strong In
Germany Under the antebellum sys-
tenn the national treasury had to take q
back seat, as against the states. The
latter claimed the big revenue-produc-
ing taxes, the income and general
property taxes, as their own peculiar
preserves, and the nation was warned
to keep off the grass. Erzberger has
changed all that, under the stress of
the huge revenue demands of the ma
tion. He has made the nation supreme
IN taxation. The income and property
taxes now belong primarily to it. The