The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16

THE SUN, FRlD.
OBJECTIONS within the party's own
ranks, largely from the labor element,
Influenced by the picture Of indus
trial slavery" which Is being held be-
fore 1t as the result II the existing
terms are signed. .... S.a
The momentous session Of the As
sembly was convened in the new uni
versity Of Berlin, which was formerly
the royal library. The Reichstag
Building is still unsanitary from the
tenancy Of soldiers since last No
vember.
The meeting Of the Assembly on
such an important issue evoked little |
interest on the part Of the public
compared with what similar sit |
uation might effect at home. Only
q fringe of curiosity seekers collected
in front of the building and detach-
ment of police and a small detail of
Noske troops had nothing to do. The
Assembly convened In the room where
the former Kaiser often listened to
American exchange professors.
The members appeared all attired
in black, and with whole rows Of bald
pates glistening against the dark
background gave an almost grotesque
effect, as viewed from the gallery
where the correspondents sat. The
sombre and funereal character Of the
picture was heightened by the white,
gray and brown pillars in the cham
Der.
The members of the Assembly could
not shut out from their minds the
brilliant picture some Of them had
witnessed on August 4, 1e14-the
opening chapter Of the war-when
the Kaiser, surrounded by his Gen
erals, Admirals and statesmen in daz-
cling uniforms, with glittering deco
rations and waving plumes, opened the
first war session Of the Reichstag in
the marble hall of the Imperial Palace
two blocks away.
This was the beginning of the clos.
ing chapter and it began like a fu-
neral for Germany. Instead Of the
stalwart Won Bethmann-Hollweg, the
then Chancellor, brilliant in the uni
form Of a General Of the Imperial Ger
man Army, was the typesstter Scheide-
mann. In place Of the war chiefs
Moltke and Falkenhayn was Noske
the woodworker, civilian commander
Of the new Germany's troops. Above
the Speakers desk was large mural
painting of the philosopher Fichte
teaching the German people.
! Recalls the Old Glory.
| Prof. Kahl, welcoming the Assem-
bly, in the name of the rector of the
university, called attention to the fact
that in the same hall representatives
of the entire civilized world, includ-
ing America, Russia, Italy and
France, the latter represented by
President PoIncare, had in 1910 cele-
brated the centenary Of the Univer-
sltS of Berlin and had paid tribute
to the German people, the German
spirit and German teachings.
Chancellor Scheidemann then be-
gan his address, speaking In q
dramatic tone and in the manner OF
German Shakespearlan actor. He
was impressive and effective and
every point he made was greeted by
applause, which began when he
dramatically picked up a bound copy
of the peace terms and declared:
This book must not become the
law book Of the future"
The applause broke out again when
the Chancellor declared that it would
be blasphemy to compare the peace
terms with the Wilson programme,
and again when he painted a terrible
picture of the future Germany II the
peace terms were accepted Scheide-
. mann reached his climax when he de-
, clared the peace terms unacceptable
and demanded to know whose hand
would not wither in an attempt to
. Sign the peace terms handed to Ger
many by the Allies.
That persistent reports Of Scheide-
mann's hesitation and wavering as TO
just how far he would commit him
self are not without some basis is
seen in the fact that this declaration
was eliminated by heavy blue pencil
{ ing from the typewriter copies given
foreign correspondents. and which. at
the last moment. through change Of
mind or influence, were brought in
} again. 1t is a fact that the Democratic