New-York tribune., 1919-02-09

dent Of the Assembly. Kautsky, an
Independent Socialist, was last re-
ported attending the Socialist Con-
ference at Berne.)
DR.. David received 374 out Of a total
of 500 votes, the Independent Socialists
withholding their votes. The voting
was by ballot and there was consider
Vble confusion when the delegates
crowded into the narrow aisle of the
theatre to place their votes in the
ballot boxes.
Woman Ignores Mere Man
One woman delegate, who hestated
in answering to her name in the roll
call yesterday, was equally bashful and
self f-conscious during the voting to-day
After some hesitation the woman
walked to. the raised dais, ignored the
cutstretched hand of the teller and
deposited the ballot herself. The
woman then turned and gazed about
trumphantly before descending the
stairs.
DR.. David's speech was little more
than a repetition of the words Of
Chancellor Ebert on Thursday, espe
cially when he referred to Aslace-
Lorraine and the union of Austria
with Germany, both Of these references
being loudly -cheered. lie said that the
old German structure had been des-
troyed, and appealed to the Assembly
to build up new and better house in
the place of the old one
DR.. David brought wave of ap-
prevail when he said that political
self discipline was pre-condtion to
political self-determination and an
other when he declared that the As
scmbly should be the headquarters Of
the free word. So.
Germany Ripe for Democracy.
Germany was country ripe for
democracy, he continued, but he
warned the Assembly that the eyes of
millions of people in the world were
directed toward it. Germany, he said,
could earn the confidence of this world
only by rapid creative work and must
understand how to bridge the gulf to
cooperative understanding
The clerical member, .Fehrenbach.
former president Of the Reichstag, the
Democrat Haussmann and the Conser-
yative Dietrich were elected vice-presi-
dents. Fehrcnbach and Haussmann re-
ceived 374 votes each and Dietrich 1856.
The crowds in the Court Theatre
were quite as large as yesterday and
watched the proceedings eagerly AS
familiar names were called the specta-
tors turned to see such nationwide
figures as Premier Ebert, Matthias Err
berger, DR.. Bernhard Dernburg, Min
lister Aper of Bavaria; DR.. Richth ofen,
Herr Hildebrand, Philip Scheidemann,
Merr Legen and DR.. SPAIN.
notable figure. is Theodor Wolff,
editor Of the Berlain "Tageblatt" He
is the cynosure Of all eyes as he stande
with his hands in his vest armholes
eagerly watching each development.
There are many old men with long
white boards.
First Debate Monday
The first debate in the Assembly is
expected to come Monday when Philip
Scheidemann probably will give an ac-
counting of the stewardship of the
present government.
Many delegates are hopeful the As
sembly will adopt a provisional consti-
tuition, which can serve until perma-
nent constitution is adopted. This
would enable the early election Of
president to represent Germany in the
name of the government
The composition of the Cabinet ap-
pears to be the principal problem com
manding the attention Of the new Ger
man lawmakers, meeting here in the
National Assembly. The original prop
ostion was to form ministry of fif-
teen members, seven Of whom should
be Majority Socialists, four Centrists,
and four Democratic.
The Majority Socialists are now un-
derstood to be contending that they
should be certain to have a majority
which the Independent Socialists can
not disturb by any political mannuvre.
Participation Of the Centrists in the
formation of the Cabinet was assured
by the action taken at their. meeting
yesterday, in which they decided to
work with the new government.
The constitution was again dis
cussed at meeting attended by rep
,resentatives of the various German
states to-day, at which DR.. Ludo