South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-23

keep its place. Il stayed az its desk
and in the same way the Duma con-
rinued 20 function and even increase
its area OF sctivity ia a manner com
parable 10 that Of the rational as
sembly ar Weimar. But In Russia
two years ago and In Germany now.
the soldiers and workingmen's coun-
ellis function alongside OF the ma
tional assembly. One hears little Of
them outside Germany but they are
preserving their existence. exerting
their Influence, apparently awaiting
a favorable moment TO assume com
plete control
Another detail which suggests
Russia r. the very great reluctance
on the part OF the masses OF the
population 70 go 10 work. There are
26s.000 men IN Berlin alone draw
ing unemployment rations and the
other day, after "A heavy snOwstorm.
q call for volunteers 10 go 10 work
with shOveIs with a promise OF pay
ment of $3.50 a day enlisted only
80 volunteers The same phenomen-
on is reported in Belgium, where
conditions are by no means as hope
fui as might have been expected, but
in Germany this refusal 10 work
presents a very much more serious
problem. II is extending and spread
ing and therefore accommodating the
material out Of which bolshevism
may yet make a new conhagratiOn.
GERMAN REVOLUTION
BELIEVED \ FAKE.
AS 10 the revolution. believe an
American recently returned from
Germany gives me an admirable
statement. II IS regarded by a ma
jority Of Germans as having been
nothing more nor less than a fake.
There are two great reforms which
the German people as a mass mean
70 be demanding. first complete
change In methods OF taxation.
which will place a portion of the
burden OF taxation upon the shout
ders Of the wealthy. thus supplying
an equitable division OF taxation
between the rich and poor. and sec
ond. complete Matchmaking or
syndicatizing Of the great industries.
These two things were the main
planks in the socialistic platform.
Come 10 power. the social democrats
have totally failed 60 do either. The
men who are leading the social dem
ocratic party in the new national as
sembly are moving away rather than
toward such reforms. The election at
which the recent national assembly
was chosen was conducted honestly
but with no clear appreciation on
the part OF the voters as 70 the
meaning of the thing, and the whole
vote OF the women was cast in a con-
sentative direction under the alb
soIute control Of clerical influence.
and this oddly enough, was true
both in the protestant and Roman
Catholic districts. The women voted
as the priests and the pastors adj
vised them. Across the Rhine in the
occupied district, a French officer
told me that I'm the Palactinate in
many cases Germans came 20 the
French officers and asked them how
they should vote.
OLD ARROGANCE
Is RETURNING TO Hun.
Now one has 10 set against this,
all these many signs of disintegra-
ton and disorder testified TO by all
travellers. another circumstance
which is exciting equally universal
attention, namely "a return OF the
old arrogance, the old defiance. the
thing that puzzled the world before
the war and aroused it during the
conflict After the period of dejec-
ton Immediately following the de-
feat the German was for a moment
a contemplate creature. He was
stunned. he phined where he useo
10 buster. He was abject where
once he was arrogant. An American
civilian recently returned from Wen
ma supplies an interesting account
Of this transformation. While ne
was in Vienna he talked with Ger
mans. with correspondents coming
out OF Germany. and read the pro-
German Austrian papers and was
more and more impressed as SO
many others have been by the fact
that all this testimony indicated
Germany did not regard herself as
beaten. Intelligent men explained 10
him that Germany got out of France
because she wished 90 shorten her
lines. that she was in no way beaten
militarily but on the contrary came
10 the conclusion that 10 was time
10 stop and therefore quit. Her eco
uomiC situation was bad. the morale
low, the bolshevik propaganda and
the effect of the blockade OF the
civilians are held responsible foI
the armistice The armies did not
lose the var. the revolution and the
civilian collapse behind the lines
were responsible.
OLD SPIRIT GOVERNS
THOSE IN OFFICE.
Like everyone else. this comeDta-
tor reports q growing spirit OF ar
rogance, becoming more and more
evident. particularly in the north OF
Germany and. he calls attention %
the fact mentioned above that
through the moderate socialists Were
victorious on the face OF the returns
the majority Of the regular officials
and many Of the under secretaries
are still in office and IL is the same
old spirit mat is really guiding them
Ebert. Scheidermann and Norke are
outwardly agents Of socialism bat
inwardly they are guided by the old
creed AS far as the foreign Office
IS concerned BrOokdorff. while gen
l.