New-York tribune., 1919-02-08
'Ieuton Leader
Asks Voice In
w orld League
Continued from page 1

us 70 the uttermost' he declared
Hunger is preferable to disgrace and
deep privation is to be preferred to d.
honor The Germans, he said, laid
down their arms with condolences in
President Wilson. and the present free
government of Germany believes it ia
only right to enter the league of ma
t!ons and work with real energy.
"Wc turn. therefore, to al tho pco-
pies of the world for Justice We ask
that cur economic life be not destroy
cd. The German people has fought for
jnner-self determination, it cannot per
feet it from the outside"
Herr Ebert was chccrcd when he
brought up the proposed union of Ger
many and AUSTRIA He said he hoped
that the bonds sundercd il 1866 would
again be sealed and asked the House
TO approve the move heartily. Follow
ing strong appeal for German unity,
the Chancellor declared that the pro-
Vlslonal government had been thc cx-
ccutor of bankrupt regime
Hecklcd by independents
Herr Ebert received only a brief ova
tlon on his entry. lie found himself
SO heckled by Independent Socialists
that he was forced in the middle Of
his speech to turn upon them with the
deciaration that their disorder showed
how little evil times had taught them.
He spoke loudly, slowly and dis
tinctly, his voice Carrying to the re, re,
motest parts of the theatre with its
perfect acoustic properties.
The Chancellors voice shook with
emotion as ne touched upon points he
deemed essential then boomed high
above the discordant shouts of the
independents when they tried to inter
rupt and drown him out.
The Old order in Germany has gone
beyond recall and the people are now
determined to rule thcmselves, de-
clared Friedrich Ebert, the Chancellor.
calling the National Assembly to order
here this afternoon.
I'VE will call on the old German
spirit of Wcimar,' he said. 1--WE will
De an empire of justice and truth"
In opening he addressed the assem-
blage as Ladies and Gentjemen"L
form of address never before heard in
German Legislative body.
Herr Ebert said he hailed the de-
e,s1on eha',I o. or German Austria TO bring
German race, which alone can afford
guarantee of aourishing and
economic life"
The opening Of the Assembly was
Impressive for its solemnity. earnest
ness and simplicity Chancellor Ebcrt's
speech, the delivery Of which occuoied
hai1 hour was frequently inter
rupted. The Court Theatre was
thronged long before the appointed
time. The Berlin policemen ASSIGNED
to Weimar kept The huge crowd out
side from interfering with the arrival
OF dc ccgates and others entitled to
attend
1t was n democratic- looking crowd
well though plainly dressed, that shut.
fled Its way through the slusb and
snow to tre theatre, for every one
walked, save one carriage and one auto
mobile party. Following a brief review
OF an infantry honor company. every
one sought the interior Of the the tbeatrc
which IVES brilliantly lighted and trans
formed into creditable imitation OF
legislative hall. The orchestra chairs
had been shifted to writing desks.
while the entire first and second bal
comics, holding the press representa-
tlves' had been so altered that each
newspaper man had small bit of
table. The stage had been changed bv
the addition Of a platform On which
'hc 1utur" president will sit in an
enormous high backed chair, faced with
leather, in which tho German Eagle is
emblazoned. II il the old Reichstar
presidential chair and, with the accom-
panylng 1our seats on the platform and
a semlclrcular line Of chairs at the
rear OF the stage, is almost the only
reminder Of the former Reichstae.
since nearly three hundred of the mem
ners or the Assembly are new, includ~
ing twenty-eight women of all ages
scattered about the house.
The women were the distinct curios-
ity Of the afternoon, and the only
mrthfu! event at the opening of the
session was hestancy followed bv a
shrill, excited "Yes' of acouicsccnce
as the first woman's name was called.
Inc second woman on tho list had NOT
expected to hear her name and showed
evident embarrassment as it was al
most shouted out.
me theatre. especially the tribune
Of the tn, president and the government
benches. was fairly buried in red. mink
and white carnations. The rear nor.
tlons of the first and second balconies
ana the galleries were thronged with
privileged visitors, including neutral
diplomats in Germany who had arrived
from Berlin on Wednesday.
AT various party caucuses held
IN anticipation Of the meeting Of
the National Assembly an attempt was
made to induce the delegates to adopt
by acciamation what is styled az
,provlsional constitutions" which is in
,ac' little more than q document en-
bodylng rules Of order. The attempt
met Nth opposition, however and il
Is expected that the subject of cor
st'tuton for the German nation will
nave TO be referred to commission
winch will mean that the sessions of
the ass"~ u, 'ill have 10 be suspended
pended pending the commissions re-
port.
Inc plan now agreed upon is to
name "A provisional cabinet of fifteen
members to conduct the business of
| the nation until the next general cleo
ton. This Cnhinet uccnrdi me- % r..