Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-08
EBERT DECLARES.
M|IL|TAR|SM DEAD
Protests, in Weinar Speech, AL
lies Are Pressing Ger
many Too Hard.
OLD ORDER GONE FOREVER
In Opening National Assembly,
German Premier Urges
Spirit of Unity.

WElMAlt. Feb. THE opening of
the national assembly Thursday after
noon was impressive for it's solcmnity,
earncstness and simplicity Chance!-
Tor Ebcrts opening speech. the dc,iv-
cry OF which occupied "a half hour
was frequently Interrupted The court
thcater was thronged long before the
appointed time. The Berlin policemen n
assigned TO Wcimar KEEP; the huge
crowd outside from interfering with
the arrival OF delegates and others
entitled to attend.
IL was democratic-looking crowd,
we'll, though plainly dressed. that
shufiied It's way through the snow to
ths lheater, for every one walked save
one carriage and one automobile party.
Following a brief review of an in
iantry honor company. every one
sou2lh, the interior OF the ,heat@er, ter
"nich was brilliantly lighted.
The orchestra chairs had been shift
eh 20 writing desks, while the entire
first ana second balconies held the
hress representatives. The stage had
fo oecm changed by The addition Of a plat
lorm, on which the future president
VIII sit In IN enormous high backed
chair. faced with leather. on which the
German eagle is emblazoned
MAKE USE OF OLD
PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR
chair. and with the accommodating four
seats on the platform and semi
.,.cu'dr ii'ic oi rhairs a; the rear OF the
stage is almost opposite the only re-
WHuer OF the former Ecichstag since
nearly 900 OF the members Of the as
Scmb are new, including twenty
eight women OF all ages
me women We're the distinct curl
ositics Of tho afternoon. and ,ho only
nirthiul event at the openinC of the
session was a hcsitancy. followed by
a snriII, excited yes" of acquiescence
as the first woman's name was called
Inc second woman on the list had moi
expected to hear her name and showed
evident embarrassment as ii was al
most shouted out
The thcater was fairl,, buriad :,
Teh, pink and white carnations. The
rear portions Of the first and second
,%rons,,, naIoonlsS an. and the gallery were
ciudIng neutral diplomats in Germany.
who arrived from Berlin.
during the Chancellor'S speech mem
he:s OF the government, from the
state Secretary To their secretaries.
stood grouped about the speakers tri.
bune. Up to the opening of the ses
SION photographers swarmed the thea
i:HERT HECIsLED ny
INDEPENDENT SOCIALISTS
Herr Ebert received only :. brief
oE@ion ON his entry. He found him
se!t SCI so heckled by independent So
ciahSts that he was forced in the
Miad!e OF his speech to turn unon
tnein with the declaration tha, their
disorder showed how little evil times
had taught them.
t.nctly.- his voice carving to the re-
noteSt part OF the theatcr with its Der
rect acoustics. Tae Chuncellor's voice
shook @ with emotion as he touched upon
doomed high above the d!scordant
shouts of the Independents when they
,rlee TO interrupt and drown h!,n out
RE h, arEused approval when he began
Win princes and mobiles by the grace
OF Hod. lie said the German people
was now ruling itself
lhcFe was disapproval mixed with
approval when he declared the revoiu
tion would decline rcsponsibility fo-
me shortage OF food and the defects
in food in Germany.
PROTESTS AGAINST REING
SLAVE OF VICTORs
Need, the Chancellor continued. dc.
livcred Germany TO her enemies. hu,
ne protested against being a slave 10
';ermany'S enemies for thirty. forty or
sixty years
our enemies declare they are fight
ing inilitarism, but militarism has been
".throned," Herr Ebert asserted
Whereupon an Independent intcrposed
armistice terms and branded them as
unheard-o of and ruthless. The Who'll.
house was with him when he protested
,Sainst the cxnuIsion of Germans from
Alsace and the seQuesi.ation Of prop
erty.
The assembly broke into shouts of
Indignation as the Chancellor referred
= the Soo.OH0 prisoners of war still
held In captivity. All this he said,
showed anything but Il spirit OF recon
citation.
I'VE warn our opponents not 10 drive
US TO the uttermosi.' I've declared.
hunger is preferable to disgrace and
deep priyation is to be preferred TO
Il Shonor"
LiID DOWN ARMS WITH
CONFIDENCE; ~ WILSON
The Germans he said. laid down
their arms with confidence IN Pres;-
dent wilson, and the present free gov
ernnent Of Germany believes il is ONLY
Its right 10 enter the league Of ma
tions and WORK with real energy
we turn, therefore. to all the Deo-
Hlcs Of the world for Justice We as,;
THAI our economic life he not destroyed
The German people has fought for
inner self-dctermination: it cannot be
perfected from the outside"
Herr Ebert was chcered when he
brought up the proposed union Of Ger
many and Austria. He said he hoped
The bonds sundered in 1866 would again
hc sealed and asked the house to ap-
prove the move heartily. Following
q strong appeal for German unity. the
Chancellor declared the provisional
government had been the executor OF
n bankrupt regime.