The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-03-21
BRIEF HISTORY Of.
POLITICAL LII T
OF EBERT, FIRST
Of THE
GERMAN REPUBLIC
The Associated PrcsS)

Friedrich Ebert. formerly head of
the main committee Of the Rcchstag
and leader of the social democratic
party, was elected first president Of
the now German progressive rcpub-
lie for n term Of seven years, on
February II, 1919, by the National
Assembly at Weimar. lie has been
characterized as type Of panGor-
man, or imperialistic socialist.
II was the Ebert government which
arose from the ruins Of the Hohcn-
7ollcrn dynasty and which enabled
the entente allies 10 conclude peace
with Germany.
on November 10. 1918, when for
mer Emperor William abdicated and
| fled. Ebert was the imperial chan.
cclor. having succeeded Prince Maxi
milan of Baden. who was instrument
| tai IN ncguthting the armis,ice He
at once assumed command and sue
ccedcd in quolling revolutionary out
| breaks. The red flag was hoisted
over the Brandcnburg Cate ana the
royal palace after wild scenes in Ror-
lin where the people shouted, Long
Live the Republic" and sang the
| Marsollaiso.
"The new government will he "a
Government of the people ChanceI-
lor Ebert said: 1T must make every
Effort TO secure in the quickest pos
siblc time, peace for the German peo'
PIE and consolidate the liberty they
have won. The new government has
taken charge OF the administration
to preserve tho German people from
civil war and famine and TO accom-
plish their legitimate claims to au
tonomy."
The Independent socialists, includ
ing radical element favorable tl
bolshevism and known az Spartaci
les. complicated Ebert's problem
When he became Chancellor many o
, hcsc radicals including Karl Liebll
necht and Rosa LuXemburg, were
freed from prison, and the two men
/ toned were subsequently assassinat
, ed
rhe national assembly which elect
- ed Ebcrs was formed for the purpos
, Of adopting a constitution. It's docu
neut. which was approved last Aug
ust ., provided that "the executive
, power lies with the peoplc.' TN'
power of the upper chamber Of th
Rechstag was limited similar to tn
British House Of Lords. There wer
special protection for labor and gen
orally accepted rules Of internatiora
law were Incorporated in the mex
instrument Ebert took the oath O
= office on August % and two days lat
y er the national assembly ceased t
@ exist 1t beng superseded by the mex
Reichstag.
Phillip Schcidemann was the firS
+ rrcmier of Germany under Eber
e Gustav Noskc, formerly minister c
demubili2ation and before that gov
crnor Of Kicl, was named the firs
t minister Of army and navy. by reo'
o on Of his drastic enforcement Of ne'
t regulations he became known as
t dictator"
Other members Of the first Ebcr
: cabinet follows:
u Minister of Interior Herr Preus
y minister Of justice, Herr Sendsbert
= minister Of commerce, Herr Mueller
=, minister Of labor, Herr Bauer; mil
latcr Of foreign affairs Count va
Brockdorff-Rlutzau, former Germa
u minister to Denmark; under foreig
y minister, Won Kichthofen; minister {
finance. Herr Schffcr; minister
postal and tclegraphs, Herr Geisbcri
ministers without portfolio, Or. Mat
/ las Erzbergor, armistice commissions
former state secretary and leader
the centrist party; Eduard Davi
president of the national assembl
| and Herr Wissol.
| The Ebert government underwcl
| many changes by reason Of poli'
| cal, economic and popular demand
! Tne first real crisis to threatt
the Ebert rcgime, however, arose uv'
tLo question Of accepting the peat
terms Ebert echeidemann and o.
! or leaders wore opposed to yicl1ir
to the entente demands. Scheid
mann resigned and protreaty cal
net including pr. August Mueller al
Ex.Labor Secretary Bauer. former 5
c'alist member OF the Reichstag, VI
organized. Bauer in II speech at w,
mar before tho national assembly q
nounced the treaty In strong tcrr
but announced the governments 1
cislon to sign.