The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-26
Fntturtal Dtgrst.
An Independent Analysis Of Leading CW.
rent Events ~ Rejected in the Pub.
lie Press Of the Country


The sudden overthrow OF the GDeIt 8Vvefu-
ment by monarchist rebels and its equally sud
den restoration to power demonstrate clearly
that Germany is in a state Of exceedingly un-
stable equilibrium. The present regime is bal
ancing delicately on a high fence. On one
side is william Hohenzollern. with the old ira
ditions of world-empire. and on the other side
is Nikolai Lenine with his hopes Of spreading
revolution throughout the world. Both are
watching Herr Ebert and his "moderates. )"
ready to take advantage Of any sign Of weak
ness or webbing.
The attempted monarchist coup, though
beaten, was not altogether failure. AS the
Pittsburgh Sun (Dem.) points out, it demon
strated that the Ebert administration can be
overthrow with comparative IMMUNITY" and
created mistrust among the German people or
the stability of government that can be forced
from its capital overnight" The Sun regrets
that Ebert was not able to put down the Won
Kapp COUP with blood and iron." and thinks
Ibis unconvincing victory leaves the door open
for further intrigues."
But as Ebert was unable to Dust the mon
archists by force of arms, he resorted to
general strike, which paralyzed industry and
TRANSPORTATION. In so doing the Idaho States
man (Rep) declares that he was playing with
fire." and the Salt Lake Tribune (Rep) ex-
pands the same thought thus:
There is grave danger that the very weap
on invoked by the Ebert government to defeat
the military conspirators in Prussia will be
used in other directions. Already there are
symptoms of sinister movements in German in
dustrial centers. Here and there soviet has
been proclaimed; Ebert and Bauer and Noske
may crush the militarists in Prussia only to
find that they must reckon with a new and
equally grave peril-that Of proletariat de-
termined to make an end to all systems OF gov
eminent which do not fit in with sovietism."
| what happened in Russia is likely to re-
peat itself in Germany" observes the Chicago
Tribune lind. Rep. for "it is plain the pres
tige of the Ebert regime is gravely shaken and
the extremists have been stimulated to re-
newed activity while the Fort Worth Star
Telegram 0nd. DEM believes that "in invok-
! ing the general strike to fight the reactionary
movement Ebert has set in motion forces which
he and his associates may find it difficult to
control"
THE man who invokes the strike as a po-
litical weapon" the Star-Telegram continues,
| "is paving the way to bolsheyism, no matter
how good the purpose he intends to serve.
Germany may escape bolshevism. to be sure,
but that it faces such danger now is appar-
ent even to the reactionaries.'
| SnOulQ tne re0S win CONTROL, the ST.
Louis Post-Dispatch tIndD points out, their
first fury would be directed against the per-
| sons and property of the lawless pan Germans
! Who could say that they would get more than
they deserves" The Memphis News-Scimtar
CInd) regards the bolshevists as certain of
themselves because Ebert has shown himself
stronger than Kapp," and that therefore Ger
many is henceforth regarded as profitable
| field for cultivation by the bolshevists.'' On
the other hand. the Los Angeles Times und
Rep thinks the stage setting is arranged
for test of strength between the fatherland
party, supported by the army, and radical So
cialists using as their weapon the general
| strike"
| However the Springfield Union fRep.),
among others. does not take threats OF Dol
shevized Germany seriously. 1t says:
| "The soviet system is a Russian product
suited to Russian psychology and conditions
and hardly suited to the German social and
political life. Lenine did not establish tbs
soviets in Russia. according to the best ac-
counts. They were already there and he
simply took advantage of their existence to
develop in them his communist ideas and meth
DDS. Though the German spartacists
may be imitators, it is hardly probable that
they could develop government Of Germany
on such basis. and their success would re.
quire what apparently they do not have-s
military backing"
Many see greater danger from the mill
tarist side. however, than from the reds. INC
one must assume" declares the New Orleans
States Dem.) that the capitulation Of von
kapp means the end of conspiracies to put
the old gang back in power The Junk
ers have only nominally called off their game
l. They. still believe and will continue te
believe that Germany must have the monarch,
back, and when the time seems propitious the,
will strike again" And "if Willi,r, TT
methods and his gang" says the Ell Paso Her
aid und) ARE to be restored, then it ia tn,
whole worlds business"