The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-13
Was Elected President in
1919 for a Term of
Seven Years
WAS PAN-GERMAN
OR IMPERIALISTIC
A Record of Events Since
His Inauguration Is
Here Given

main committee of the Reichstag and
party. He was elected first president
of the new German progressive repub-
lie" for term of seven years on Feb,
IL, 1919, by the National Assembly at
Weimar. He has been characterized as
a type of Pan German of imperiaIistic
Socialist
1t was the Ebert government which
arose from the ruins of the Hohenzol-
Tern dynasty and which enabled the
entente allies TO conclude peace with
Germany.
On Nov 10, 1918, when former En-
peror William abdicated and fed, Ebert
was the imperial chancellor, having
succeeded Prince Macmillan of Baden,
Nho was instrumental in negotiating
the armistice. He at once assumed
command and succeeded in quelling
revolutionary outbreaks. The red flag
was hoisted over the Brandenburg gate
and the royal palace after wild scenes
in Berlin, where the people shouted
Long live the republic!" and sang the
"Narseillaise.
THE new government will be a gov
eminent of the people," Chancellor
Ebert said. 1T must make every eff
fort to secure in the quickest possible
time peace for the German people and
consolidate the liberty they have won
The new government has taken charge
of the administration to preserve the
German people from civil war and
famine and to accomplish their legiti-
mate claims to autonomy"
The Independent Socialists, including
a radical element favorable to bolshe.
vism and known as Spartaeides, com
pliested Ebert's problem When he be-
came chancellor many of these radicals,
including Karl Liebkneeht and Rosa
Luxembourg, were freed from prison
and the two mentioned were subse.
quently assassinated.
The National Assembly which elect
ed Ebert was formed for the purpose
of adopting a constitution. Its docu-
ment, which was approved last Aug. 2,
provided that the executive power lies
with the people" The power of the
upper chamber Of the Reichstag was
limited similar to the British House Of
Lords, There was special protection
for labor and generally accepted rules
of international law" were incorporat-
ed in the new instrument. Ebert took
the oath of office on Aug. % and two
days later the National Assembly
ceased to exist, it being superseded by
the new Reiehstag.
Philip Scheidemann was the first
premier of Germany under Ebert. Gus
tave Noske, formerly minister OF de.
mobilization and before that governor
of Kiel, was named the first minister
of army and navy. BY reason Of his
drastic enforcement Of new regulations
he became known as a dictator"
Other members of the first Ebert
cabinet follow:
Minister of interior, Herr Preus;
minister of justice, Herr Sendsberg;
minister of commerce, Herr Muller;
minister of labor, Herr Bauer; minis
ter of foreign affairs, Count Won Brock
dorff Rantzau, former German minister
to Denmark; under foreign minister,
Won Richthofen; minister of finance,
IiNti A1NHiiiEA hibIi0NtI VI p0cidl anu
telegraphs, Herr Geisberg; minister
without portfolio, DR. Matthias Err
berger; armistice commissioner, former
state secretary and leader of the Cen
trist party; Edusrd David, president
of the National Assembly, and Herr
Wissel
The Ebert government underwent
many changes by reason of political,
economic and popular demands
The first real crisis to threaten the
Ebert regime, however, arose over the
question of accepting the peace treaty
terms. Ebert, Scheidemann and other
leaders were opposed to yielding to the
entente demands. Scheidemann re-
signed and a pro-treaty cabinet, in
Guiding DIR. August Mueller and ex.
Labor Secretary Bauer, former Social
list member of the Reichstag, was or
ganized. Bauer, in a speech at Wei
mar before the National Assembly, de-
nounced the treaty in strong terms,
but announced the governments de-
eision to sign.
For weeks before the revolution
broke out in Berlin there was a steady
run on German banks. Ebert, then
after a conference in Berlin
on Nov. %, 1918, with 20 delegates
from various parts of Germany. said;
Everything was in ruin when we took
Now, however, a Socialistie
republic has replaced the monarchy and
power has been put in the hands Of
the workmen and soldiers The first
aim to be achieved. he said, was peace
and the security of an economic basis.
Liberty. he maintained, was worthless
without food, and employment and il
was as a result Of this conference that
BE National Assembly met last spring
10 devise a constitutional form of gov
ernment.
Meanwhile the provisional govern
mcnt had been in an almost constant
state Of hux. Ministers came and
went. Owing to scarcity Of food. cloth
ing and fuel, conditions in many parts
of Germany were reported desperate
and there were many rumors that so
Wet government would supersede the
Ebert regime
President Ebert had the backing %
lie moderates Of Germany almost from
the beginning. One reason for this was
that when he succeeded Prince Max
imiiian be announced that property
rights would be respected, that no
hanks would be seized and that the /
government would uphold the German 4
var losses and pay all claims on the
state
The president in . New Year mani
-esto said that 1920 would decide I.
hethcr Germany would maintain her I
eff a. a nation. a week later he was 1
.Arsatened d 4 mob N Stuttgart. On /
The preceding Dee j. the Ebert cab 1
.ref-s fsV uss rcr0rtef a. likely a. q