Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-03-25

either before or after the next cleo
tion, and If ratified at such time we
would become part of the league.
If this is not done the nation can
apply for membership in the league
lust as any nation not party to the
Versailles treaty may do and be ac
cepted by the nations that are now
members.
Although Germany has occupied an
eminence conspicuous in the center Of
the stage of world events during the
week and considerable light has arisen
from the conflagration raging within
her borders, much mystery rules as to
the true state Of affairs. Dark areas
exist which the spotlights of anxious
international interest and the tele-
scopes Of publicity cannot penetrate.
One thing certain Is that the revolu-
tion instigated by Kapp, Luettwitz and
others with Kapp as self-appointed die
tator has been overtlrown after five
days Of hectic, febrile existence. The
active agent in bringing about this
speedy demise was general strike of
workmen centered In Berlin.
Whether the offspring of militaristic
designs. an effort to administer oxy-
gen to the gasping hopes of royalty, n
cunning machination of bolshevism, or
deeply laid plot involving all parties
to muddy the wa.at: Of international
affairs and so defeat the terms of tn"
peace treaty as affecting Germany, is
not yet evident and may not be clear
for long time. At any rate. tho rev.
olution appears to have been feeble
child. When the railroad workers quit.
and also those of the public utilities
including gas, water and electricity.
the life-giving and distributive facill-
ties ceased. A lustier infant could
have lasted longer, but eventually
would have succumbed.
Has the Ebert government been mere
camouflage? Ebert seems to have
known what was impending and at the
first sound of alarm deserted Berlin
after calling upon the proletarat to
support him by the strike. Earlier nd
ter of defense, the man who has re-
Gently been proclailning his acceptance
! Of the principles of the treaty and his
F, determination to help work them out
:, had an understanding with the revolu-
i tionaries. Time alone will demonstrate
the truth or falsity Of this Indication
With the Russian Turkish and eastern
Z situations what they are. added to tht
complications of the Adriatic situation
and the internal affairs of France and
England ii would seem to be a fairly
opport,Ine time for Germany to stage
mnddlng and dstracting demonstra
tion. There are clements aplenty in
Germany committed to such intentions
That which now seems likely is tha,
the various groups could not work to-
gethcr harmoniously. Ludendorff was
in Moscow intriguing with Lenina and
Trotsky. a case indeed of politics max
ing strange bedfelIows. AT home there
was movement. if Ebert aud his fol
lowers could be rendered sufficiently
complaisant. to set up I!indenburg as
a candidate for president. Notwith
standing that Lulcndorff, the embodi.
ment of reactionism, was flirting wifi
the pcrsonification of advanced radi
calism. and Hindenburg's supporters
were enseavoring to make friends Will
the socalistic adherents Of Ebert, re
dictionary undercurrent was prevalent
throughout all the plotting. If the
revolution went of half cooked. az
seems fairly evident, 1t was due to hu
man nature and the impossibility OF
combining antagonistic elements anf
soothing individual ambitions. Through
out the whole affair there has been de
ceit, subterfuge and recrimination. {
heritage from the teachings Of kultur
proving that German leaders canno
be honest with each other and car
scarcely face their own visages in
looking glass.
Out of the whole mess has come tn,
renewed menace of bolshevism. Har
nessmaker Ebert is the one figure IL
Germany who carries any Indication
of influence and strength OH the sid,
of law and order. He ordered tn,
strike and it remai"s to be seen wheth
er or not he can control it. Just nov
1t looks as though he might have ere
ated Franlenstein destined to crusl
him and throw his nation-perhaps tn
whole of Fnrope-into chaos. Soviet
have been proclaimed in certain place
TIL "a
ifestations are confined largely to Sax
ony and other industrial centers wher
radicalism has been strongest. Eber
has confidence in his military resource
and in the sober inclinations Of TIN
people; thoroughly sick of war
anxious to heal internal troubles an,
j get back to work. The optimistic On
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