Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-13
EBERT As PRESIDENT
HAD STORMY CAREER

rlodrlch tNert. PRESIDENT nI the
German republic. whose government
has been ovPrthrown, was once head
of the main committee Of the Rpichstag
and leader of the Social Democratic
party. He was elected first president
of the new German progressive re
public for a term of seven wears on
February II. 1910. bv the national as
sembly nj Wemar He has been char
acterizcd rs typo of Fan German or
imperialiStic Socialist
II was tho Ebert government which
arose from the ruins of the Hohen
yollcrn dynasty and which enabled the
Entente Allies to conclude peace with
Germany.
On Novemhpr 10. 1918. when former
Emperor William ahGcated and hed
Ebert was the imperial chancellor. hav-
Ing succeeded Prince Mayimilian of Ba =
den. who was instrumental in negotiat
ing the armisticp. He at once assumed
command and succeeded in quellng rev
oiutionary outbreaks. The rcd flag was
hoisted over the Brandenburg gate and
the royal palace after wild scenes in
Beriin. where the people shouted Long
hve the republic. and sang the Mar
seillaise
The new government will be a GOV
eminent of the people. Chancellor
Ebert said. 1T must make every ef-
fort 10 secure in the quickPt 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 fa q.
mine and TO accomplish their legitimate
claims 10 autonomy"
The independent Socialists including
radical element favorable to h lshe-
vism and known as Sparta"anS. = mpli-
Gated Ebert : problem. When - be
came chancellor manv of these radicals
including Karl Lebknecht and Rosa
Luxcmhurg. were freed from prison and
the two mentioned were subsequently,
assassinatPd
Constitution ADOPTED
Th" national assembly. which elected
Ebert. was formed for the purpose Of
adopting constitution. Its document
which was approved last August -. pro =
vid"d that the executive power lies
with the people. The power of the
mDrer chamber Of the Rei"hstag was
limited similar 10 the british House Of
Lords. There were special protection
for labor and generally accepted rules
Of international Law Incorporated in
the new instrument
Ebert took the oath of ofire on August
z and two DAYS later tho national as
SPmbly ceased to exist. it being suncr-
seeded hy the new Roi"hstag
Philip SCheidomauu was tho first
premier Of Germany undor Ebert Gus.
tavP 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 bPcom" known rs a dictator
"a. q
inet follow:
Minister of interior, Herr Preus :
minister Of Justice Herr Sondsbcrg :;
min istNr Of commerce. Herr Muller ;
minister Of labor. Herr Bauer: minister
of foreign affairs. Count Won Brock
dorff Rantzau. former German minister
10 Denmark; under foreign minister
Won RichthofPn; minister Of finance
Herr Schiller; minister Of postal and
telegraphs. Herr GpisberC ministers
without portfolio. DR.. Matthias Err
berger. armiStice commissioner. former
state secretary and leader Of the Cen
trist party; Eduard David. president Of
the National Assembly. and Herr Wis
sell
The Ebert government underwent
many changes by reason Of political.
economic and popular demands.
First Crisis Over Peace Terms
The first real crisis 10 threaten the
Ebert regime. however. arose over the
question of aCCPT ting the peace treaty
terms. Ebert, Scheidcmanu and other
leaders We're opposed to yielding to the
Entente demands Schpidemann re
signed and pro treaty cabinet, inClud-
ing DR.. August Mueller and eX Labor
Secretary Bauer, former Socialist mem
Der Of the ReiChstag, was organized.
Bauer in n speech at Weimar before
the National Assembly denounced the
treaty in strong terms, but announced
the governments decision to sign.
Ebert, as chancellor. at a conference
in Berlin on November ~. 1918, with
seventy delegates from various parts of
Germany. said Everything was in
ruin wher we took charge. Now, how
ever, a sOcialistic republic has replaced
the monarchy and power has been put
in the hands of the wOrkmen aud SOL
jiers' The first aim 10 he achieved, he
said, was peace and the security Of an
economic basis. Liberty, he maintained
was worthless without food and en-
ployment and il was as q result of this
conference that the natiOEal assembly
met last spring to devise a constitutional
form Of government
Meanwhile the provisional govern
ment had been in an almost constant
state OF change. Ministers came ard
went Owing 10 scarcity of food. cloth
ing and fuel, conditions in many parts
Of Germany were reported desperate and
there were many rumOrs that soviet COY !.