The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-04
WlRTH'S VICTORY
aids DEMOCRATIC
IDEA In GERMANY
Republic Now Has Real
Premier, Says Berlin
Editor.
by GEORG BERNHARD
Editor In Chief Of the Vossiche
Zeltung, Berlin.

LCttones
BERLIN, Dec. 3.-The letest Ger
man government crisis has brought
about a defeat of the parliamentary
leaders, while Strengthening the re-
publican idea in Germany. The lat
ter owes it's victory to President
Ebert
In the Tight for the new consti-
tuition after the fall of the mon
archy, the chief question was
whether the President was to be
nominated by Parliament after the
French pattern, or to be elected by
the people, after the American.
This was not only a fight about
question of form. but also of the
Lower of the presidency. Luckily
the American example was follow
ed. and the head of the republic
placed at the side of Parliament as
an independent factor.
If things had turned out differ
entity. the President, dependent on
Parliament, would have been
caught in the whirlpool of parlia-
mentary factions. AS things stood.
he was enabled by the constitution
to nominate the chancellor at
time when II did not seem possible
to form a working coalition and to
authorize hi INTO choose his own
ministers Independently of party
routine.
Proves His Leadership.
President Ebert. the former
saddler's apprentice, has by his
power of decision at the critical
moment again proved that he is
worthy Of the reputation gained as
90 io1 n nrrafir fac
ton: that he is able to keep a cool
head in the general confusion and,
by a combination of good sense and
instructive insight, to save the most
critical situation.
AS a matter of course. the Presi-
dents choice again fell upon DR..
Wirth. At the present time. he is
one of the few, possibly the only
great politician in Germany. the
first fruit of the principle of parlia-
mentary selection. Referring to his
past as a public school teacher of
mathematics, his opponents in their
secret conventicles always call him
that Logarithm Johnny" But look
impartially and infinitely at the
work he has done for the past
months, and you will concede that
his ways are totally different from
those of the German statesmen OF
the last decade.
Holds TO Democracy.
What marks Wirth a different
man from the civil servants and
parliamentaries of the ancient re-
gime is the fact that he is a man
OF politics. He Is governed by the
idea of democracy. and puts il be-
fore all interests of partisanship.
This quality has. however. exposed
him to the most violent attacks
from the opposition. AS a rule every
statesman is in for a beating at
home for words which abroad are
priced as utterances of superior
wisdom. Wirth IS not only a mar.
but a man Of Spirit. He has had the
loyalty and courage to. show this
spirit to the world. and he has had
the good luck to be believed.
1t has been Germany's misfortune
that. during the war, her states
men spoke with less courage to
their own people. afterwards bctng
surprised that nobody abroad un-
derstoDd them Wirth. while render
ing the greatest possible service TO
his country by his methods during
the comparatively short time of his
political activity. has had to suffer
being insulted as a servant of for
eign, or even the allied, states by
his compatriots.
Compels Confidence Vote.
Still, he has gained a great vic
tory. The working masses of the
Socialist, as well as of the Clerical
party regard him is the protector
of democracy. AS the consent of the
working masses cannot be dispens-
ed with for the solution of the
German financial problems. at this
critical moment. nobody was able
to be government leader of the
young republic successfully but the
man who. at the same time, pos
sessed the confidence of the world
and of the working classes.
Wirth has at last become con-
scious of his own power. He has
enforced the vote of confidence in
the Reichstag. where his own party
did not stand up for him implicitly
He is the first German chancellor
who holds the reigns of govern
ment neither by the grace of the
Kaiser, nor elected by a strong
coalition: but only thanks to the
power of his personal qualities. The
new cabinet is Wirth cabinet
For the shrst time, the republic has
a real premier.