The Washington herald., 1921-08-28
Erzberger Murder Brings
Warnings of Dangerous
Consequences.
SLAYING BLAMED
ON MONARCHISTS
Whole Nation Enraged at
Revolt Possibilities
Raised by Crime.
special Cable to The Washington Hsraid.)

Especial Cable TO The washington deralo')
BERLIN, Aug. 27.-The German
government will resign and take
the issue to the people IF reac-
tionaries and their newspapers con-
tinue instigation such as led to the
murder of Matthias Erzberger,"
Chancellor wirth declared today.
An ultimatum to that effect may
shortly be issued
TT has been suggested tc me that
1 issue a proclamation to the public
on the subject of the murder of Err
berger" wirth said. That would
be insufficient to meet this con-
temptible murder and murder prop
aganda-
We must take sharper means.
Government OF Murderc-
We will ask the people if they
desire responsible government or 4
murder regime
IF politicians of the Right incite
assassins to overthrow the govern
ment. they must bear the RESPONSE
bility for their conduct and Ger
many's fate"
A wave of wrath has risen against
those held responsible for the crime
in the Black Forest, when Erzberg-
er, former vice premier and leader
Of the Center party. was shot down
in cold blood by two assassIns. who
fred twelve shots into his body and
it has not been confined to the gov
ernment and its party. All parties
of the Left are agreed that if fur
Tier assassinations are instigated.
Germany will see a new era of
"putches" (small. but violent, re-
volts) and interncine warfare.
The crime in the Black Forest
was undoubtedly a political mur-
der" President Loebe of the Reichs-
tag informed a meeting Of party
leaders today. Tt may well have
serious consequences. 1t has dis
turbpd the peace and quletness of
our land
One German paper declares that
government troops are being held In
readiness to suppress any embryonic
'-putches which may arise from the
Erzberger murder.
The forces OF the right IN Ger
many have been known to be dis
satisfied for some time, and the
signing Of the American treaty has
by no means eased the situation.
No occurrence sincs the revolu-
tion has shaken the whole German
people as has the assassination.
The entire first pages of all news
papers are devoted to it
There Is no indication yet of the
nurderer's identity. but even the
conservative press admit grudging-
ly II was undoubtedly a political
crime. There is some significance
seen in the fact that Oltweg Won
Hirschfeld, a student, who was
sentenced in February last year
for an attempted attack on Err
berger, was released from prison
a fortnight ago.
Newspapers Bitter.
The Socialist official news agency
has issued a manifesto which reeks
with bloodthirsty invective against
"hangmen of the world war ban
dts" and exhorts working people
to show their teeth" against the
countPr-revolution.
The appeal is published approx
ingly by all the Socialist papers.
The Tageblatt is not far behind
in its bitterness while the Vos-
siche Zeitung declares:
The seed which the Conserva-
tfves have sown, has borne fruit"
The Conservative press deplores
the murder and is plainly dis
quieted over the possible political
results. The Allgemeine Gazette
warns against any attempt to make
political capital out of the deed by
insane fanatics"
ErZberger was recently reelected
and returning to the Reichstag in
September would have become the
leader in the approaching struggle
70 tax capital heavily. Although
DsminalIy a Clerical, he was in
reality a Christian Socialist.
Had Conservative Plans.
Soon after peace was declared he
began work on a plan to give
workmen even more extensive
rights in supervision and greater
profits The plan was more exten-
sive than that of the Weimar con-
stitution. He had already incurred
. the hatred of all patriots of the
old school, by accepting the re-
sponsibility of signing the armistice.
In peace time when all the old
leaders fled or sulked in ther tents
his taxation plan added fuel to the
flames. No other man in Germany
was attacked so continuously by the
Conservative press. There is no
reason to assume the murder a re-
suit Of a deliberate conspiracy, but
it is undoubted that the unmeasured
denunciations by the Conservatives
was directly responsible for the
crime