The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-27
STORMY CAREER
CONTINUED Prom Yars ons.)

was shot and wounded on January 70
1890, ~ he was leaving tho criminal
court building in Berlin after attend
ing a hearing in . libel suit he had
brought against DR.. Karl Helferich. the
former German vioe-chancellor. Hill
assailant gave his narne AZ Oltwis Won
Hirschfeld. former cadet officer
twenty years old. . student. and son
Of q Berlin bank official. Won Hirsch.
fold was arrested and was quoted Al
saying ne considered Erzoerger danger
Gus to tho empire. Tho assailant fired
two shots at Erzberger as tho minister
was entering his automobile. One bull
lot glanced off tho ministers watch
chain and another entered his shoulder.
Blamed for Collapse.
ErzberEsr reused a storm In Ger
may IN July, 1917, more than a year
before the armistice. BY proposing q
resolution In the German reichstaE In
favor Of peace without annexations,
and for parliamentary reform. Chancel-
lor Bethmann-Hollwes declared this
formula was unacceptable, and DR..
Helfterich subsequently blamed ErI-
bsrger's peace proposal for the moral
collapse Of the German people. The
former vice-chancellor accused ErEoer-
ger of high treason. denounced him as
"a menace to tho purity OF our public
life" and invited him to bring suit for
libel. He declared that Erzbsrser must
b removed from public office II our
political life Is again to become healthy
and normal" He asserted also that
Er1berger's fortune had been made dur
ing the war by utilizing his political
and parliamentary position.
Erzberger accepted tho challenge and
instituted suit for libel. Tho hearing
wa, acrimonious and assumed much po-
ltical Importance DR.. Helfrerich dsliv-
erinE denunc!atory speeches In court
while ErzberEer vigorously defended
himself and his action in seeking peace
In 1917.
Leader Of the Center
Herr Erzberger was for many years
leader OF the German Center party and
ons OF tho leading figures In German
public life after Germany's defeat In
the war. His peace move Of 1917 had
made him tho storm center OF attack
by reactionaries: but whom Germany
military power collapsed ne was made
minister without portfolio In the cabinet
OF Prince Macmillan.
As member OF the German armistice
delegation he conducted negotiations
with Marshal Foch and later headed tho
Majority Socialists In movement 70
form a new ministry and sign tho peace
treaty. His attitude throughout the ar
msst!ce negotiations aroused against hSa
tho indignat!on OF German military
authorities. and In juno. 1919. 1t was
reported that his residence had been
fred upon BY Berlin mob. A plot
said 10 have been formed by members OF
tho officers corps at Potsdam 10 as
sassina.e him was revealed In September
following.
gon OF . Tailor
Born In Buttenhaus. September 70
1878 Erzberrer was the son OF poor
tailor. He became schoolmasier. OBJ
tained q university education, STUDIED
international law and political economy
wrote several books on political ana
economic subjects and became brilliant
speaker and politician. He was elected
to the reichstag In 1903 as member or
the Center (Cathnlic) party. "a repre-
tentative OF the small farmers. and be-
anne one OF the leaders OF small lib