The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-26
Proposed in Reichstag that
Germany Make Peace
Without Annexations--
He Was Shot at and
Wounded on Jan. 26, 1920
Was Blamed for Moral
Collapse of German Peo-
pie

sojourning with his family. his body
contained twelve bullet wounds.
Herr Erzberger had left Bad Cries
bach, where he was taking the cure,
in company with the Reichstag deputy
Diaz for a foot tour of the Black for
est. An hour later both men were
confronted by two youths who sepa-
rated them and then emptied revolvers
into Herr Erzberger, who was killed
instantly by shots in the head. Deputy
Diez also was wounded.
Matthias Erzberger, German vice-pre-
mier and minister of finance, was shot
and wounded on Jan. 26, 1920, as he
was leaving the criminal court building
in Berlin after attending hearing in
a libel suit he had brought against DR..
Karl Helfferich, the former German
vice chancellor. His assailant gave his
name as 0ltwig Won Hirschfeld, for
mer cadet officer, 20 years old, stu
dent, and son of Berlin bank official.
Won Hirsehfeld was arrested and was
quoted as saying he considered Err
berger dangerous to the empire. The
assailant fred two shots at ErZberger
as the minister was entering his auto
mobile. One bullet glanced off the
ministers watch chain and another en-
tered his shoulder.
Erzberger reused storm in Ger
many in July, 1917, more than year
before the armistice, by proposing a
resolution in the the German Reichstag
in favor of a peace without annexation
and for parliamentary reform. Chan
cellor- Hollweg declared this formula
was unacceptable and DIR. Helfferich
subsequently blamed Erzberger's peace
proposal for the moral collapse of the
German people The former vice-chan-
cellor accused Erzberger of his trea
son, denounced him as "a menace to
the purity of our public life and in
vited him 10 bring suit for libel. He |
declared that ErEberger must be re-
moved from public Office ''if our politi |
cal life is again to become healthy and |
normal" He asserted also that Err
berger's fortune had been made during |
the war by utilizing his political and /
parliamentary position.
Erzberger accepted the challenge and
instituted suit for libel The hearing
was acrimonious and assumed much
political importance, DIR. Helfferich de-
livering denunciatory speeches in court
while Erzberger vigorously defended
himself and his action in seeking peace
in 1917.
Herr Erzberger was for many years
leader of the German center party and
one Of the leading figures in German
public life after Germany's defeat in
the war His peace move of 1917 had
made him the storm center of attack
by reactionaries; but when Germany's
military power collapsed he was made
minister without portfolio in the cab
met of Prince Maximilian.
As a member of the German armi-
etice delegation he conducted negotia-
tions with Marshal Foch and later
headed the majority socialists in a
to form a new ministry and
sign the peace treaty. His attitude
throughout the srmistice negotiations
aroused against him the Indignation
of German military authorities and in
June, 1919, it was reported that his
residence had been fired upon by a
Berlin mob. A plot said to have been
formed by members of the officers
corps at Potsdam TO assassinate him
was revealed in September following.
Erzberger Of Lowly ongin.
Bonn in Buttenhsus, sept. 20. 1875.
Erzberger was the son Of poor tail
Dr.. he became a schoolmaster. obtained
J university education. studied inter
national law and political economy.
wrote several books on political and
economic subjects and became a bril-
liant speaker and politician. He vas
elected 10 the Reichstag in 1908 as {
member Of the center tCatholie) party. !
= representative Of small farmers. and
secame one Of the leaders Of a small !
liberal wing Of that party. He i said {
. have been q pan-1serman during the I
arly part Of the war and % have en- q
-sged actively in spreading German G
propaganda He was accused Of having J
ecommended the use by German {
roops Of the fame thrower Later be {