The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-26
Matthias Erzberger Slai,
By Youthful Assassins

annexations and for parliamentary re-
form. Chancellor Bethmann- -Hollweg
declared this formula was unaccept-
able and DIR. Helfferich subsequently,
blamed Erzberger's peace proposal for
the moral collapse of the German peo-
pie.
The former vice chancellor accused
Erzberger of high treason, denounced
him asa menace to the purity of our
public life and invited him to bring
suit for libel. He declared that Err
berger must be removed from public
office .ff our political life is again TO
become healthy and normal" He as
serted also that Erzberger's fortune
had been made during the war by
utilizing his political and parliament
tary position.
Center Party Leader.
Erzberger accepted the challenge
and instituted suit for libel. The hear
ing was acrimonious and assumed
ferich delivered 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 Ger
man public life after Germanys de-
feat in the war. His peace move of
1917 had made him the storm center
of attack by reactionaries, but when
Germapy's military power collapsed
he was made Minister Without Port
folio in the cabinet of Prince Maxi
milan.
On Armistice Commission.
AS a member of the German armi-
stice delegation, he conducted nego-
tiations with Marshal Foch and later
headed the Majority Socialists in a
movement to form a new ministry and
sign the peace treaty. His attitude
thruout the armistice 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.
Born in Buttenhaus, September 20,
1875, Erzberger was the son of poor
tailor. He became a schoolmaster,
obtained a university education. stu
died international law and political
economy, wrote several books on po-
litical and economic subjects and be-
came a brilliant speaker and politi-
clan. He was elected to the Reich
stag in 1903 as member of the Center
(Catho1ic) party, as representative OF
small farmers and became one OF the
leaders of small liberal wing of that
party.
Han-SICrn1dn at OA NNOH-
He is said to have been Pan-Ger-
man during the early part of the war
and to have engaged actively in
spreading German propaganda. He
was accused of having recommended
the use by German troops of the flame
thrower Later he declared Ger
many's U-boat war had failed and ad-
-vocated its abandonment. Some time
prior to the armistice he published a
book in which he outlined plan for
a league of nations.
Erzberger was elected member of
the national assembly from Wuert-
temberg in January, 1919, and in June
became vice premier and minister of
finance. In the latter office he for
mulated the vast income tax and capi-
tai levy plan which he declared was
necessary to enable Germany to pay
her indemnitieS to the Entente and to
rehabilitate herself financially. 1t was
claimed that this levy on German cap
ital would greatly reduce the huge
fortunes of German war profiteers
and industrial leaders.