The Washington herald., 1921-08-28
HOPES PEACE WILL
AID WELFARE OF
GERMANY AND US
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
and expansive face which. as he
| stepped from behind his desk with
his hand extended in welcome. was
lighted up by a broad expressive
smile.
President Ebert, although a Ma
jority Socialist. regards himself
primarily as the representative Of
all groups of the German nation.
He has felt that his most important
task is to unite all the democratic
elements which are ready to CO.
operate in the work of reconstruc-
ton and the restoration of peace
and security.
COuated on Democracy.
With few preliminary comments
and without reservation he an
swered simply and directly all the
questions put to him. Outlining the
growth and development of the
democratic republican spirit he said ::
FOLLOWING our military break
down. the German people. with COM
paratively few exceptions, counted
on a democratic government as the
only hope for q bearable peace and
the possibility of saving Germany.
The former governing system hac
gone bankrupt. This hope was no
self-illusion. but was justified by all
the expressions of entente war aims
and the American slogan Of democ-
| racy.
I'VE accepted the armistice on the
| basis OF President Wilson's fourteen
points, but the peace treaty follow
ing the armistice was a great dis
q - g. NJ
classes and a blow to democracy.
Reaction. which for a long time was
afraid to raise its head. came into
the open again, taking advantage of
all the difficulties placed in the path
of the young republic by the peace
| treaty
Attacked by Reactionaries.
The reactionaries are trying to
make the present democratic system
and the present democratic govern
ment responsibleN for all Of Ger
many's difficulties. Nevertheless at
the present time the great majority
of people, from the workers to the
middle classes. unQuestionably fav-
or the republic"
Replying to a question as to what
was his estimate of the most valu-
able accomplishments OF the Ger
| man Republic, President Ebert said:
Democracy has been introduced
into the state and into the counties
down the whole line. The introduc-
tion to the weimar constitution
says: The united German people,
| animated by desire to rebuild and
to strengthen their country in free
dom and justice and to preserve in
terror and foreign peace, and to
support social progress. have given
themselves this constitution
Has Secured S-Hour Day,
I'm fact. the people have decided
on all matters. Women are mems
equals politically; they have the
same rights and all professions are
open to them.
The greatest advantages secured
by democracy have been in the field
of social legislation. We have Sc.
cured an eight-hour day for work.
ers in all fields. The law for work.
mems councils creates a sort of
constitution for all plants. Other
achievements in the same field are
government relief for the unem-
ployed, for young mothers and
babies; settlements for city workers
and government control for homing
arrangements to meet the extra
housing needs.
Politically the greatest achieve
ment has been the success of main
tanning the unity of the German ma
ton, which has been saved through
the loyalty Of the German workmen,
who appreciate the value of the new
democracy. This was especially
seen in the plebiscites in North
Schleswig. East Prussia. and Upper
Silesia."
Copyright, lsai.)