Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-02-04
Germany's Ruin Was
Predicted by Bismarck

the document to Bismarck, and asked
mis- opinion.
May / respectfully ask your royal
highness TO throw the draft you have
so kindly sent me into the fire with
out delayY was Bismarck's answer.
When the prince came into author
ity Bismarck was retained as imperial
chancellor, but now found that ne had
group of opponents to deal with In
the new government. The grand duke
Of Baden, Waldersee and Botticher all
couspired against him both at court
and in parliament. Bismarck In the
memoirs scores these men and the new
circle of friends that the kaiser had
gathered about him. He speaks, for
example, of Heyden, "of whom poll
ticians say that he is painter, and
painters say that he is politician"
Botticher, who owed his place to Bis
marck, won great influence over the
kaiser at Bismarck's expense, and the
young monarch gave less heed to the
older mans counsel The time was
slowly approaching for the dropping
Of the pilot" who had stood so long at
the helm of Prussia and the empire.
Many of the kaiser's policies at this
period show a creditable amount of
enlightenment, although Bismarck did
not believe them practicable. William
II at this time expressed sympathy for
the working classes and dreamed of
better labor laws and class reconcilia-
ton. Bismarck, on the other hand,
thought that the workers oughtsto be
kept down. The kaiser had his own
way and better labor laws were
passed, despite Bismarek's opposition.
Such defeats weakened the chancel-
lor's power and he even wondered
whether he ought to send In his reg
ignation.
Bismarck Considers Reslgnlng.
Thus the storm gathered in January
and February. $780, and was marked
by scene In the imperial palace at
Berlin. Tempers had risen on both
sides over the matter in dispute, and
at last the chancellor put the direct
question:
ut appears. then, that I am In your
majesty's wayf"
The kaiser" adds Bismarck, "said
nothing and therefore assented."
After this Bismarck again consid-
cred Offering his resignation, but he
did not do so. In fact. he became OBJ
stinate and ultimately decided to make
II as difficult ms possible for the kaiser
TO dismiss him. Meanwhile, however
the kaiser was growing stronger In the
government. The ministers In the
cabinet turned against Bismarck and
he felt his grip weakening. Once he
asked for an explanation of why the
ministers favored the kaiser against
him. and one replied confidentially:
we must do something TO please
him (meaning the kaiser). Bismarck
answered Ironically that he was glad
to see the monarchy so firmly estab-
lished-the monarchy that was SO
shaken when he became chancellor.
Chancellor Deties Kaiser.
Matters came to a crisis toward the
end of March. Bismarck had received
Windthorst, the leader of the Center
party, at his home. and the kaiser re-
sented this act. Bismarck claimed the
right TO receive distinguished poll
ticians whenever and wherever he
pleased. The kaiser asked:
Even II /, your sovereign, for,ld
you tor"
yes even then" Bismarck an
swered.
William then talked about the new
reichstag and about insurance both
subjects on which he knew the chan.
'ellor's views We're opposed TO his own
He spoke of his great wish to visit the
ear as soon es possible.
Bismarck did not approve Of this
and the kaiser knew 1t. The chancal.
lor's answer TO the suggestion was 70
take document from his portfolio
and warn the kaiser against the visit
saying that Prince Hatfield the Ger,
man ambassador at London. had naae
notes of some very unpleasant tbings
the ear had said Of the kaiser rbasn
notes were contained in the doeu,,e,,.
which Bismarck exhibited bnf ,eo,,,a
net show 70 William. The kaiser IN.
sisted that he read them. but Bis
marek said that such distressing stats.
ments could NOT very wen be raaa
aloud The kaiser snatehe6 the aoen.
ment from Bismarcks hands ami Ia.
gan to read for himself His faca
grew pale with anges> for. as Bis