Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-26
Erzberger SIdin;;
Shot TIUeIve Times
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bullet glanced off The ministers watcl
chain and another entered his shoulder
Er2berger aroused storm in Ger
many, in July, 1917, more than a yeai
before the armistice. by proposing d
resolution in the German Reichstag, IN
favor of peace without annexations
and for parliamentary reform. Chan
ccellor Bethmann- Hollweg declared this
formula was unacceptable and DR.. Helf
ierish subsequently blamed Erzberger' 5
peace proposal for the moral collapse
Of the German people.
The former vice chancellor accused
Erzberger of high treason, denounced
him as g a menace to the purity OF our
| public life" and invited him to bring
suit for libel. He declared that ErZ
berger must be removed from public
Office ''if our political life ie again to
become healthy and normal. He as
serted, also, that Er2berger's fortune
had been made during the war by util-
iSing his political and parliamentary
position.
Erzberger accepted the challenge and
instituted suit for libel. The hearing
was acrimonious and assumed much
political importance. DR.. Hclfferich de-
livcring denunciatory speeches in
court. while ErZberger vigorously de-
Tended himself and his action in seeking
peace in 1917.
Herr Erzbergcr was. for many years.
leader of the German Center party, and
ono of the leading figures in German
public life after GCrmany's defeat in
the war. His peace move of 1ol7 had
made him the storm center OF attack
by reactionarics but when Gcrmany's
military power collapsed he was made
minister without portfolio in the cabinet
of Prince Maximilian.
As member of the German armi-
stice delegation he conducted negotia-
tions with Marshal Foch and later
headed the Majority Socialists in a
movement to form new ministry ana
sign the peace treaty. His attitude
throughout the nrmistiCr 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 n
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 Buttcnhaus, September 20,
1875, Erzbergcr was the son of poor
tailor. He became schoolmastcr, OBJ
tanned university education, studied
international law and political economy,
wrote several books on political and eco
nomic subjects and became brilliant
speaker and politician. He was elected
to the Reichstag in 1903. as member
of the Center lCatholic) party, as rep
rpscntative of small farmers and became
one Of the leaders of small liberal
wing OF that party. He is said to have
been Pan German during the early
part of the war and to have actively
engaged in spreading German propa-
ganda He was accused of having rec
ommended the use by German troops
of the flame thrower. Later, he de-
clared Germany U-boat war had failed
and advocated its abandonment. Some
time prior to the armistice, he pub
lishcd book. in which he outlined n
plan for league of nations.
Eraberger was elected member of the
National Assembly from Wurtem-
berg, in January. 1919, and in June
became vice premier and minister Of
finance In the latter Office he formu
lated the vast income tax and capital
levy plan. which, he declared. WAS nee
essary to enable Germany to pay her
indemnitics to the Entente and to re-
habiltatc herself financially. 1t was
claimed that his levy on German capi
tai would greatly reduce the huge for
tunes of German war profteerS and
industrial leaders.