The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-25
NATIONAL CRISIS MAY FOLLOW DEATH
 OF GERMAN LEADER
tQenflnned from pnEe onel

e%A~Ahs% e@t .
 
 toentinHed from paEe one) appraisal of the direction in which the political effect of Rathenau's As- sassination win spread, yet this much is eertalu-ths government is facing far more preearious situation than it did when nationalist bullets struck down nrsberser 10 months ago.
 Never did the RelohstRg witness such scenes of turbulence and sxo- crRtlons. Dr. Karl Helfferich, the nationaliHt loader, who had attack ed Dr. Rathenau in Q savage speech in the ReichstEE yesterday, sat curled i up in his scat far to the right of the house. He appeared to be In very depressed and somewhat feverish state.
 President Loeb had difficulty in getting the session under way, as the radicals swarmed over to tho right threatening Helfferich and others who came to his rescue. Chancellor Wirth who attempted to paoify tho bellicose deputies had to give up the task.
 Odd Coincidence
 Soon after the assassination of the foreign minister and before tho open
 
 the commotion in the chamber was marked by an odd coincidence. in the appearance of youth bearing a large wreath intended as q tribute to Helf- ferich. Deputy Unterleite, independ- ent socialist, took tho floor. accepted the roses, beribboned In black, white and red and holding 1t up, shouted This Is gift of honor for Helf- ferich."
 There was shout from the left and cries of "Shamsl" "Shamel"
 "The murder ganEl"
 A number of deputies seized the wreath and punched upon the youth, threw him downstairs and turned him over to the police. Ie developed, however. that he had not heard of tho assassination of Rathenau and meant the wreath as an offering in honor of Helfferioh's speech of last night. In which tho nationalist leader scored the government and the foreign min- ister.
 BInmes Opponents This seat" said President Loeb, pointing to pr. Rathenau's place on the government bench, would not be vacant today had it not been for the boundless infiammatory agitation di- rooted against the heads of the gov ernment.o
 This remark was addressed to the l right side of the ho, e.
 Chancellor wirth, who followed, could hardly make his voics carry be- yond the first few rows of seats He was visiDly moved for the loss of pr. Rathenau Is 4 distinctly personal matter with him. The foreign minis ter WAS known to hay been more than mere cabinet colleague; he was tho driving flrc in politics for which the chancellor was given cabi- net and the foreign minister was generally viewed as the chancellor's coach.
 pr. wirth recalled Rathenau's work at Genoa, expressing the 1on- viction that the dead minister's sem l timents as expounded In tn pres enoe of the allied leaders sounded a new noto In behalf of international reconciliation. He praised him for having pointed out path which would lead to the worlds economic restoration
 Dr. Walter Rathenau was styled ''the wizard of the German empire" because. by his high powers of orr ganixation and business efficiency. he devised expedients which kept the people eating and the army shoot ing" when the blockade had shut ! off the importation of raw materials during the war. After the war, as ] minister of reconstruction, his meet ings with the French minister, Louis Loucheurs brought about with bus l iness-like directness, adjustments and accommodations which had been the despair of diplomats.
 1 He was of Jewish birth and was l described as man of great force and energy, business acumen, vision and initiative. His father founded the Allegemeine Flax Trizitaets Cos l sellschaft (German General Electric as the A. E. G. After studying at l the University of Berlin and Stras- 1 bourg, Dr. Rathenau began his pro- 1 fession of enginer with establish ments in Switzerland. | Then he went to the A. E. c. and rose rapidly to the head of the or | ganization. Later he retired after failing in an attempt to oppose a combination with the Siemens Schu- l kert company.
 Toured Possessions l Freed from business obligations. he accompanied Dr. Dernburg. then | secretary of state for the colonies, on a tour of the German possessions in Africa. He later represented Ger man concessionaires in mine exploi- ! tation in Morocco. Banking next en- gagged his energies and he became | the head of one of the loading Ger man financial houses. He became chairman of the administrative coun- cil of the A. u. G. and soon made a name for himself throughout the empire as a commercial magnate.
 At the outbreak of the World war.