The New York herald., 1922-02-04

Special CCbte to THE NEW YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1929. By THE New YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Rerlin. Feb. 3.
Germanys railroad strike which has
tied up the nations transportation
can best be described as a fight about
bank notes. 1t is an effort by few
classes of railroad employees to force
the Government into printing more
paper money than it had intended.
When the strike movement began it
was not considered OF paramount inn
portance The strike was first called
by a small labor committee and did
not have the sympathy even of the
real trade unions and tEe Socialists.
II was a single act of defiance by a
few leaders. who were able by CO.
Incidence to have authority over loco
motive engineers and station en-
ployees. Some $4,000 OF the former
have stopped work.
That their activity to-day has
brought Germany almost TO the brink
of n nationwide strike with its pre-
monitions of revolutionary possibili-
ties is the Governments own fault. as
It tried to play foreign politics in sup
pressing the strike. 1t was part OF
Chancellor Wirths agreement with
the Allies that he would curtail the
issuance of bank notes and would
make the railroad budget balance so
as to prove Germany's good faith in
paying the reparations.
At nrst glance the railroad strike
seemed TO offer a good opportunity for
the Government TO make a fine showing
in defeating it's opponents. This was
the program. Public opinion. even that
OF labor itself. was against the strikers
and the Government supposed II could 40
to any lengths in suppressing 1t WITHOUT
arousing antagonisn. President Ebert
thereupon issued a decree declaring the
strike Illegal and Police Chief Richter
OF Berlin confscated the strike funds
of the union and ordered the arrest OF
the strike leaders.
Such high handed measures were un-
known In Germany. even in the Kaiser's
palmiest days, and in the twinkling OF
an eye the Berlin labor unions called out
the railway workers Wage issues also
were pending between the city and its
employees and the latter, seeing
propitious moment TO exert pressure,
have ordered vote on strike. So II
now looks as II the nation might be given
a test of labor's power such as has not
been sampled since the Kapp rebellion.
Even though the spread OF the strike
ia the result of President IGberts un-
usual methods Of fighting such a threat.
IL remains and probably will remain
paper money fight, in which the Govern
nent is powerless as far as can now be
foreseen. II is the first strike in months
in Germany in which the Communist in
fiuencc is mimportant. But 1t also is
not n class fight in the ordinary sense
OF tho word. II Ia wholly unpolitical
and il the result of imitation and the
slow rate at which wages have trailed
behind the rise in prices
Even locomotive engineers receive
less than 2.400 marks a month. which
actually amounts 20 sl2 and In pur-
chasing power TO s3s. station employees
receive less than l 800 marks. equal TO
$3.50. which amounts 90 about SIS in
purchasing power in Germany
RrptIS. Feb. , Associated press) -
4 sharp rcbuke to the striking railroad
men for the manner IN which they Of
fCCted the Gtr1kn IN inc race OF ptIuilk
wprc negotiations with the Government
~ contained in Joint proclamation
issued tonight by representatives Of the
General Federation OF Labor Unions and
independent organizations. II sets forth
tho catastrophe effects OF the strike
,gpon the Internal situation in Germany,
coming as IL does on the eve OF the
Genoa conference.
Demand Is made that tho strikers re-
Turn TO work Immediately. wiereupon.
the resolution says tho wage parleys
vill be resumed promptly and the anti
strike ordinances promulgated ~ Prcsi-
cent F,ber, will be revoked
An extension OF the strike TO take IN
the mon employed IN the repair shops
now brings the number Of strikers 10
approximately $1,000 in Berlin and 100000
throughout the country.
T'hers Us considerable unrest among
the Berlin postal and telegraph workers
some OF these workers already have
quit work and others are expected to
leave their posts tomorrow. when 1t Is
believed the municipal workers also will
come out, they having voted almost
unanimously In favor OF strike.
Berin's gas, electric and water sup
,ly would be imperiled by a strike Of
municipal workers and "tramway SER
vice would he crippled
"sALIy' Mat. To-day. SOC 70 se.5o. No
higher. Ilerfeid rroduction-Mariiyn Miller
con Errol. p Nsw AUstsfoari Theatre. Adv.