The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-10-21
PLUTOCRATIC SUPER GOVERN
MENT In REALITY
RULES in GERMANY
by The Federated Pres.l

i bG4llIls---- 41C dS1CCLLCul SOllCluQEQ,
between Hugo SHINES and Guy Jean
Marquis de Lubersac for the restoration
of the devastated French region means
from the workers standpoint that:
SHINES, the German Gary, has set
himself above the German government
and demonstrated that big business is
superior to the state. The agreement
wasmade in violation of the principles
for which the government stood.
Back in 1919 and 1920. the Ger
man trade unions had agreed with the
French trades unions upon a plan for
rebuilding northern France under the
Joint control of the organized workers
associations of both countries. That
plan was approved by the German gov
eminent, but turned down by the
French. The reconstruction was to take.
place at cost.
When this plan failed. the late Wal
ter Rathenau, then minister Of recon-
struction, concluded with the approval
of the German trade unions the so-caII-
ed Wiesbaden agreement, by which the
German government was to organize a
corporation on a non-profit-making ba-
sis to handle the work of reconstruc-
ton. Again the proposal came to
naught because Of French opposition
Now SHINES comes along and adopts
the whole scheme, but with the addi-
ton that one of his corporations, the
Hoch-und Iiefbau GesalIschaft, is to be
1.-THE middleman instead of the govern
ment or the trade unions, and that this
imiddleman is to earn 6 percent for its
ipatriotic work!
| The agreement further means the
concentration in the hands Of one group
of an enormous power both for max
ling profits and for gaining political
ends. The agreement provides that all
materials end all labor in Germany used
in the work Of reconstruction in north
ern France must be approved by Stin-
ines Hoch-und Tiefbau Geselschcaft.
THE concerns in which SHINES has con-
TROLLING interest will get the preference
lin awarding the contracts. Thus, be-
sides making a profit of 6 %, the
IStnnes concerns will handle orders to-
failing billions Of marks.
! Another section Of the agreement
permits the retention of certain por-
ton Of German PREPARATIONS coal Chat
would otherwise have to be shipped to.
Erancc) fer speeding up industries con-
cerned with materials for restoration.
The distribution Of this coal, one Of
the most precious things in Germany,
lis specifically left to Shines.
The agreement specifies that ali
.Prices for material shall be figured in
francs rather than IN dollars. Expert
.cace has shown that this always means
higher prices than when things are fig
.ured in marks, and that this leads 10.
violent speculation, to further deplecia-
'tion of the mark, and to new misery for
the workers whose wages are never
raised as fast as prices jump.
Politically this agreement means that
SHINES practically has the German
government in his pocket. SHINES will
become the sheriff or constable for the.
allies. It will be up to him to collect
the PREPARATIONS. sums involved, includ-
ing the profits of his concerns and the
go commission, from bankrupt Ger
man treasury, 1t is predicted that, when
Germany cannot pay, SHINES will take
over the railroads, telephone, telegraph
and postal services and run them under
private ownership.
About the only thing that the work.
ers can do about the matter, in the.
opinion of Vice-President Grassmann,
German Federation of Labor, who is.
usually the spokesman of the federation
IN matters of International policy, is to
see to 1t that union conditions are OBJ
served in connection with the work.
The whole thing was as much of
surprise to US, . said Grassmann, g as it
was to the government. The agree
ment has been signed and sealed and
we have nothing to say about it. Buf
We can watch the terms under which
it Is carried out."
FRUITS OF PROFTTEERINC