The New York herald., 1922-09-03

Special CdoIe to TIE NEW YORK h1HALp
Copyright. 1922, by The New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin. Sept. 2.
Are revolutions brewing In Ger
many? or are the workers settling
down to work despite the hard times
by which half the population has sunk
to pauperism?
The New YORK HERALD correspon-
dent sought to obtain the answer to
these questions by interviewing Gov
ernment officials, labor leaders and
workers. All agreed that there will
be misery and disorder this winter un-
less measures are found Immediately
TO relieve the present muddled eco
nomic situation. The Germans will
not lie down with a shrug. the way
the Viennese have been doing. but thus
far the predictions of the pessimists
that the collapse of the mark would
result in immediate disorders have not
be fulfilled.
Heavy buying has checked unemp,oy-
ment and strikes although the average
wage of workers amounts to only SIS d
month in American money. What is the
secret of the existing good order and
why is there such keen anxiety about
what will happen later? Order is being
maintained throughout Germany because
the trade unions, representing 10000 900,
workers. have working agreement with
the Wirth Cabinet. The trade unions
promised the Cabinet their support dur
Ing the crisis and agreed to preven;
strikes in return for rigid economies
and naturalization measures which the
workers have long demanded.
Power of the Unions
Now that the two Socialist parties are
united the trade unions represent a sold
front and they are conscious Of their
own force
1.-THE trade unions could overthrow ta-
Cabinet tomorrow" Herr Aufhaeuser,
n union head, told THE NEW YoRK HER
AID correspondent. but there would b.
no point in that because labor would be
obliged to form Cabinet which would
be confronted by the opposition of out
side nations from whom we seek a
loan. and also by the combined parties
at home.
Symptosnatic OF his recognition of the
strength of the trade unions Is the faot
that Chancellor Wirth has repeatedly
sought conferences with labor leaders
during the present crisis. not only rela-
tive to social legislation but to the
foreign policy. He urgently asked he
trade unions to support his Government
and to discourage strikes when the marx
fell two weeks ago. Again he asked IN,
approval OF labor when he proposed he
pledges for the deliveries of coal sni
wood to the R,parations Commission.
The manufacturers also seek to pla-
cate the workers. Hugo SHINES made
Socialist professor the head Of his Nord-
deutsche AIe0emeine ZeitunO and chris
tened his latest ship Karl Legion In
honor of a former union head. The
Krupps have introduced an extensive
profit sharing system. The manufac-
turers have agreed 90 pay heavily sor
overtime work above the regular eight
hour day. Even the Industriallst party
is indicating its willingness to enter the
Cabinet with the Socialists this fall
Unions for Home Reforms.
AhS tioot uHioUS, HltHOuB0 lney are
consulted. have not the experts who can
Influence the foreign policy. They re-
peat mostly the liberal sounding slogans
which the Foreign Office doles out but
they are exerting the heaviest pressure
for home reforms. They demand the re-
sumption of Government control over
grain and potato prices. They want
stock exchange speculation to be
restricted especially in foreign securi-
ties. and Government control of in
dustry and finance. They demand that
the Government take steps to curb lux
uries and waste and they want to sun
press the manufacture of alcoholic bey-
erages.
Most or the trade union demands are
along the lines OF the socialization and
naturalization programs which the So
cialists sought TO enforce after the ar
mistice. Chancellor wirth. backed by
the manufacturers. who are bitterly on
posed TO the naturalization schemes
gives the trade unions vague promises
but resists the institution OF nationals
cation measures.
Admits Cabinet Is Weak.
a member OF the Government admit
ted that the Cabinet was handicapped
by weakness. The wirth Government
hasn't enough power nor sufficient
number OF army functionaries to en-
force Governmental CONTROL" he said
Furthermore. the Government has not
decided TO reestablsh the former war
restrictions governing exchange specu-
lations. although the boarding or dollars
and pounds sterling has become a pub
lie scandal.
The Government IL feeling anxiety
over the difficulties involved In securing
enough grain and potatoes to avoid polit-
teal disorders. The conflict already has
begun with the farmers being Obliged
10 sell part OF their crop at a low
arbitrary price.
The trade unions have taken a definite
stand against lcohol. Some leaders.
notably Grassmann. won applause at the
Hamburg labor meeting by advocating
completes prohibition. Alexander Knoll.
general secretary OF the German FEEDER
alton OF Labor. said to the CORRESPOND
ont: Tho workers are hostile To nj,
Oohof not so much because thev are
abstainers but because its production
wastes grain and potatoes. They re- |
sert seeing the sugar they cannot buy
used for makig drinks which are also |
beyond their purses. IL the Government
should not suppress the production OF
alcohol the workers probably will de-
clare an alcohol boycott"
Chancellor wirth has compromised by |
agreeing to suppress the brewing or |
strosg beer and by forbidding brandy |