San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21
FACTORIES Of
GERMANY GUT
WORKING DAYS
Famine Will Be Followed
by Street Riots,
Tardieu Says.
GOVERNMENT BLAMED
Force of Events Exerts
More Power Than
Stresemann.
GOVERNMENT BLAMED
BY ANDRE TARDIEU.

by ANDRE IAkDtEt.
Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
Paris. Oct. 2O.-Many actories IN
occupied Germany are closing at least
four days a week. Are we going 10
see forced unemployment succeed the
voluntary unemployment of the last
ton months: If famine sets in there
will be street riots.
Such conditions do not lend them
selves TO resumption of operation of
delicate complex machinery such as
Ruhr industry.
Even supposinc riots are averted
by organization of food rations. re-
sumption of work still will be diff
cult. Nothing seems simpler at first
sight than 10 extract coal if the miners
descend into the mines. But mac
! tivity seriously diminiShes a workers
productivity. In the few mines that
still are operating only 400 Kilograms
per man per day are extracted. COM
pared with 900 Kilograms last Janu-
airy. Besides. what is the good of
extracti..g if it is impossible to sell:
The export situation has already
been explained. To that must be
added the fact that factories encum-
bered with unSold stocks are not like
ly 10 be large users of fuel. The
key TO everything is transportation.
The Franco-Belgian railroad admin
istration in occupied Germany has
only $4,000 workers. instead of the
normal $4,000. Return of the
strikers opens the complicated prob
lens Of refrigeration of those who
have been expelled, control Of the
occupied area and future organiza-
ton of occupation. Consequently the
Ruhr ct present resembles the palace
Of the sleeping beauty. The only diff
ference is that the Sleepers in the
fairy tale were not hungry.
Germany Is Responsible.
Obviously. the German government
is responsible for the ruin. 1t pre-
ferred suicide TO paying. and deserves
the fate il has brought on itself. But
moral judgment is not political solu-
ton. A formidable enterprise is
opening before the occupying powers.
They hesitated in January to use
limited measures which would have
insured continuation OF work. Now
they may be condemned 10 keep the
Ruhr alive--not Ruhr intact, as in
1922, but a Ruhr devastated by I'M
employment imposed By Berlin and
not prevented by the allies. 1t is a
future laden with responsibilities. II
Paris and Brussels are to have the last
/ word and bring the debtors 10 life
again, thev must regard the problem
cody and prepare the financial and
economic 'onethods which the situation
requires. This is necessary If their
purpose is to be attained. And it
must be attained.
Chancellor Stresemann has obtained
full power in Germany. But there is
something more powerful than full
power. That is the force of events.
Force of events now is Furnishing
mans plumbers. The market already
, deprecated 10 such an extent that
another fall seems impossible, con-
tinues to fall. Likewise living costs
continue to increase with prOdigiOus
bounds. A friend, lunching recently
in Berlin, was approached by the
head waiter after the first course had
been consumed. and informed him
politely that the price of the second
course had increased 25.000.000
marks since his order had been
given.
All Calculations Upset.
This increase in living costs has
totally upset first calculations. There
was a time when Germany. with a
very low mark, tried to develop her
exports, and for some months, sue
ceeded. Today rs r consequence OF
high salaries and mad prices, every
thing is dearer in Germany than else
where. Persons counting on German
exports paying for reparations will be
disappointed.
Millions of men do not know thi:
morning how they will eat this even
ing. This is the result. alas. Of the
catastrophe pol. les Of Wirth ant
Cuno, favored by the attitude OF
countries encouraging Germany in this
policy.
France. which in some quarters. j
blamed for the situation. is the frs
victim. For the seized pledges whicl
she neglected to exploit when it wa
possible. now threaten TO become un
productive for years. In January j
would have been sufficient TO declar,
real authority in the Ruhr. introduce
sane money and cut Berlin off from
communication and work would hav
continued. Now it is proclaimed il
vain that passive resistance has stop
ped. Work is not resumed becaus
zen months OF passive resistance AM
an occupation alas,
No less passive resistance has Great
ed an inextricable situation.
We have just noted that Westphal
ian coal is twice as dear rs EngliS
coal. Therefore export is impossible
How. then TO pay the workers?
large part of the reserves have bee
used up since January. especial
those Of the smaller businesses. Credi
does not exist The Reich declare
itself impotent TO supply it. Ate
another week the workers will receiv
no subsidy from Berlin. But thei
needs will continue TO increase b.
cause Of the tremendous food prices
Seeligson TO Address Legion.
Judge A. w. Seeligson. who recent
ly returned from q tour of Europ,
will ha -DaoGnv IL,