Evening star., 1924-04-12
American Press Deprecates
Acquittal of Won Ludendorff

The great assistant to the war
lord has been acquitted His
putsch" was unsuccessful. The Mu-
Mich beer garden revolt. which caused
much Immediate alarm, then reas-
surement, and, finally, laughter, has
ended with the acquittal Of Field
Marshal Erich Won Ludendorff, chief
of staff for Kaiser Wilhelm during
the world war. although nine other
convicted and sentenced to ridicu-
lously inadequate sentences.
Naturally it is suggested that when
a jury allows military question
mark to go scot free. the response
bility rests on the government itself
Therefore, the Newark News argues,
the infant German republic has
stumbled at moment most inoppor-
tune to it's own welfare" and il has
emphasized that lin Germany appar-
emily the basic idea that any move to
overthrow the existing government is
treason, no matter by whom perpe-
trated, has not become sufficiently in
grained in the people or the courts"
To which the Cleveland Plain Dealer
adds, the triumph of Ludendorff is a
final indication that the Germans
w
gime." The Detroit Free Press, indors-
ing this opinion, suggests "if Luden-
dorff was not as guilty as his fellow
-evolutionists, he must have been
Springfield Union replies that, after
all, the developments emphasize that
the old leaders are coming to the
front and the weakly constituted re-
public soon may be replaced with a
monarchy"
Any nation has the right to the
form of government it DESIRES" ar
CUES the San Antonio Light, but Ger
many cannot be conceded the right to
place back on the throne the Hohen-
Zollerns." This view has the indorse-
ment of the Fort Worth Star-Tele-
gram, which feels the effect upon al
lied relations of any monarchistic
movement must be considered" Char
acterizing the entire trial as of an
opera bouffe character" the Spokane
Spokesman-Re Review feels it also dem
onstrates that the German republic is
on a trembling foundation because a
large part of the populace is still en-
amored of the old order and at heart
is anti-republican."
1t is "Ludendorff, SHINES & Co.,"
the Boston Transcript says, and Ger
many has made up her mind not 10
pay because the Ludendorffian way
of looking at things suits the country"
/; Not. at all. suggests the Minneapolis
Tribune, because military giants
greater than Ludendorff have fallen
in the wrecks of their own dreams"
Yet, after all, argues the Kansas City
Journal, 'Ludendorff was as guilty
as Others" but powerful hands must
have plucked him from the entrance
to the cell which has opened for those
less fortunate" Treason, I'm masquerad- :
ing as loyalty" is the thing THAI most
impresses the St. Paul Pioneer Press,
although it also declares the truth
|, Is that Bavaria does not like the pres
ent order of things in Germany"
Agreeing, the Reading Tribune also
feels "the people, judging from their
under a benevolent despot than und sr
vacillating republic"
The republic must be considered as
| drifting toward the rocks" in the
opinion of the Baltimore Sun, and
| that such a situation should be true
! in a civilization which has so thor
teHigence is incredible, but such is
, the fact" True, adds the New York
Times, yet the contrast is sharp be-
tween. the ludicrous punishment
which has, been meted out to mon
| archist conspirators of the Kapp and
Ludendorff tribe and the. swift and
terrible punishment which descended
upon the Liebknechts, the Rosa
Luxembourgs and the spartacide in
surrectionists of Berlin and the Ruhr.
Approving this argument. the Spring
feld News feels Gin this instance the
democracy Of the nation fumbled, and
IL may turn out later that this will
prove disastrous to the weli-befng of
the country" LudendorT sciaImed
immunity because he was the victor
of Tanpenburg," continues the Louis
Vile Courier Journal, land there is
never a hint of regret that he en-
barked on a crazy enterprise. The
Bayarian 'putsch was an opera bouffe
affair and the acQuittal Of Ludep-