The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-05
ELECTION
O.K.'SPLAN
0FEXPERTS
EarlyA Returns Indicate
Maturity For Middle
Groups
CAMPAIGN CENTERs
IN PREPARATIONS
Coalition Is Pledged To
Cooperate With Allied
Governn tents
COMMUNISTS STRONG
IN INDUSTRIAL AREA
Day Passes with Rcw Dis
turbances-Heavy NIlOt
| Is Cast
COMMUNISTS STRONG
IN INDUSTRIAL AREA

BERLIN, May 4.-(By AiA'ociat-
ed Press. IA parliamentary scoali-
ton comprising the socialist, slerl-
cal, democratic and peoples 1'ar-
ties which will command a suAtl-
cient majority to put the provisions
of the Dawes report into execution
has been assured by the general
elections held throughout Germany
today. This is the conclusion
reached late tonight at government
headquarters after competent APP
praisal Of the returns already re-
ceived.
Assuming that the peopes' party
and the socialists continue to main
tain their position in today's ballot
ing, as reflected in the early re-
turns, it is even probable that the
four-party bloc will have sufficient
backing in the new Reichstag to
enable it to carry through the con-
stitutional amendments with only
limited outside aid from the indie
pendent factions, of which there
will be several groups.
While the nationalists and commun-
considered that their increases win
constitute a menace to the policies TO
which the four coalition parties are
pledged.
The ultra reactionaries led by Gem
eral Ludendorff failed to develop their
expected strength.
The count of the ballots is proceed
ing extremely slowly owing to the late
M NE tkN -.
complications arising through the pres
ence OF, % party tickets on the off
cial ballot. Only $50 out of 1900
precincts in greater Berlin had re-
ported by midnight.
Despite the delays the government
and political leaders are convinced that
the cross section survey afforded by
incomplete reports from all sections
of Germany, including the occupied
areas, decisively indicates the failure
of the reactionary and radical parties
to stampede the voters.
Both the German peoples party,
headed by Gustave Stresemann and the
United socialists have had fewer Sde-
fections than predicted, and while Ahe
socialists are severely pressed by the
communists in the Ruhr, Saxony and
other industrial sectors, it is believed
that their loss of mandates will be
smaller than their leaders were in
clined to expect three days ago. The
peoples party also is succeeding in
keeping well to the front in districts
where it had to face nationalistic oppo-
sition.
Heavy Vote Cast
Advance reports from all the metro
politan centers and industrial sections
indicate an exceptionally heavy vote,
the total exceeding so per cent in nu-
merous precincts as compared with rs
four years ago.
Only few disturbances were re-
ported in and outside of Berlin. The
voting in the occupied areas proceeded
without obstruction. A very large so
cialist and communist vote was regis
tered in the Ruhr, Saxony, Thurineia
and the. industrial districts of greater
Berlin. In the local residential pre-
cincts the German nationalists and the
LIdendorff party led the others.
Chancellor Marx, Foreign Minister
Stressemann and other government lead.
ers, who were nominated in out-of-
town districts, remained in Berlin where
they cast their votes early.
Painted Sidewalks
A communist In Berlin, who was
pasnting the sidewalk red was shot dead
BY a policeman while resisting arrest.
Inquisitive foreigners who assumed
that the average native would frankly
confess his political preferences in to-
days elections were surprised to dis
cover that their questions were either
viewed as impertinent or met with
clumsy evasions. One American who
essayed to take an independent straw
vote among shop clerks, hotel employees
and news vendors was soundly rebuked
for prying into what 81 considered an
lron-clad secret or personal business.
Despite five years. experience with
the German brand Of democracy the
German voter is unable to shake off his
pre-war habit of eoneealing his politi-
cal creed. fearing that confession of
his political attitude to the right, left
or middle might jeopardizeN his job or
social rank.
This in large measure Is explained
through the boycott imposed on the So
cialists and liberals IN pre-war. days,
when n confession OF ultra-liberal po-
litical sentiments In the stern monarchi-
cal environment called for exceptional
personal courage. The average citizen
cannot escape the old habit or mako
himself a booster for his party.
PRINCE GOING TO OLYAEPTCS
TOXIC, May 4.-(By the Associate
ed Press. )-Marquis KunihianJ Kuni,