Evening star., 1924-10-21
DEMOCRATS ARE JUBILANT.
Believe Election May Result in
Majority-Big Possibilities.

BY Radio 70 The Star and Chicago Daily News
BERLIN. October 21.--The dramatic
dissolution of the Reichstag which
burst like a torpedo Monday. has
completely altered the German politi-
cal situation and opened the door on
Infinite possibilities The new eiec-
tionS are not expected to change the
situation greatly, but even a small
change giving predominant strength
TO either the right or left, which
would enable the formation of a
stable majority would be welcome
Today the Democrats are jubilant
ana declare their strength in the
Relchstag will be greatly increased.
Whlle the conservatives are embitter-
cd. fThe Deutsch Zeitung declares
that the coming election will decide
whether Germany is to be ruled by
the Germans or the Jews and other
comment is similar
Yet the real change was the result
not OF political, but of a moral
drama. which is thrilling as only
personal story can be.
Marx Accedes to Cabinet.
The moral drama Is the drama Of
Chancellor Marx. Marx is q pious
man. and an ardent Catholic. Poitti-
cally he belongs to the group of
Rhfneland Democrats who before the
war fought bitter struggle to him
der the dominion of the Prussians east
of the Elbe. He came to the chancel-
lorship at the wish of the Social
Democrats and the Democrats, and al
though his radicalism Is entirely theo-
retical. he cannot forget the past How
ever, he is a man without political am
bition who has stayed, in office against
his own desires for a peaceful life as a
provincial judge because he was urged
TO do SO by all the parties
Therefore, when the political lead
ers, including the entire German
cabinet, came to the conclusion that
the Nationalists must enter the cab
inet, Marx acceded although unwill-
ingly.
About this time, Nunzio Pacelli paid
visit to Berlin and may have in
fuenced the Catholic party. Marx
hoped that the Catholic center party
would drag the Democratic party
with it. Therefore. he allowed the ne
gotiations to be carried out. although
specifically requesting that he be left
out. o..
Democrats Refuse to Aid.
The Nationalist entrance into the
cabinet would have compromised his
future political life and this was pre-
cisely what he desired. When, how
ever the Democrats refused to fol-
low the Catholics in the formation of a
new burgher bloc, the movement came
to a dead center
The majority of the cabinet favored
the formation of the conservative
government under the control of
moneyed interests, but Marx hesitat-
ed. A conservative government would
permit him to withdraw into that
peace for which he longed. but it
would mean a compromise with all
his political past, and 1t would enable
his former companions to accuse him
of going over to the enemy. This
the old judges moral scruples would
not permit.
Election Held Inopportune.
Moreover, a cabinet without the
democratic minister of the Reichs-
wehr. Gesler. would have been weak.
for Germany fears trouble with the
Reichswehr.
political expediency, despite his
weary distaste for his present occu-
patton, with its heavy responsible
ties, Chancellor Marx at the eleventh
hour changed his mind and decided
that the Reichstag should be dis
solved and that new elections should
be held.
Many Germans and. indeed, the
chancellor himself, probably feel that
new elections are inopportune, but
against this argument was the thrust
of moral conscience, and in this case,
contrary 70 the philosophy of cynics,
moral conscience won.
Copyright. 1924. by Chicago Daily News Co.