Evening star., 1925-02-28
Weakened by Influenza, First
Head of Republic Falls
Victim to PeritonitiS.
LUTHER ASSUMES DUTIES
TILL ELECTION Is HELD
Reichstag to Meet Monday and
Probably Arrange for Advanc-
ing Regular Balloting.
By the Associated Press.

Ry the Associated Press.
BERLIN. February 2S.-Friedrich
Ebert, the first President of the Ger
man republic, died at 1915 o'clock
this morning from peritonitis. which
followed an operation for appendicitis
five days ago.
The former saddlemaker, whose
skill in guiding the infant republic
through the first turbulent years of
its existence was acknowledged even
by his bitter enemies, made a gall
liant fight for life. But his system
had been undermined by an attack
of influenza before the operation. and
his heart was not equal to the burden
imposed by the poison. which had
spread throughout his system.
Around his bedside when the end
came were his wife. their daughter
Amalie and her husband, DR.. Wilhelm
Jaenecke, and their sole son to sur
Nive the war, Friederich. jr State
Secretary Meissner was the only other
person present aside from the doctors
and nurses.
Attacks Sap Strength.
The political attacks upon the presi-
dent which eliminated in the Madge-
burg trial and the efforts to connect
him with the Barmat loans scandal
added greatly to the burdens imposed
upon him as chief executive of a new
republic, whose people have not been
trained in constitutional government
and whose chancellors have changed
almost with the moon because of
interparty strife.
Putsches and threats of putsches,
and the jibes of the Monarchists who
could not bear the idea of a work
ingman succeeding the Hohen-
zollerns, had helped to undermine his
once rugged constitution. But the
firmness with which he managed the
political crisis arising from the
tangled party system. and the simple
dignity with which Frau Ebert met
her duties "a first lady OF Germany
disarmed many of their sharpest
critics.
There was probably not another
leader in Germany, his enemies ad-
mitted, who could have succeeded
where he did. and his death four
months before the presidential
election produces more confusion in
q political situation already badly
muddled
Held EnyOys' Confidence.
President Ebert was the first of all
the patriotic Germans to forget
party lines when it became necessary
to check the extremists, either in
the radical or conservative camps.
He frequently brought curses upon
his head from the one side or the
other by approving measures which
they. according to their viewpoints,
deemed either reactionary or too
radical
His attitude won the confidence of
the ambassad dors and ministers ac-
credited to Berlin, and he was d pow
crful factor in bringing about accept
ance of the Dawes plan, which prom
iseS to calm the storm that has ragged
about the reparation problem for so
many years
Herr Ebert started life as a saddle
maker, but years OF experience as
labor organizer and official of unions
together with his wide training in
practical politics, developed him even.
as, his admirers pointed out. the late
Samuel Gompers was developed in
America.
His lack of early opportunities was
compensated for by the training he
won in the world Of affairs. He was
described as no dreamy theorist, but
a hard headed. tactful leader who
MADE d gallant fight i'll behalf of the
German republic and the German
masses under heartbreaking condi-
tions.
Death came to the President in the
West Sanitarium. The public re-
ceived its announcement through the
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