New Britain herald., 1925-02-28
First Leader of New Republic Had Many Trials To Beset Him Working Man, He Succeeded Hohenzol- lerns.
FAILS TO RALLY
 AFTER OPERATION
By The AssocIated Press.

By The Associated Press.
 Berlin, Feb. 2S.-Friedrich Ebert, the first president of the German re- public, died at 10:15 o'clock this morning, succumbing to the ravages of peritonitis following upon 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 gal lant fight for life. But his system had been undermined by an attack of influenza preceding the operation ana 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 grouped his wife, their daughter Amalie and her husband Dr. Wilhelm Jaenecke, and their sole son to survive the war, Fried rich, Jr. State Secretary Meissner was the only other person present, aside from the doctors and nurses.
 Political Attacks
 The political attacks upon the president which eliminated in the Magdeburg trial, and the efforts to connect him with the Barmat loans scandal added greatly to the burdens imposed upon him as chief executive Of 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 monarcllists who could not bear the idea Of a working man succeeding the HohenzoIlerns had helped to undermine his once rugged constitution. But the firm ness with which he managed the political crisis arising from the tan gled party system and the simple dignity with which Frau Ebert met her duties as first lady of Germany disarmed many of her sharpest critics.
 A Great Leader
 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 cleo tion. produces more confusion in a political situation already badly mud died.
 President Ebert was the first of all the patriotic Germans to forget party lines when 1t became necessary to check the extremists. either in the radical or conservative camps. He frequently brought curses upon his head from one side to the other by measures which they, ac- cording to their viewpoints, deemed either reactionary or too radical.
 His attitude won the confidence of the ambassadors and ministers ac- credited to Berlin and he was pow erful factor in bringing about ac- ceptance of the Dawes plan which promises to calm the storm that has ragged about the reparation problem for so many years.
 Likened To Gompers
 Herr Ebert started life as q 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 de in America.
 His lack of early opportunities was 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 q gallant fight in behalf of tho German republic and the German masses under heartbreaking condi tions.
 Died at f0:t4 a. m.
 Death came 10 the president al l0;15 o'clock in tho West sanitarium where he had hecn confined sine bis operation, and by II o'clock the. news had spread throughout Rerlin's The public received fts through inc half Of flags on the foreign or lice, inc American and British em oassics and the government build ngs along the Wilhelmstrasse.
 The news came as a shock to tlI RerlinerS. as the morning news papers published bulletins indicatIn. l marked Improvement in Her Ehcrt's condition. and the crisis " supposed by many 10 have be- passed.
 4 meeting of inc cabinet was call d for noon, and the ReichsiaE vii be convened on Monday when it vii probably arrange new election dai, in advance Of that scheduled 10 lune. The choice Of il regular sue ,essor to Herr Ebert will reliev, Chancellor Luther Of the responsi hility Of carrying on the prosidentia luties in addition to his own office.
 The pretident's death comes on thf we of the national day of mournino set aside 10 commemorate Germany's osses in the world war. There win De memorial services in all the churches of Berlin, the chief one in The cathedral at ?. n. and all the church bells Nif be tolle1.