Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20
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have enough clothes and am fairly
happy. work hard" he added, un'
necessarily.
Pressed to describe specifically the
difference between his condition now
IN 1919 and before the war, Herr Meyer
enlarged:
well, before the war ate four mesls
day. In 1919 was lucky to get one
Now I have three. They are not quite
as good as they we're in 1918, but new
er get up from the table hungry.
Before the war got salary of $50
marks a month. I now get 800 marks
but 1t doesn't go as far. Shoes that
cost 10 marks before the war nov cost
1e, and suit that cost me IS marks
In 1918 costs me 100 now. So am not
as we'll dressed as was used to buy
two suits a year and today I only can
buy one. But In 1919 didn't have any
thing that could properly be called
clothes at ADJUST old rags"
Asked to give what he believed to be
the fundamental reason why he was lot
rs we'll of now as IN 1913, Herr Meyer
gave the simple answer: Because we
had a war"
Herr Hugenberg, sponsor of the ref
erendum against the Young plan. would
have answered this question: Because
In the treaty of Versailles we were
forced to say that we were solely re-
sponsible for the war, and therefore
have to pay reparations, and this makes
us poor"
Chancellor Herman Mueller, head of
the present government, answered the
question in substance recently: Because
We lost the war"
But Herr Meyer simply believes: Be
cause We had war"
And Herr Meyer and many like him
ne therefore against war. There are
probably more convinced pacifists in
this country than in any other in Gu
rope. Herr Meyer Is no exception. He
Is a quiet man. and the noisy mass
meetings Of the field gray patriots
drown his modest remarks. Be IL noted,
however. that in Germany there are
several tens of millions Of Herr Meyers.
Sees Future Frightening.
Asked what he thought Of the Young
plan, Herr Meyer replied: "Of course if
had my way we would not pay any
thing. don't see why we should, for
We were no more responsible for the
war than any Of the others. And even
II we were, I don't see why we people
should have to pay for the mistakes
or the Kaiser. But we can't help our
selves now. and anyway Germany Is
not going to pot on account Of paying
separations. I don't know much about
the Young plan itself. It is too COM
plicated for me, but do know that 1t
Alets US off much lighter than before.
The way I see It, all OF us Germans
will have hard enough time for the
next 10 years or so, but it Will get
better from year to year just as it has
In the past"
This never-say-die spirit, this faith
IN the nations future, Is completely
typical, and perhaps the most i'm
Iportant element to consider In judging
Ita1e national character.
And then, too" added Herr Meyer
earnestly, At don't think any of us ex-
Ipect to 60 ON paying for So years.
don't think anybody IN the world Sc
fiously expects us to do that. Sooner
or later there win be another revision.
and the whole thing win be Cancelled"
This, It may be emphasized, Is q viz
Aually universal opinion in Germany.
Herr Meyer went on talking. enthu-
aiaStically about the Americans, cor
daily about the English, tolerantly
about the French. pityingly about the
of Briand,S United States Of Europe"
de thought It would be n good idea.
Finally I asked him what he thought
of the Hugenberg plan for voting
separations out Of existence.
"QuatSchl" he exclaimed. ''Wahn-
Ainnl" Which Is to say, in very free
translation: No matter how thin you
slice it, it is sim boloney" The Ber-
liners are more given TO slang than any
~ their countrymen.
Average Germans Reaction.
And with this Judgment of a common
man upon the referendum, 1t may be
well to outline its technical POSSIBLE
tiles, for during the next few weeks,
despite the devastating opinion of Herr
Meyer, 1t win be the storm center Of
German politics.
Before leaving Herr Meyer, however,