Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-15
GERMAN ELECTION
REFORM IS URGED
Plans Carefully SheIved in
Last Few Years Now
Coming Into Open.
BY Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright. 1857.

Dg HaQlO 10 4be STAR ana CDlCaEO Daily
News. Copyright. 1857.
BERLIN. Germany, August IS
Under pressure of the coming German
election, reform plans which have been
carefully shelved for the last few years
are now coming into the open with an
almost giddy speed.
For years it has been obvious that a
great part of the incapacity of the
Reichstag to function satisfactorily
haas been due to the highly scientific
eno ,S4cS:ally impractical electoral law
whereby any party which could raise
the requisite 10000 votes Eas assured
of a seat among the legislators. This
has led to multiplication of parties
and subparties. groups and blocs on a
terrifying scale and rendered stable
constructive legislation almost impossi-
BILE
But with the election fixed for Sep
TENDER IA, and Germany wallowing in
the trough of its worst political and
economic crisis since the imitation days,
the older so-called middle class parties
which are ruling today are thoroughly
alarmed.
Therefore the various groups are
rivaling each other in promises Of re-
form. At the request 70 the minister
of the interior, DR.. Joseph Wirth, min
1stry officials have finally prepared
new electoral law whose purpose is to
eliminate a number of the smaller par
ties in the Reichstag
Although the plan is still unpublished
Its substance follows: The present IS
electoral constituencies will each be
simply divided into five. Residual votes
will be swept into common pool for
each group of five and not, as hitherto,
first into the so-called state and then
into the reichspool. This will mean
great increase in lost votes, that is to
say, votes that are imperative in elect
ing anybody. Hitherto the greatest
number of votes that could be lost by
any party was 9,999, since all residual
votes have been Jumped together to
elect candidates from the so-called
reichs-list. With the reichs-list abol-
ished it is obvious that each party will
lose an average of 10000 votes from
each of the 35 large electoral groups, or
a total of more than 100000.
Large Parties to Profit.
This means that large, well organized
parties viii profit immensely at the eX-
pense of smaller groups. Only those
smaller groups whose votes are concen-
trated in specific electoral constituencies
will be strengthened. This should mean
the virtual elimination of at least
half dozen of the Is odd groups which
now clutter up the Reichstag and an
immense increase in efficiency.
Furthermore, it will reduce the total
number of deputies and also it viii be
impossible for q number of old gentle
men who mostly control the party ma
chinery and select candidates to put
themselves in safe places on the state
or reichs-list They, like other candi-
dates, will have to fight for reelection
This ought to freshen the political at
mosphere and fits the cry today for
IN,
1t is notable how earnestly all the
parties are addressing appeals to young
people of both sexes. The electoral re-
form, however, is still only a scheme
and will not be operative in the cleo
ton. It win first go before the cabinet,
where it will meet with strong resist
ance.
If approved by the cabinet, the plan
will be laid before the Reichstag and
since it leaves the principle Of proper
tional representation intact, it can be
adopted by a simple majority.
Notable is the action OF a portion Of
the center party which is accepting no
candidates except those pledged to the
electoral reform.
The prospects are that the new
Reichstag will be even less manageable
than the last and that, after short
trial period, it will be again dissolved.
Then it would be obvious to the coun-
try at large that only an electoral re-
form could render the Reichstag EN-
Gent and the demand for this revision
would be overwhelming.
Notable, also, is the sharpness of the
campaigning. As predicted in these dis
patches, the present struggle is being
conducted with a bitterness hitherto
lacking in this easy-going country. The
first important fist fight occurred at
Nurnberg Wednesday night and others
are sure to follow.