Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08
Won HINDENBURC DROPS =,
MONARCHICAL IDEALS
President of Germany Has Become. a
Legend in Germany-Example of New
Spirit of Patriotism.
Continued From Third Pasel

Continued From Third Pagel
to use the Presidents name IS one Of
| their close conferedates and to use his
picture In o hlm which they proposed
to show for propaganda purposes AL
through the reich, Hindenburg had 70
come out publicly with q statement OF
disavowal. It was they who had forced
the issue He could not but reply that
he would not permit any single group
or party within the nation to use his
name. He pointed out that he could
make public his attitude toward the
reparations issue only when the Young
plan, passed by the Reichstag was laid
before him for his signature or veto.
Rebuke Crushed Associates.
Mild though this rebuke seemed, 1t
was sufficient TO crush the hopes of
| all his earlier associates. Ludendorn
responded brutally in q letter OF re-
elimination. Certain reactionary jour-
mails printed the portrait Of President
Won Hindenburg bordered In black and
announced that the former general was
dead. In sense they were right. Paul
Won Hindenburg had definitely shown
himself to be q civil President and no
longer generalfeldmarschall. He re-
signed from the leadership Of the old
military and Nationalist organization,
| the Stahlhelm. He pronounced policy
of agrarian reform. He threatened his
old reactionary comrades in the ReichS-
| tag with the dissolution of that body
and the calling of an inopportune gen
eral election If they did not support his
new Bruning cabinet and the policies OF
| StreSemann's successor, CurtiuS. So
| long as Bruning lasts 1t will be because
he can fiaunt In the face Of any oppo-
sition the Presidents permission to send
home the Abgeordneten at the first
\ sign Of mutiny.
| AS a soldier Paul Won Hindenburg
probably spent fve years Of active serv-
Ice in the field, for his military career
| covered three wars and embraced more
| fighting than most younger men may
boast. At the age Of 10 his work rs q
warrior came to its climax. At the age
Of 80 his work as statesman began.
He has now seen as much service Tor
| the state as President as he formerly
| saw of actual field work in the armies.
The civilian Hindenburg has been born
1.-The man who fought with battalionS has
learned to tight with ballots-or, more
properly in the present case, with the
mere threat of them.
1t is even possible now, when the Re
public of Germany has weathered its
first decade and this President OF Ger
many has held his ONCE during half the
troubled crossing, that something OF
what Is taking place within the minds
of the people themselves Is being re
flected in the conduct Of Paul Won Hin
denburg, and that from being merely o
great military leader he is gradually be-
coming a great national figure and
spokesman.
Desires to, Fit Into New Role.
The President seems to wish to fit into
| hi VIOLA eiAn Y1aA0tiVH0<
with his fellow staff officers Of the East
ern or Western fronts, anniversary din
ners when politics are taboo and for.
eign affairs are left undiScuSSed, h
wears no uniform. His palace is one Of
the simple, retiring buildings of the Will
helmstrasse, with only two soldiers post
ed inconspicuously in front, as guarc
of honor. The changing of this guart
Is not at all so striking q ceremony a
that at Buckingham Palace or even *
pronounced as that Of the ElySees, yet
recently witnessed q scene in connec-
ton with 1t which expressed more sue.
cinctly than any words just how fal
Hindenburg and his people have evolved
away from earlier states of mind.
A few weeks ago I was leaving the
palace when. on the very Threshold,
had been invaded suddenly by squad
of men, eight or nine in all, who were
falling in line directly In my path. Ap-
parently the watch had just been re-
lieved.
fingered to watch them, because ]
had heard that they offered one of the
few opportunities to observe the goose.
step, that most debated and amazing Of
smart military PAGES, where at the firSt
word of command q whole detachment
sets out to march, bringing the feet down
smartly, noisily and in unison so as Il
accentuate the cadence throughout the
first four or five steps.
1t was just after noon, the hour when
the Berlin streets are busiest and when
not only the business houses, but also
the schools are pouring forth their In
mates for the midday pause. There Is
always q curious throng looking in al
the Presidents court from the Wilhelm
straSse. On this occasion surely 20o
passersby of all ages were thrustine
their noses through the iron grill. Ber-
lin Swarms with conflicting reports al
to the hour of the Presidents daily
drive, the hour Of his daily walk and
the hour Of his daily visits. Apparently
these people thought they were ct last
going to see something.
"Huuruump" came from the ofhcer
in charge.
The eight gray men brought their
heels together briskly and stood at at
tention.
| Hump, hump, huuruump."
The inspection Of arms clicked on.
Hump, hurrump."
| They were off.
| Crash, crash, crash 1t was the
famous goose-Step.
1t was especially loud and unexpect-
eddy impressive In this partially inclosed
court. on this gravel bedding. Those
men made the noise OF so.
| 1t was more than the usually decorouS
Berlin crowd could stand. Shrill cres-
cendo of laughter greeted the maneuver.
As hurried through the iron gates
after the little troop and turned down
the WilhelmStraSSe with the crowd, it
was to see one student after another
| trying to Guido his fellow in caricactur-
ing the steps which their fathers must
have held holy. And their elders there
beside them, their professors, the ma
ture paSSerby, did not look upon them
with shocked surprise. They smiled
| and seemed to share in the joke.
Suddenly the significance of the mo-
ment struck me. Germany, the Kaiser
gone and the army no longer in the
saddle, has awakened from the worship
full trance into which Frederick the
Great first plunged her. The present
generation has passed from beneath the
| spell of militariSm
| One no longer hears stories of visiting
tourists thrust into the gutter while .
saber staggered by. Berlin has cast OF
| its respect for chevronS and epaulets,
uniforms and brass buttons. The pres