The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-04
DUR DAILY NEWS LETTER

Berlin-In Germany, more peo- pic than anywhere else in Europe are sponsoring revolutionary ideas. At the recent elections, in September. Adolph Hitler's national-socialists or total electorate voted either for 1880, approximately one-third of the the communists. both parties admit tedly striving to overthrow the pres ent regime. Yet the governments position is solid.
 Fear that Germany might be in for revolutionary changes was ex- pressed after the September elec- tions even by observers ordinarily not given to alarmist tendencies. Would there be a government strong enough to resist if such changes were to be attempted? The par ties supporting the Bruening gov ernment had emerged from the cleo tions the sole losers. They could muster no nor than 205 votes in the Reichstag against a total of 368 of the opposition. That the big oppo- sition parties-nationalists and so- cialists-too, had sustained losses. did not enhance the governments chances. These parties had lost to more radical groups of their own tendencies; fact which ought to further radicalization in their own ranks.
 Bruening's Firmness That events did not take this course is chiefly due to the cool headed and firm policy Chancellor Heinrich Bruening has been pursu. ing since the elections. He. con- Itinued along his former road in the face of the increased opposition. For some of his actions he succeeded in lharnessing the socialists to his chariot. He left them no choice, inn pressing upon them that supporting his government was the only possi- bility of avoiding the establishment of a fascist regime in Germany. In cases where the socialists support was not feasible, the chancellor re- sorted to the dictatorial powers con- ferred to him by President Paul von Hindenburg under article 48 of the constitution. As result, the political situation is greatly consolidated com pared to what 1t was immediately after the elections.
 | Economic Situation Blamed | Political jockeying, however, can only be a makeshift. Eventual con- solidation rests with other factors. The growth of radicalism in this country is due to the precarious eco
 homie situation. It made national | socialists and communists what they are: The second and third strongest German political party, mastering GA and 4.5 million voters respectively at the September elections.
 The government knows only too
 well that, as long as present eco
 homie conditions prevail. these par ties will continue to grow or at least maintain their present strength.
 Hence a large part of the govern lment's immediate program is devot-
 ed to economic questions, chiefly to the problem of relieving unemploy-
 ment. Most of it will be carried through by emergency decrees un-
 der article AS, without parliamentary
 action.
 No Improvement Seen
 With regard to the economic sit-
 uation proper: No marked improve
 ment has hitherto been noticeable.
 True enough, unemployment has ] passed its high-water mark. But the
 decrease was only the ordinary sea-
 sonal drop: not more.
 Nevertheless, business quarters are optimistic as to economic prospects.
 At least they profess to optimism } in this respect. Conditions are , bound to improve" This phrase can be found as keynote to almost every
 address on economic prospects de- } livered during the past month by
 leaders of industry, commerce, and
 trade.