Evening star., 1932-03-14
Won Hindenburg's Virtual Victory.

Germany's election yesterday resulted
IN deadfall In that there was no de-
cision, but the votes as cast demon
strated 50 heavy a preponderance In
favor Of Won Hindenburg that his
victory in the run-off, which will occur
on April 10, is clearly indicated. The
veteran President, with Is,661,7s votes
out of total of S7,66o,S77, was only
les, ASS short of the actual majority re-
quired. He had plurality Of 7,S33,l65
over Hitler, his nearest opponent. Two
striking facts appear in the tabulation
OF the votes. One is that Hindenburg
polled about four million more than
were cast for him In 1925, when there
were only two rivals in the field against
him. The other is that Hitler was
given about 4,650,ooo more votes yes
terday than his party received in the
Reichstag election Of 1890.
Two other facts are of importance in
this preliminary contest. The Com
munists, with 100000 votes, made no
important gains over the vote Of 1890,
when they polled 4,590,000. The Ma
tionaIists, who include the monarchical
party, received 2,517.s76 votes, not
enough if combined with the Hitler
strength to overtake Ven Hindenburg
in the run-off. The real balance OF
power in yesterdays election was held
by the smallest of the five groups that
put candidates in nomination, the In
dependents, whose candidate. now in
prison on a criminal charge, polled
1sl.115, or enough, If added to Hinden-
burg's total, to give him the necessary
majority over all The Independents
represented an organization known al
the League of Creditors of the Reichs-
bank, their platform demanding re-
demption Of the inflated postwar
marks.
The campaign preceding the first
election drew the lines principally be-
tween Hindenburg and Hitler, between
continuation of the present government
and the adoption Of the Fascist policy
of repudiation Of the Versailles treaty.
Hitler had been granted German citi-
zenship on the eve Of the election in
order to enable him to present himself
as q candidate. He conducted vigor-
ous campaign. Despite his age. how
ever, Won Hindenburg himself took part
In the canvass. and undoubtedly at
tracted many thousands Of votes.
The possibility of coalition between
Hitler and Hugenberg, leader Of the
Nationahsts. Is not now contemplated
with anxiety, In view Of the very small
total Of the latter vote 1t is to be sur
missed that there was In effect such
coalition in yesterdays balioting. Even
II the remnant Of the Hugenberg
strength should go to Hitler In the run
of the result would not be the election
Of the ''Nazi" leader. A confident pre-
diction is made by Hitler's press depart
ment chief that the steel Helmets"
will merge with the 'Nazis" in April,
but he comedies that this alone would not
swing the run-off, claiming that Hitler
will receive enough votes from Hinden-
burg's present supporters to give him
the victory Which is not to be con-
siaered seriously. There is far more
likelihood Of a detection of Hitlerites
TO Won Hindenburg, and even more
likelihood Of a swing from the Hugen-
berg ranks to the President
Yesterdays voting. though inconclu-
sive. greatly relieves the situation in
Europe. 1t is practically assured that
there will be no pronounced reaction in
Germany. and there will be definite
easing of tension in France and In Eng
land. where the election was being
watched with keen anxiety.