Evening star., 1932-04-13
BY DIR. RICHARD Won KUHLMANN,
Former Minister Of Foreign Affairs for
Germany.

Former Minister Of Foreign Affairs for
Germany.
NEW YORK, April Is (N.AN.A9.-
The policy of Paul Won Hindenourg,
President of the German Republic. has
been approved by an overwhelming ma
3ority of the German people. The in
crease of 100000 votes in the second
round of the election over what ne
polled on March 13 is remarkable;
While Adolf Hitler's vote increased
1000 900, it is obvious that he did not
draw any votes away from Hlnoenourg
in the second round and that his IN
crease came fairly equally from Steel
Helmet and Communist voters.
The result Is a splendid victory Tor
the hero of Tannenberg and Masuren.
and is a great political success 1or the
chancellor, Heinrich Bruenlng.
In reality there was no fundamental
opposition of those who style themselves
the German National Opposition against
Hindenburg himself This was clearly
demonstrated when at the eleventh hour
Hugenberg offered pointblank to re-elect
Hindenburg by all the combined votes
of the reactionary Right, provided Hin
denburg agreed to dismiss Chancellor
Bruentng.
Hindenburg Rejects Move.
II was only when Hindenburg had
FIRMLY and coolly declared he would not
separate himself from the man who has
had his special confidence as an ofncer
during the war and who had steered
successfully the ship OF the German
state through the shoals of two most
terrible years that Hugenberg turned
his whole force against Hindenburg S
reelection.
The Overwhelming victory of the field
marshal is a broad placet OF the Ger
man people, both for the economic pol
lev pursued SO far, balancing the budget
at any price, even at the price OF un-
heard-of suffering and following in for
eign affairs line Of caution, but at the
same time of close cooperation with the
great powers of the world.
That it is the bulk of working Ger
nanv that has by its votes approved and
strengthened this policy OF conservative
caution, that it Is in the main the bulk
of working Germany which could over
come short-sighted class interest to the
noint of giving its votes to the former
Emperor's great general, junker by
birth and tradition is a great symbol
that the leading forces, old and new, OF
Germany combine in the hour Of need
for the greatest of the country, and,
seen in that light, Hindenburg's success
Is indeed one of the most hopeful signs
in Gernany's modern development.
yictery for Bruening.
The election is a great personal sue
cess for Heinrich Bruening. He has
for the first time in his career allowed
his concentrated and magnetic person.
f,,Il Vic of tha
of the German public. His own real
nature is to be retiring, and in the
radio address he delivered to support
his cruel but necessary emergency de-
crees he expressed the confidence that
silent work would prevail over oratory
with the German people.
Oratory has been one of the main
factors Of. Adolf Hitler's striking ad-
vance, and it is to be welcomed as a
happy move that Bruening has thrust
aside his confidence in silent and eff
cient work alone and has decided to
speak at great mass meetings.
The attitude of the COMMUNISTS
throws a curious sidelight on the deeper
thoughts of the party. Though there
could hardly be Sunday without an
nouncements of bloody battles between
Hitlerites and Communists, it was
known to the insiders that. Commu-
nistic headquarters have never been
anti-Hitler Their shrewd and far
sighted calculation is that this party,
with no real coherance, just mass OF
people carried away by emotions, would
break at the first contact with political
realities, and that a large number of
those who today follow Adolf Hitler
would eventually come to swell Commu-
nistic ranks.
1t is pursuant to such thoughts that
Communists have been encouraged to
vote for Hitler. Communists on orders
emanating from Moscow will always
vote for what is likely to increase fric-
tion, anarchy and disorder.
Local Elections Due.
April "a will be another important day
In German history. The local parlia-
ments of some of the largest German
states, of Prussia. Bavaria. Wurttem-
berg and Hamburg have reached their
legally fixed time limit and must be re-
elected. Altogether that means that
certainly rs or 80 per cent of German
citizens will have TO re-elect their local
governments.
With Prussia alone representing two
thirds of Germany, the composition Of
the Prussian Diet will be Of paramount
Importance.
Prussia, it may be remembered, has
ever since the revolution been firmly,
quietly and very successfully ruled by a
coalition between Social Democrats,
Catholic Center and some democratic
elements of the bourgeois parties under
Prime Minister Braun. The forces Of
reaction allied with Hitlerites will strain
every nerve TO change the defeat suf-
9ered at the presidential election into
success on April "a.
Forecasting in troubled times Is al
WAYS an uncertain business.
Nobody Of those who have studied the
situation closely did believe that the
HitleriteS and reactionaries would win
a clear majority on Sunday, but many
are inclined to give them between 80
and 35 per cent OF the votes cast on
the oath.
Could Form Compact
This would certainly give a majority
OF reaction and Communism against
any constructive policy. The possible
alternative would be a working agree
nent between Hitlerites and the Cath
olic Center-a combination not likely TO
succeed, owing TO the acutely anti
clerical attitude Of Hitler.
Or, as a combination Hitlerites- Com
snunists for any constructive measures
is equally impossible, perhaps the con-
tlnuatlon of the main elements of the
present Braun cabinet as non partisan
emergency government may be pre-
Cicte6, until some sort Of workable par
For hssh Clean :,