Evening star., 1932-07-31
reich DEMOCRACY
HANGS IN BALANCE
AT ELECTION TODAY
Five Deaths in BraWlS Mark
Eve of Voting-20,0O0 Po-
lice Guard Berlin Polls.
ARMY READY TO ACT
| IN CASE OF DISORDERS
5000 Candidates Seek Reichstag
Seats-Severing Broadcasts Last
Minute Appeal.
By the Associated Press.

BERLIN, July 3O.-With bloodshed
and blistering oratory, Germany today
closed the campaign for tomorrow's mo-
mentous elections, which will result in
an entirely new Reichstag and may de-
eide whether the nation will choose the
paths of dictatorship or monarchy or
remain in the way of repubhcanism.
During the closing hours of the CAM
paign five persons were killed In politi-
cal brawls in the provinces. In Berlin
$50 persons we're arrested for taking
part in street fights.
The army stood ready to act In case
Of major disorders tomorrow, and the
entire Berlin police force of 10000 men
was under mobilization orders to stamp
out riots.
Severing Broadcasts Appeal
The national broadcasting facilities
were turned over tonight to Karl Sev-
ering, who was ousted as Prussian min
| lister OF interior when the federal goy-
ernment established a dictatorship over
the RetchS most important state. His
speech was fervent appeal for delnoc-
| racy. 1t came at the conclusion of a
bitterly contested campaign in which
Adolf Hitler, chieftain of the Fascist
National Socialist party, has declared
exactly as emphaticaIy that democracy
must end with tomorrow's voting. and
Dr. Alfred Hugenberg. leader of the Ma
tITnaIlS1 party, mas asserted with equal
venemence that Germany'S salvation
lies in restoring the monarchy.
TomOrrow'S issue is slavery or free
oon, dictatorship or democracy, abso-
lutlSnl or democracy, fascism or democ-
racy," DR.. Severing told the voters who
listened to the radio.
democracy is the safest and most
worthy form Of government for a
groWn-up people. We Social Democrats
naturally are not satisfied with every-
thing that has happened in our young
democracy, but that is no reason for
abandoning it,
The fact that the entire world is in
| terested in the election was driven home
70 Germans 6y an announcement by the
government broadcasting commissioner
that the United States, Great Britain,
France, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden
and Denmark have applied for special
arrangements under which the results
VIII be broadcast periodically tomorrow
night. These broadcasts will be In the
language of each of the applicants.
Record Vote Expected.
Although all signs-including favor
able weather--pointed to participation
in the election by more than 80 per
cent of the Reich's 100000 citizens
who are entitled to vote, the govern
ment today topped the barrage Of
posters, handbills and party flags by a
solemn appeal reminding the electors
that they must do their duty.
"The issue Is to choose a Reichstag
which can fulfill its grave duties for the
welfare of the German people," the
appeal said.
"A completely non-partisan govern
ment on June 1 (the day on which the
Won Papen ministry replaced the
Bruening ministry succeeded the gov
ernmentS which hitherto had been
formed on party lines.
ITO meet the exigencies Of our time
our people need a government unfet-
tered by dependence upon political
parties. Germany also needs Reichs-
tag which not only reflects the. will Of
the people but which will be able and
willing to work hand in hand with a
strong government.
THE ballot is the most important
right which the Constitution grants.
The President and the government
expect all Germans to do their duty"
5000 Seek Reichstag Seats.
The official list shows approximately
5000 candidates for the 583 seats in
the Reichstag. In addition to the 81
parties presenting national tickets,
there are Al freakish groups, repre-
Senting every conceivable ism, who
have put up local tickets in one or
another of the 35 electoral districts.
None of these is likely to poll the
so, 900 votes necessary to gain Reichs-
tag seat, so their ballots will be pure
waste.
The campaign, which started June 8,
when President Won Hindenburg,
through Chancellor Won Papen, dis
solved the Reichstag elected in 1880,
has been the most bitter in German
history.
No quarter was given on any side.
Calumniation, Misrepresentation Of
opponents acts and statements, cppreS-
sion of the different minded. shooting
affrays, street battles, fist fights and
appeals to the Federal and State gov
ernmentS to suppress the other fellow,
have been the outstanding features Of
a campaign which has cost more than
Continued on Page 2, Column 81