Evening star., 1932-01-12
The Power of Hitler.

Not since the National Socialists
under Adolf Hitler's reactionary banner
achieved political Importance in Ger
many have the "Nazis" given such a
demonstration of their power as came
to pass in Berlin yesterday. After sew
eral days of negotiation with Chancellor
Bruening, they vetoed his plan to pro-
long for one year, without the formality
of an election, the presidential term Of
President Won Hindenburg. Action en-
sued in collaboration with the "Nazis' I"
Nationalistic allies, the Hugenberg
group, and the other Rightist faction,
the Steel Helmets. They decreed they
would not be parties to recourse
which runs counter to the Reich con-
stitution.
The Bruening program contemplated
the retention of Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg in the presidency for the
twelvemonth Immediately ahead Of Ger
many and in which the country will
need every atom of political solidarity
and tranquility that can be mustered.
The old soldier-stateSman's term expires
this year. He would be eligible, in the
ordinary course, for another term of
seven years. But the octogenarians
advancing age seems to preclude the
feasibility of thrusting another full
term of Office upon him. He is willing
to consider remaining even another year
only on condition that politics Is ad-
journed and the demand for his con-
tinuance is spontaneous and unopposed
1t was to meet the Presidents wishes
that Chancellor Bruening proposed 8
special act of the Reichstag which
would have postponed an election until
1888 and prolonged the Hindenburg
term by one year.
These plans are now awry. 1t be-
comes necessary at once to proceed
with q presidential election as pro-
vided by the constitution. The Bruen-
ing government was assured Of Social
Democratic, Roman Catholic Center
and other Reichstag support, but the
votes of the Hitlerites, the Hugen-
bergians and the Steel Helmets would
be required to produce the majority
necessary for temporary amendment Of
the constitution. Herr Hitler intimated
that he was ready to support the
chancellor's scheme, but the National
lists and the Steel Helmets demurred.
Having proclaimed their personal ad-
miration Of President Won Hindenburg,
the Rightist opposition leaves 1t plainly
to be inferred that their intransigeant
attitude springs primarily from their
undying hatred Of the chancellor. The
dictatorial authority under which Ger
many has latterly been governed never
sat comfortably on the joint and sew
eral Hitler-Hugenberg- Steel Helmet
chests. The reactionary groups have
long thirsted to encompass Bruening's
discontinue and downfall Their ven-
delta against him was not stayed by
their inability to effect bargain in
the Hindenburg affair. They are said
to have been ready to approve the
chancellor's project in return for a
place or places in reorganized
Bruening government.
Another piquant reason is assigned
for the Brown Shirts dog -in-th man
ger tactics. Had they assented to
an extra constitutional Hindenburg
year, they would have had to occupy
their places in the Reichstag and take
an orderly part in its proceedings.
That would mark an innovation they
were not prepared to contemplate, for
throughout the Bruening dictatorship
the Rightists have systematically boy
cotted the Chamber or entered 1t only
to leave in disorder and bedlam.
The first popular balloting for Presi-
dent under the law is due in March
and final election in May. Under the
circumstances, the. desire to renominate
and re-elect Won Hindenburg as an
unopposed National candidate will
have to be approached with extreme
discretion. Whatever betides, Hitlerism
has given a maiden exhibition of Its
strength, which its foes at home and
abroad cappot afford tn underestimate