Evening star., 1932-03-15
VON H|NDENBURG'S
VICTORY ANALyzED
Former Foreign Minister of
Reich Forecasts Landslide
in Run-off.
BY DIR. JULIUS CURTIUS,

BERLIN, March Is (NANA) Paul
Won Hindenburg's triumph In the con-
test for the presidency of Germany
Snould cause lively satisfaction in the
United States The American public
and the Americans living in Germany
will perceive therein the guarantee Tor
a stable and thoughtful leadership OF
the country and a firm and digntf1eo
representative of the German people.
According to the constitution OF Wei
mar, a candidate In the first election Is
not elected unless he receives an abSo-
lutte majority-that Is at least one vote
more than the votes cast for all other
candidates together. On Sunday, ST.
600, 900 persons voted. The number was
greater than expected. and the interest
was stronger than ever before. Presl-
dent Won Hindenburg just missed OBJ
tanning an absolute majority, lacking
only about 100000 votes. Practically,
the victory is his.
When the second election takes place,
in which, according to the constitution,
only a relative majority Is necessary
that is. the candidate who obtains most
votes will be elected-Hindenbur VIII
win by an overwhelming majority.
The President obtained 18,600,0oo,
votes Adolf Hitler, 100000; Ernest
Thaelmann, 100000; Theodore Duest-
erberg, 100000.
Defeat of Socialism Severe.
Shortly before the election Hitler told
the foreign correspondents he would
have a minimum of IL 600 900 votes and
that the Hindenburg maximum would
be also 12,000,0 900. Now Hitler falls be-
low this minimum, whilst Hindenburg
has oyerstepped his maximum by
For National Socialism, which staked
its all on Hitler and made q tremen-
dous propaganda campaign, the defeat
is very severe. During the hrst week
of the campaign it seemed as If the
National Socialists would prove very
dangerous to Hindenburg. They had
made the most careful preparations,
whilst the Hindenburg bloc during the
campaign was forced to weld together
the various groups ranging from So
cialists to the Christian Nationalists.
During the last week Of the cam
paign, at public discussions and meet
ings where as a co-worker canvassed
for Hindenburg, saw how his bloc had
been strengthened.
In such contest, SO decisive in the
fate of a people, as that which Is now
being fought in Germany, the man who
keeps his political mind open may per-
ceive the spiritual graphing, the strug-
gle of the people for self-preservation.
On all sides, it was clearly perceptible
how the spiritual forces fighting for
Won Hindenburg were making head
way, preserving the historic continuity,
creating national unity and exercising
an ever-increasing attraction toward
the Hindenburg bloc.
If this feeling had been realized
sooner, in all probability Hindenburg
would have obtained the necessary ad-
ditional 100000 votes to give him a
cleaE majority.
Serious Resistance Inconceivable.
Now the Hindenburg front stands so
strong that serious resistance from the
other side is inconceivable. According
to a rumor, Hitler and Duesterberg
Should this happen, with the opposi-
tion thus admitting defeat, there is
nothing, in my opinion, to prevent
purely formal question regarding the
election being decided in Parliament,
thus sparing the nation new election.
Hitler was able to obtain only 80
per cent of the votes. Compared with
the September election, in 1880, his
vote increased IL per cent. According
to the elections in several German
states in 1881, double the number for
11dfC DCC1 CAPCCGCQ 4IlC
National Socialists reckoned then at
least 100 per cent increase. Their
disappointment is great-the nimbus
has vanished
In those two states were in 1881
they showed a tremendous increase in
their vote they decreased several per
cent in last Sundays election.
Still more pleasing is the fact that
Communism has not increased. We
were greatly worried for fear it would
and had heard many dire prophecies OF
its growth. Fortunately, the further
rehabilitation Of thinking labor did not
take place.
In Heidelberg, where I spoke, the
Socialist speaker pointed to Hindenburg
as symbol of unity, man loyal to
the constitution and man who ad-
ministered his office justly and impair
tally. 1t is encouraging to note that
the Communist vote since the Reich
stag election of 1880 decreased per
cent in the election Of Sunday.
Hugenberg's Battle Lost.
DR.. Hugenberg has lost his battle, too.
The German National leader believed
he could hold himself In reserve for a
second election. He evidently calcu-
lated that the difference between Hin
denburg and Hitler would be so small
that he could turn the scales in
second contest with his little squad.
These tactics were too subtle. It will
avail him nothing to present his $780,
600 votes to Hitler
The United Nationalist opposition
with 100000 votes would still be
almost 100000 less than Hindenburg's.
Prior to the election it was rumored
that DR.. Hugenberg intended later to
renew his conditions for the support of
Hindenburg. The Reich's President in
dignantly repudiated all negotiations
regarding conditions for support. Now
there is certainly no occasion to sign
an electional capitulation.
President Won Hindenbergs PERSONAL
fly will continue to indicate the way
for the Germans. His self-sacrifice is
tremendous. Years ago he said to me !:
when I have served my time want
to travel. have seen so little OF for
eign countries!"
Hoped to Travel Abroad.
At 83 he felt so fit that he hoped to
travel abroad when he became 65 It
would have been tHumphal process
sion for him-notably In the United
States during the Washington Bicen-
tennial. The similarity of their life
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