Evening star., 1936-03-28
Hitler's Election.

Elections in most countries are fraught
with more or less uncertainty, but moth
ing could conceivably be more assured
in advance than the outcome of the
Reichstag election in Germany tomor-
row, engineered by Hitler to validate his
violation of the Locarno treaty in re-
militarizing the Rhineland, and to pledge
the nations support of his foreign pol
icy. That the Fuehrer will receive an
overwhelming vote of confidence is, OF
course, foregone conclusion. The only
question is whether it will be a mere
ninety per cent of the ballots cast or
virtually unanimous. When his legions
goose-stepped to the Rhine three weeks
ago, Hitler called for an immediate ref
erendum to approve that action. Day
and night since then the Na1 chieftain
has conducted whirlwind campaign,
shrieking that the honor" of Germany
demands manifestation that will leave
her "oppressors" in no doubt OF the
Reich's resentment of attempts to keep
1t in "humiliating subjection" and Of its
refusal to retreat centimeter."
Germans will not vote for individual
candidates, but for a ReichStag Tor
freedom and peace" pledged as supine
whole to do Hitler's bidding. No place
is provided for opposition votes. Bal
lots not affirmatively marked will be
void and uncounted. 1t is hardly to be
doubted that the efficient NaN political
police have ways and means at their
command to determine who the back
sliders are, and the chances are strong
that the culprits will sooner or later
have cause to rue the error OF their
vays. The stage is thus set for Hitler
: landslide, to be heralded to the world
as exceeding in dimensions any demon
stration of loyalty that ever preceded 1t.
The skill and thoroughness of the
Fuehrer's stupendous propaganda ma
chine, including iron control OF the
press, radio and all other methods OF
public expression, make certain that the
Fuehrer will get the kind OF victory"
he has ordained. Yesterday witnessed
a characteristic sample of how the peo-
pie have been dragooned for that pur-
pose. Germany's millions Of workers
we're assembled en- masse at their places
of employment while Hitler broadcast
his eleventh hour campaign appeal from
the Krupp works at Essen, now once
again the Reich's throbbing arsenal. At
the end of his speech, sirens and whistles
of factories, ships and locomotives
throughout the country screamed for
full minute, as flags were flown slmuI-
taneously by broadcast signal, to be kept
hoisted until the end of the election.
Thereupon all work and traffic ceased
while minute of silence ensued. Dur
ing this lull, by government proclama-
tion, the nation was to keep inner COM
munion and thus demonstrate for the
entire world its determination to place
itself like one man behind the Fuehrer
and his policy OF peace, honor and equal
rights"
Backed by Sundays "kolossal" vote.
It remains to be seen in what frame OF
mind Hitler next week will respond to
proposals for adjustment of the Rhine
land crisis. Behind the smoke screen OF
national unity" looms Germany's de-
moralized economic structure. These
notorious conditions undoubtedly will
impel Hitler, after some further bonn
bast and turbulence, to tread warily
before goading the Locarno allies into
action which he would defy at his peril.