Evening star., 1946-10-20
Berlin Chooses Today
Between Democratic
Ideas Of East, West
BY the Associoted Press

BERLIN, Oct. 19.-Berlin vot-
ers will choose tomorrow be-
tween the Eastern and Western
concepts of democracy in an
election which one high Ameri-
can military government off,
cial said will have great inf1u-
ence" on the ultimate political
destiny of Europe.
For the first time in IA years
100000 registered Berlin voters
will have the opportunity to cast q
free ballot when they pick-a munic-
ipal government to supplant the one
set up by the Russians after they
won the epic battle for the heart of
Hitler's Reich.
The Berlin election overshadows
district and state diet balloting,
which will also take place through
out the Soviet-occupied zone.
Ultimate Decision Necessary.
1t. Col. Louis CHASER, chief of the
Political Affairs Branch of the
American Military Governments
Berlin district. viewing the election
issue as clearly drawn between the
political PHILOSOPHERS of the east
and west, said: ..
Germany must ultimately make
a decision in this respect. The
Berlin vote, establishing such de-
cision, will have great influence upon
the ultimate destiny of Germany
and therefore upon the political
destiny of Europe"
In Berlin the voting will be for
party and not for individuals. The
voter cannot split his ticket. These
are the parties:
The Socialist Unity party (SED),
an amalgamation of Communists
and Social Democrats; the Social
Democrats and the two conserva-
tive parties, Christian Democrats
tCDU and the Liberal Democrats
LDP). In this lineup the SED
clearly carries the banner of the
Eastern concept of democracy.
SED Has Captured Majority.
In previous community elections
In the Soviet zone the SED has
captured a majority of the vote.
But the SED had material advan-
tages, with its candidate lists placed
before a much greater percentage
of the electorate and its candidates
given more paper for campaign lit
erature and gasoline for its vehicles.
1t also claimed support Of the Rus
sian authorities.
In the other three occupied zones,
however, the SED has made. a poor
showing in previous elections.
In its campaign in Berlin the
SED has called for socialization OF
Berlin's industry, appropriation OF
the properties of alleged war Grim
inals and big Nazis," but leniency
toward the former small fry who
wore the swastika. 1t has praised
the present city government as do
ing a good job in cleaning up the
war-ravaged city and has urged its
retention ~ ~
The Social Democrats and Chris
tian Democrats have attacked the
Communist dominated Magistrat
(city halD as inefficient and unrep-
resentative and has urged a clean
sweep in order to give other parties
larger representation.
Council to Be Elected.
Campaigning has been heated and
the voting is expected to be heavy.
The polls will open at 8 am. and
close at Bpm, .,..,
The voters will elect a city coun-
Gil and borough councils to replace
municipal administrations created
by the Russians in May, 1945, when
they were sole occupiers of the city.
Col Chaser commented that the
election ''is long overdue-Berlin
should have had a chance to pick
its own municipal government
months ago"
Special precautions will be taken
by the four Allied occupying powers
to see that the voting is secret and
fair. Ten four-power inspection
teams will supervise the ballot
places and tour the city to make
spot checks.
The Allied Kommandantur has
assured Berlin residents that lin
the eyes of the Allies all parties
are equal" and Col Frank Howley,
director of the American Office OF
Military Government for Berlin, ad-
vised the German press to tell AL
the people of Berlin that the days
of the ia (yes) vote and the days
of intimidation are past"
The occupying powers only urge
the people to vote. to think before
they vote and then to cast their
ballots according to their convic-
fiors" he added