Coming Elections

Problem. For weeks Chancellor Marx tried to reorganize his Cabinet. As the price of obtaining Nationalist (Monarchist) support for the passage of the Experts' Plan legislation, the Chancellor had promised the Nationalists four seats in the Cabinet. He was, however, anxious to admit a certain number of Social Democrats (Socialists). But the Nationalists threw up their heads, planted their feet firmly on the ground, refused to collaborate with Socialists. At length, the Chancellor gave way. As a compromise between the Democrats (not Socialists), who were hostile to the Nationalists, he asked the latter to accept three instead of four seats. The Nationalists accepted the offer, but the Democrats balked --never would they cooperate with the Kaiser's men. If the Chancellor insisted upon including the Nationalists, then the Democrats would withdraw from Government, which meant that able Minister of War, Dr. Gesslet, would resign.

Dissolution. The Chancellor, tired from his exertions, decided that it was impossible to reshuffle the Cabinet. Accordingly, he marched to the Berlin home of the German President, Herr Friedrich Ebert, and asked for dissolution of the Reichstag. After a short discussion, the President agreed.

New Elections. In the Reichstag Chancellor Marx told the assembled Abgeordacten (deputies) that the President had signed a decree dissolving the Reichstag. The reason for this step was the impossibility of forming a Cabinet, due to the line-up in the Reichstag parties. He called for general elections for Dec. 7.

Communists' Flight. The immediate result of the dissolution was the frantic haste with which the 62 Communists dashed out of the building and sought their funk-holes in various parts of Germany. The reason was that as soon as the Reichstag had been dissolved, they, ipso facto, were no longer deputies and therefore were not immune from arrest.

Colors. Back to the colors went the 27 political parties of Germany. Under the banner of the schwars-rot-gold (black, red, gold--colors of the Republic) were grouped the Social Democrats (Socialists), Centriste (Catholic Party, quasi Monarchists), Volkspartei (People's Party, quasi Monarchists), Democrats and a number of smaller parties.

True to the schwars-weiss-rot (black, white, red--colors of the Empire) were the Nationalists (Monarchists), Frei-heitspartei (Freedom Party, extreme Monarchists) and several smaller parties.

Under the red flag were the Communists.

Issue. As in the U. S. and Britain, there is a scarcity of issues in the German campaign. At the last election the paramount issue was acceptance or rejection of the Experts' Plan. At this election the Plan is a fait accompli and, with the exception of the Freedom Party and the Communists, every shade of political accepts, willingly or unwillingly, the necessity of supporting it. Reports that the Nationalists are hostile to the Plan and seek to reject it are mainly propaganda.

The paramount issue this time, as it has been since the adoption of the Weimar Constitution in 1919, is whether or not the Monarch is to be restored The last election virtually decided this question as follows (only the eight large parties are quoted) :

For the Republic--

Social Democrats 100

Democrats 28

128

For the Monarchy--

Nationalists 106

Freedom Party 32

Bavarian People's Party 16

154

For Labor Restoration--

Centre Party 65

People's Party 44

109

For Bolshevism--

Communists 62

Forecast. That the Communists will receive a set-back was accepted as a foregone conclusion. The economic condition of Germany is better than it was in May (date of the last elections) ; there are more contented people and contented people are usually enemies of Communism.

The Freedom Party, led by the notorious ex-First Quartermaster General, General Erich von Ludendorff, was singled out for extinction. This prophecy was probably unduly optimistic, for the conceited General has a noisy following of Junkers.

With regard to the remaining parties, nothing definite was said. The Monarchist idea is so part and parcel of the German people that the Nationalists are unlikely to lose many seats. The Social Democrats, however, were considered to have a fair chance of increasing their representation, because most of the Communist seats are expected to be captured by them. Centrists and People's Party, it was said, would probably hold their seats. Summed up, it appears that the Reichstag situation is not likely to be materially altered -- that is, neither the Socialist, Government nor Monarchist blocs will be able to command a majority.