Presidential Campaign

Within the past week, Minister President Held of Bavaria girt up his loins preparatory to running in the Presidential election (scheduled for Mar. 29) for the Bavarian People's Party, while General Erich von Ludendorff, succumbing to the urge of his master, Adolf Hitler, would-be imitator of Mussolini, threw his helmet into the ring for the "Volkisch" Party, extreme Monarchists.

As things stood, there were seven candidates:

Dr. Karl Jarres, Nationalist, representing the opportunist Monarchists (supported by Chancellor Hans Luther and Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemana).

Dr. Otto Braun, Socialist, Republican.

Dr. Wilhelm Marx, Centrist, Catholic leader, opposed to both Socialists and Monarchists and holding the key to the German political situation.

Dr. Willy Hellpach, Democrat.

Dr. Held, Bavarian People's Party.

Ernst Thaelmann, Communist.

General Erich von Ludendorff, Volkisch (Popular) Party.

The effect of seven candidates running for the Presidency has done little to alter the situation (TIME, Mar. 23), except to make it practically certain that none of them will obtain a plurality of the total vote. Therefore, it seemed probable that there will not be an elected President of Germany until Apr. 26, when a second election requiring only a relative majority will be held.

At the second election, it is expected that Socialists, Democrats and Centrists will join forces to elect a purely Republican Candidate. Ex-Chancellor Wilhelm Marx seemed their probable choice; but it would be rash to predict that he will win, for the attitude of the Socialists toward a Catholic candidate is not likely to be unanimous and the monarchically inclined parties were considered just as likely to coalesce in the last effort to snatch a victory. It seems a fair assumption that either Marx or Jarres will be Germany's next President.

As regards the campaign the most notable speech of the week came from Candidate Jarres and the most significant parts of that speech were:

Presidency: "The German President on assuming office must swear fidelity to the Constitution. A German man keeps his oath. Every man of honor sees in this oath the obvious duty to protect the Constitution and the State by force, if necessary."

Constitution: "Having made this statement, I shall not in any way attempt to conceal my inner conviction that the present German Constitution is not my ideal and that some parts thereof demand reform."

Monarchy: "We repudiate the suggestion that this election means a decision as to whether Germany will be a Monarchy or a Republic. In the last analysis, it is not the form of government which counts, but the substance. In view of the troubles besetting our country, other questions hold precedence."*

Flag: Candidate Jarres went on to say that the black, red and gold flag was the constituent flag of Germany, but it would not do to use it for partisan purposes. He and his followers demanded the right to honor the old Imperial flag--"the symbol of the glorious past."

*Notwithstanding Candidate Jarres' words, the big campaign issue is between monarchistn and republicanism. He means that the Monarchists have no immediate intention of restoring a Monarchy, but that does not alter their ultimate aims. To most of the Opposition parties, they are Monarchists. The Opposition parties believe that they are fighting monarchism.