Bloodcurdling

"Quiet in the hog sty!" bellowed Prussian Communists. "Silence in the robbers' den!" roared Prussian Fascists. Amid stentorian shouts for stillness, all proceedings in the Prussian Landtag were temporarily abandoned.

The Communists deemed the Fascists hogs because the latter demand the return to members of the German nobility of property seized from them by the German Republic. The Fascists flayed the "Communist robbers" because they are whooping up German voters to ballot, on June 20, in a national referendum (TIME, Feb. 15 et seq.) which--if 20,000,000 votes are cast--will confirm and legalize the Republic's seizures of property. In the Prussian Landtag, both Communists and Fascists grunted and howled when Herr Ho"pker-Aschoff, Prussian Minister of Finance, attempted an "impartial" speech as follows: "While I am personally against confiscation, I must observe that it is not fair to call the possibly forthcoming confiscatory vote of the now sovereign people an act of 'robbery.' . . . "

A tide of bloodcurdling abuse. Eventual changing of the subject. All over Germany similar scenes. The onetime Crown Prince reported to be giving away chocolate and small change to children near his estate at Oles. Quickening excitement. Suspense.

But the climax of the agitation written by President von Hindenburg, written to Herr Von Loebell, was the publication of a letter who was a minister of state to Kaiser Wilhelm II and also political campaign manager for General Hindenburg. The President was in Schorfheide when the letter was given out. It was conjectured that the President might not have meant it for publication:

"Ingratitude is threatening to undermine the foundations of the German state.

"One of the mainstays of the state will collapse if this referendum is successful in its plan to expropriate the former royalties without compensation. . . .

"I have consecrated my life service to the kings of Prussia and the former kaisers. I consider this referendum a great injustice. It shows a lack of sentiment for German traditions."

This strong statement brought put strong reactions. The monarchists were elated and the socialists talked of the President's resigning if expropriation was voted. At any rate the General's statement is expected to aid the monarchist cause.