SOME OF THE ISSUES.

Dominion, Issue 1337, 15 January 1912, Page 5

SOME OF THE ISSUES.

GERMANY'S FISCAL SYSTEM. THE DEAR FOoF CAMPAIGN. • regarded as the official opening ot the Uerman electoral campaign took place on October 23, when tho Imperial Chancellor mule a vigorous and almost passionate defence of tho present system ol tieraiany, and denounced the agitation about fool prices as a wanton ami perilous attempt to upset it. The speech gave, great joy to the Conservatives and the bemi-agrarian Centre party. It was understood that the continued protection of agriculture would be a prominent feature oi tlie Government programme at the general election. The Chancellor look Uio view that tho whole dear food agitation is a deliberate attack on protection wmch must be resisted us such by the Ooverninent, for which the maintenance oi the present economic policy of Germany is u matter oi absolute conviction, 110 domed that the protection of agriculture had damaged industry or "starved" the people. The Imperial Chancellor declared that the undue difference between wholesale and retail prices was not the tniilt of the Government, or oi the fiscal system, but to a very large extent the lault of tho exaggerated dear food campaign, especially in the press. The truth was that the Socialists and Radicals were agitating for tho elections and-finding new hopo in the price ut food. .; The next Reichstag would have to arrive at important decisions concerning economic policy. If the present agitation succeeded in '.-meeting tho composition of tho next Reichstag by playing on feelings produced by tho unavoidable results of a drought, then they would pay for the present temporary rise in prices by doing grave and lasting, injury to their economic life. No sane economic policy could base itself on reduction of the cost of living. Were thev to undermine tho foundations of their system of national food, of finance, and national defence? He for his part held it to be his duty to the country to hold fast by tho existing fiscal, policy, and no attacks would divert him from the right rpad. 1 TnE OTHER SIDE. Tho general impression made by tho Chancellor's speech (according to the Berlin correspondent of the "Morning Post") was that the Government intended at tho elections to work with tho Conservatives and Agrarians for the continuance of tho existing economic policy. All the parties on tho left of the House, however, will combat this policy tooth and nail, for in their opinion it has resulted in enriching the landed proprietors at the expense of tho mass of the population. The Chancellor will also not carry tho National Liberal Party with him, for in it are tho great Industrialists, and these maintain that industry has not been benefited by tariffs. They and tho parties on tho Left contend that Germany is increasing in prosperity, not on account of, but in spite of her present economic system. Tho "Frankfurter Zeitung," the most influential democratic organ, declares that tho opinion is gaining ground rapidly in Germany that "our economic system has passed its climax and that a gradual und careful reduction of tho height of the tariff wall must now bo made. By placing himself at the head of an Agrarian-Couscrvative-Clerical majority, Dr. von Bethmann Hollweg has, it contends, attached himself to a lost cause. All forces must, it concludes, bo concentrated in tho few months previous to the elections in ordei that itmay bo proved to tho Chancellor that ho has played "va banquo" and lost. Speaking in tho Reichstag, Heir Fuhrmaun, one of tho leaders of tho National Liberal party, declared that the policy of Conservatives and Agrarians had created a feeling of hatred in the towns towards a section of the agricultural population, and ho added: "When you" (addressing those two parties) "observe during tho elections the presence in the country of Radicalism to an extent hitherto unparalleled, when you see that the. composition of the next* Reichstag is such that in your opinion it imperils our system of Protective tariffs, yon will kindly beat your own breasts and cry 'men. culpa, mea maxima culpa.'" Hcrr Fuhrmaiin belongs to tho Right section of tho National Liberal party, nnd his' speech destroys the hopes that have been cherished for somo time past in certain quarters that this party would collaborate in the elections with tho Conservatives. "THE DEMOCRATIC AGITATION OF THE TIMES." The members of the Silesian Conservative Association assembled at Breslau on October 29, and wore addressed by the leader of tho party, Dr. von Heydebrand und der Laso, whose influenco is so great that ho has been termed by his opponents "the uncrowned Kin.<; of Prussia." Tho speaker referred to the necessity of concentrating all their forces for the struggle against "tho democratic agitation of the times." nnd of lending the Government every support in continuing tlie policy which had made Germany so prosperous. In respert of the external situation Dr. von Heydebrand said: "Wo patriots arc overcome by bitter and fad feelings when wo see what has happened to German prestige in the world. We must candidly admit that the development of the African controversy is not what we should have wished. Wo see that France has obtained everything, as was settled between her and England some time ago, nnd this is not oil. . Tt is by no means immaterial to us that the last independent Empire in Africa passes into the hands of France. There is no denying tlie fact that the prestige of Franco in the world has been enhanced, and it is obvious that this is not a cause of rejoicing for us Germans." Hcrr von Heydebrand added that it was true that Germany had obtained certain guarantees that the economic interests should be respected, but whether such guarantees w»i\> to he permanent or not might, he said, ultimately become a question of power. "That a Liberal Ministry," the speaker continued, "which pomes In England a.-t being less wailika liuii iwy otitr. should hold its flit under

our nose and declare: 'I alone <im arbiter oyer (he world,' is bitterly hard for us, 'who have IS7O-71 behind us. If it had been passible Mich uu affront should have, been spared the German people." The times, llerr von Iloydc-' uriuid declared, were so serious for the German people that the Conservative party would not try to weaken the Government by severely criticising it, but would .support it to a man so long a= it considered its duly lo be to uphold the honour and power of the German Empire. TEE SECOND BALLOT. The essence of a German clcclion is (ho second ballot agreement. Under the German system tho first ballot docs not selllo an election unless one of the candidates lias an absolute majority. That is gcneially not the case in a country •with twenty political parlies, and a second ballot has to be fought off between Ihe two candidates polling tho largest number of votes at tho first. The issue then depends on which way tho beaten parties who have no candidate of their own at tho second ballot give their votes. Thus the New York "Post") if a Conservative and a Socialist havo the largest number of votes at the first ballot, the Conservatives having 2000 votes' more than tho Socialist, while tho National Liberal received 1000 votes, and the Radical 2000, the Socialist will get tho Radical vote at the second ballot, which will make him level with the Conservative, and all will depend upon tho party for whom the National Liberals declare. Centro and Conservative will support each other everywhere in the second ballots, and where they cannot support each other for want of a candidate to vote for, will holp anyone rather than a Socialist, although this rulo may not always hold good. Similarly, Radical and Socialist will help each other against any block candidate. What tho Nationnl Liberals will do is uncertain, but probably their tactics will vary in different parts of the country. THE CONSTITUTION. Tho Constitution of the German Empire bears date April 16,1871. By its terms, all the States of Germany "iprm an eternal union for the protection oi the realm and the care of the welfare of the German people." The supremo direction, ot the military and po itical affairs of tho L - piro is vested in tho King of Prusbia, who, in this capacity, bears the title o Deutscher Kaiser. According to Art. U of tho Constitution, "the Lmperor represents the Empire internationally, and can declare war if defensive, and make ncace, as well as enter into treaties with other nations, and appoint and receive ambassadors. But when treaties relate to matters regulated by imperial legislation, and when war is not merely defensive, the Kaiser must have the consent of the Bundcsrat, or Federal Council, in which bodv, together with tho Reichstag, or Diet of the Realm, aro vested the legi-dativo functions of the Empire. Ino Emperor has no vote on laws passed by these bodies. Tho Bundcsrat represents tho individual States of Germany, and the Reichstag the German nation. ■ Iho 58 members of the Bundesrat are appointed by the Governments of tho individual States for each session, while tho members of the Reichstag, 307 in number (about one for every 131.G10 inhabitants), aro elected by univorsal suffrage and ballot, for tho term of fivo years. By a law passed in 1900, members of tho Reichstag are paid 3000 marks (.£150) for tlie session, with deduction of 20 marks (£1) for each day's absence; they have free passes over Gorman railways during session. Tho duration of the legislative period is five years. The various States of Germany are represented as follow in the Bundesrat and'the Reichstag:—

Alsace-Lorraine is represented in the Bundesrat by four commissioners (Kommissare) without votes, who are nominated by the Statthalter. Tho total number of electors to the R«ichstag inscribed on tho lists at the general election of 1907 was 13,352,880, while the number of actual voters was 11,303,537. Both tho Bundesrat and tho Reichstag meet in annual session, convoked by tho Emperor. Tho Emperor has tho 'right to prorogue and dissolve the Reichstag after a voto by tho Bundesrat. Without consent of tho Reichstag tho prorogation may not exceed thirty days; while in enso of dissolution now elections must take place within sixty days, and a new session must open within ninety duvs. All laws for tho Empiro must reccire the votes of an absolute majority of the Bundesrat and the Reichstag. The Bundesrat is presided ovor by the Reichskanzler, or Chancellor of tho Empire, and the President of tho Reichstag' is elected bv tho deputies. The laws of the Empire, passed bv (he Bundesrat and tho Reichstag, to 'take efiect must be promulgated by the Emperor, and tho promulgation, like all other ofhcial acts of the Emperor, requires the counter-signature of the Chancellor of the Empire. All the members of the Bundesrat have the right to he present at the deliberations of the Reichstag. POLITICAL PARTIES. The centre of political life j u the German Empire is tho Reichstag, the constitution of which is somewhat complex. The ast four general elections have resulted as follow:—

... ~ „ , 397 397 397 397 Alsatians, Guelphs, Danes, etc. The transformation of parties which took place in the summer of 1909 was thus described by Prince Bulow on his retirement. "I determined," he said, "to retiro beeauie, in consequence of fho attitude of Hie Conservative party, a political constellation was produced which, to the exclusion of tho Liberal parties including even the brothers-in-nnns of tho old Bistnarckia.ii Cartel (tho National Liberals), brought tho Conservatives into ho closest alliance with the Centre and tho Polos-, and thereby mndo the Centre once again (he controlling partv." This combination between Centro and' the Conscryativcs is known as the "blue-black" \Mt J\u,? tV ° Ptffr hr ' s described itself ni fundamentally a political undenominational' party, which* gmn \ s . iV b t o tnW,c W 8 f » Catl ' olic '»»>"- on in fulfiliV* Bt -i nd W n tho Coilstl 't''lion in iulfilli p its duty townrds tho ■aherland." The Radical parties of ho 1. fl, mimbenng about 50 members, united P*pa?ty! ho,laU,Ct,fthcl^-^

States of the Empire JjJ J|| Kingdom of Prussia 17 236 Kingdom of Bavaria 6 J8 Kingdom of Saxony •} •-'' Kingdom of Wurtombcrg... -1 1' Grand-Duchy of Baden 3 n Grand-Duchy of Iless? 3 9 Grand-Duchy of Mecklon-burg-Scnwcriu 2 6 Grand-Duchy of Saxony... 1 3 Grand-Duchy of Mecklen-btirg-Strelitz ;... .1 1 Grand-Duchy of Oldenburg 1 3 Duchy of Brunswick 2 3 Duchy of Suxe-Jfeinhigcn... 1 2 Duchy of Saie-Altenburg... 1 1 Duchv of Saxc-Coburg-Gotha 1 2 Duchy of Anhalt 1 2 Principality of Sehwarz- .... 1 1 Principality of Schwarz-burg-Rudolstadt 1 1 Principality of Waldeck... 1 1 Principality of Ecuss Aelterer Lime 1 1 Principality of Reuss Jungcrer Linie 1 1 Principality of Schamn-burg-I.ippe 1 1 Principality of Lippo 1 1 Free town of Lubeck ;. 1 1 Pros town of Bromen 1 1 ' Pree town of Hamburg... 1 3 Rcichsland of Alsace-Lor-raine — 15 Total „ 58 397

■n , General Elections. Party. ISM. )S%. 1903.1007. > enfa,e ;•. AG W3 100 105 Conservatives 08 74 73 83 National Liberals 53 48 50 Vj Social Democrats II ' hr 00 'j» Badicals and Moder- ' S " 4<> ato Eadicals .j« 43 35 51 Anti-Semites 17 jo n ™ 'Smaller parties 32 47 30 \q