Kautsky and Bebel

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 45, 19 January 1912, Page 9

Kautsky and Bebel

Iv the New York "(.'all/' LuelJn Twining writes fascinatingly on ''Some European Socialists." We extract the following as particularly appropriate in view of all Socialist eyes being on Geimauy.

"You must meet Karl Kautsky." was ■aid. 1 irttiier demurred. 1 imagined him a b< iioiarly. exclusive-looking man. •itfing in «. library surrounded by big books, writ-nig an abstruse article with "thiN it. my busy day expression." very disconcerting u> a humble- Socialist like inysi'ii'. "'Nonsense.." insisted Alexandra Koilantai. laughing in her delightiu). gay way. "Ka\itnky is bo kind And pleasant, and he will be offended if wo doirt. call. We can go any time. but 1 eiiail writ* to make sure.

A day lat<*r a warn; invitation ramo for us 1o oall the nest day. Going up the stair* to thoir flat., we mot two little children. oiK a bab.v of about ■two. the otb»>r perhaps a year older. Tlic oldest wjip driving the who was hitehod up in harness. As soon as the little creature,*- saw us they took off their hats mod ♦vTrnionionsly and held thorn at their aidoi* till wo bad passed. This is characteristic oi the German children, who are- trained from babyhood to bo courteous. Karl Kautliy hinwlf answered, our ring. I was •Brpriioofl to soo him. He is not at all uppish art ing. On the contrary, his chief ehniiWonVtiee aro fl gonial face, cordial, pleasant voice-, and appreciative wan nor. Ho is light comploxioviod and of medium fiko. We worn invited into the dining-room for a cup of lea. The Germans seem to have adopted the English o o'clock teas.

We sat and talked for two hours. A Bocialiit woman physician, who cured Jules Gu'.sde. of a serious malady he differed from for many years, called. Comrade Kautslcy t-howed so great a knowledge tf mwik-ino that the doctor Asked: ''Why, Comrade Kanthky, art you a physician. -'■ "Oh, no,' , ho iceponded d<.'pr<<:atinyly. "I have miv -medicine- a Jitt-k. ' Coinraut Kaut-.-ky fcixjwni hwiiicts el intellect oy talking very lit:ic h;inM.-Jf and quL-siioiiinjj. mc as to tin- AmtTJcau move 111 i.'iit. oxtra<ting at iiuK-h iniori/uition at: I «as able to yive In 1V;. I noticed this tendency to r«-ticviK-'.- -n nearly- all the .noted ]ii'twi!\« L m<:. CCupled with an to hear everything H. M. Hynuroan ami Hot a are exc.-p----tiome, for tL*.-> have the psytlioloj-'y "i tbe ttiwher. However, 1 uuinageii w. , get in a lew questions. "Why has Berlin £O tlumtr" 1 «sk«d. "Oh, there are many poor people Jb«re," he replied: "but- I should cay the Socialists have raised the level of tlie working cJass by and crganisation.' , "Have the OW Age Pension siul I:> Laws nssi&red 1-he f■ J :k;::g clft^sr"" 5 I asked. "Perhaps a little, -, he replied, "Ijut tie standard of life has been raised principally h.y organisation."

We discussed this question at length, and. I discovered that Mr. and Mrs. Kauteky both think that the Socialises *nd trades viniotists have m&du Gtrjuany what it is.

It it, certain there arc do tlunis in Berlin and Munich. I trav<.-rs<.«l both jcities north, south, east unci ive*t-. and frnuul only wtil-built and lieat dwellings. Xo stronger argument for a Socialist Party could be discount*! than the cities of Berlin and Munich. I uj Bob wisli to bo understood as cviitendi«g that the conditions in Germany are ideal. They are not. Tlie wages are low, tlie cost oi living liigh, and the people work very hard. Uni> ac ka&t the Socialists (for they'ii'erj.'anibo the unions), by organising tlte untk;l!e<i workeib, have raised th<-ir levtl. OJit does not see the miserable poverty, degradation, and suffering in Berlin cr.fc does in New York, Paris and London.

Comrade Kollantai and I went to tie Reichstag from Comrade Kautsky'e, where va> hopod to sec the great Bcbc-1. Hβ bad rot come irhon wo arrived, so Comrade Otto Hue ; of the German Min*ib' Federation, conducted us to tlie gallery.

Suddenly we heard ivhitporSj "ilier ieb Betel!" "Bobel," "Ikbel/ , all Around tlie gallery, and then ivo saw Bebel walking to his scat in the Sooialiet section. We w<\nt down and tent in our cards, and soon I taw i-to jban coniiiijb' wlioni 2 eared io n?«t,

perhaps, mow than any otKr. 1 knew him by the pli< tographs. which are very good likenesses. His. hea<l is crainod with heavy gray hair, ami liis law., like Kautsky's, is genial, but not m buoyant. The life Bebel has led with the workers has. left its imprint. ilif» smile has a pathetic, touch. "Bebel is tho most popular man ir Germany," paid Hosa Luxembourg. These two brave souls do not always agiw. as we fiiw in the congress at Jena, but they appreciate e;u!f other. 1 told him what Ifosa Luxembourg said. He s/nilrd and said: "Oh. ?b< ; s a greatand brave woman.' , I thanked him i'er liii- "Woman Under Socialism.' , "It cost mc imich labor." he replied; "more than anything <'^ c ' ever utidortook. 1 just n-eeived a letter Ka villus it has Ijeen translatifl ititn nearly every laiifjuage.'' He wakes few public addresses, for he has , suffered from s< rious attacks of heart trouble. Kollantni inquired after his health. "I have been much worse since my wife died.' , he replied sadly. "But what can 1 do for you?" he asked, smiling. "Perhaps you would like letters of introduction to my friends or wish nx- to take you to call en some of them."' So wo made arrangements to Ko to the Gerverkschaft's Haus and tben bade him good-bye, for messongeiß kept coming for him. The- Socialists arc r< ally respected in Germany, and when otic asks for Belit'l in fche Reichstag, one it conducted up tile stairs and seated i.i t'ir anteroom t<. the Chamber ol D<-puties w it'u as much ceremony as tliough one a*■!:<• -i for iH.inier As f iui:L ir. Loud<■'.:.