THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 31, 19 January 1912, Page 8

THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

THE SOCIALIST INFLUENCE

There is universal suffrage for tin Imperial Reichstag elections, but this does not moan that the form of government is democratic, since the Chancellor generally manages to seicuro a combination of parties to carry the legislation he proposes. The Chancellor is appointed by the Emperor, and thus is independent of all Iparties. The Prussian Reichstag, which deals with most questions affecting that State, is elected on a very j restricted franchise and tin’s enables the “junker” party to maintain its influence, which is entirely reactionary in its tendency. Socialist deputies first appeared in the Ren lining in IS7I, and their numbers increased steadily till in 1903 they field St! seats in a house of 397 members. In the- election campaign of 1907 a wave of national sentiment was worked up and exploited by the Cnvernment, with the result that the progress of the. Social Democratic Party

received, for the first time in many years, a serious check. At t;io J.S.-K) election, 44 Social Democrats were returned, and tho number was increased to 5(5 in 1898, and 82 in 1903. It fell in 1907 to 43. Every other party gained at tho expense oi tho Socialists, and their loss, which was the outstanding feature of the elections, was attributed to the success of the Chancellor, Prince Bulow, in stirring up patriotic sentiments. But tho tide has turned again, .the Social Democrats, by winning a scries of by-clcctions, have brought their numbers in the Reichstag up to 53, and tho Government therefore is very much alarmed. Its statisticians have boon at work, and it is reported that tho Chancellor, Dr von BcthmamiHollwcg, accepts their calculations as a warning that ho may have to face in the new Reichstag 110 or perhaps 150 Socialist deputies. In a House of 397 mom hors with half a dozen

separate parlies, a solid phalanx of 150 might exercise a controlling influence. The extraordinary complication of parties in the Reichstag is shown by tho following figures giving their respective strengths in the 1907 House :—Centre (Catholic) 108, Conservatives GO, National Liberals 56, Social Democrats 43, all other parties ISO. The vote for the Socialists does not mean that Germany contains that number of convinced Socialists, as many persons vote ior Socialist candidates who do not entirely approve of their views, just as in Australia many of the votes for Labour candidates are given by persons who have little sympathy with tho Labour Party, hut disapprove of some of tho measures of the opposing party. Tins accounts for the great variation in tho Socialist vote in Germany at recent elections.