THE GOOSE-STEPPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 5

THE GOOSE-STEPPERS.

ISSUE IN GERMANY.

HINDENBURG'S CANDIDATUEE.

WARMING THE HOHENZOLLERN SKAT.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON". April 22. There is trouble in the two Kuropean i.niioiis on which the peace of the world most depends. In Ocrmany the indecisive election has brought an unforeseen dilemma on a distracted nation. Is Hindenburg. the old war hero, formally adopted us the Nationalist candidate, likely to become president, and if so is be only goinp to warm the scat for the Ilobciizollcrus'r The issue from all accounts will depend on tlie 12.000.11(10 voters who did not trouble to go to the poll at the late indecisive election. .Judging by bis speech given yester- . day after a parade in Hanover of thousands of goose-stepping members of various societies. Hindenhorg won't do anything. He is to be the symbol; merely of a united nation. The text | of his speech, a very clover one. and \ obviously prepared for him, was that he would work to restore national unity I in the teeth of the politicians aud to raise Germany again to her proper place among the nations. He is obviously a simple type of man. He said, and none disbelieve him. "I am accustomed to do my duty." But who is to point out to him what hii i duty is? For there lies the crux of j the 4 position. Honest, simple soldier though he be. be is simply not lilted to lead a nation. What gives reason for disipiiet among other nations is the fact that Hindcnberg's supporters seem blind to the fact that Hie return of tbe war hero as president will not appear to the world a symbol of unity, and the fear is they may remain blind too long. Hindenherg is found replying to tbe objection that bis election will encourage militarism by saving there is no war party under the leadership of former officers. The Nationalist party's campaign is dissected by the ""Tageblau." which describes the proceedings at a meeting in support of Ilindeiiberg's candidature. According to this, the view of Nationalists was that the defeat, of Hindenherg would mean their political j extinction for the next seven years; therefore they must stick at nothing to bring about his election, nnd tbe I money for this must be furthcoming. ! Dr. Weiss, the publicity manager of the Nationalists, is represented as liming demanded at least half a million marks for election propaganda, and he apparently informed the meeting that 100.000 of it had already been spent. Some enthusiasts appealed for some "really low down" leaflets with which to confound the other side. Some described the success of leaflets circulated by them among the workmen, but purporting to come from their opponents. Complaints were made that the Nationalist Press would not push the Hindenherg candidature except for cash down. Herr Stresemann and General yon Sccckt came in for a good deal of criticism. Representatives of the heavy industry declared that they W"i'e quite ready to pay. but could not find out which of the many headquarters of tinI Ultited Right was' ami,,,rise,l to accept i the money. Altogether t li" minutes of the meeting suggest that tin- Untied Hight bail not proved very cohesive. Apparently it is not intended to be. as the president of the meeting definitely staled tbat it would be dissolved immediately it bud served its purpose, a remark that is interpret-] as foreshadowing a settlement .if diilVrenccs with the Stresemann party when the election is over.