GERMANY’S NEXT PRESIDENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 27 April 1925, Page 7

GERMANY’S NEXT PRESIDENT.

Von Hindenburg’s Campaign. BIG STRUGGLE IN PROGRESS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 26, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, April 24. With the approach of. the Presidential election on Sunday, the campaign is reaching its height. The Republican papers are overflowing with telegrams from New York, emphasising the disastrous effects of Von Hindenburg’s candidature, on the financial relation* between American banking circles and Germany. The Monarchist press retorts with immense headlines across the page and lined with red ink: “American finance is on the side of Von.' Hindenburg.” Marshal Von Hindenburg’s supporters are making a bold bid for the women’s votes.

Prominent writers are arguing that Dr. Marx will get Germany into the League of. Nations, and involve Germany in the League’s wars. - lleiciis-bloc writers and speakers also declare that Dr, Marx also represents only party feeling and classes warfare, whereas Von Hindenburg is proclaimed as a man whom the whole nation trusts. V

The Republicans retort that Von Hindenburg is a militarist, with no knowledge of statesmanship, and would be a mere puppet in the hands of those aiming at the restoration of the Holienzollerns. His election would be a set back to Germany in the affairs of the world. ' '

ON THE EVE OF THE POLLING. - THE ISSUE—“A MAN v. A LEGEND.” By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N,Z. Cable Association. (Received April 26, 5.5 p.m.) LONDUN, April 25. Marshal Von Hindenbuig’s speech was broadcasted iik London through the enterprise of the “Daily Express.” The Berlin correspondent of . the “Daily Telegraph” says that no political, vote in Germany has been more difficult to predict, than that to be taken to-morrow. The struggle, is between Dr. Marx (a man with a record) and Von Hindenburg (an idol with a legend). If the polling corresponds closely with that of March 29, Dr. Marx should receive 15,250,000 votes, and Von Hindenburg 11,500,000,' but such insistency cannot bo expected; Many Socialists may prefer trips to the country to see the fruit blossom now in full glory. . The Industrialists have many reasons for not wanting Von Hinden-bui-g, if the instincts of the party bosses are true. The main issue of ,the election is the approval of the outside world. Never before have the views of the fqreign press been so voluminously quoted. The vital importance of the election may be judged by the fact that the President is Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, and in the opinion of the foremost lawyers could, under Clause 48 of the Constitution, destroy the present structure of Germany, and restore the ex-Kaiser without trespassing beyond his legal rights.

BITTER CAMPAIGN ENDS. RIVAL LEADERS’ APPEAL. By Cable —;Press Association—Coi'yri&Lt, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 2d, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, April 25. An extraordinarily virulent Presidential campaign, which is likely t 6 produce the closest voting at tomorrow’s poll, concluded with broa,dbast speeches, by Dr. Marx and Von Hindenburg. The former emphasised the need for democracy .and the peaceful development of Europe. The Marshal, who has taken little personal part in the campaign, strongly appealed to the Nationalist sentiment. He promised to recognise that Germany had lost and must bear the consequences thereof, but the peopre must not remain slaves lor ever. The Monarchist and Republican flags were equally evident in Berlin. Fifty excited meetings were held id the capital yesterday. The late President’s son had the temerity to call out “Long Live the Republic,” at a Monarchist meeting, and was promptly arrested by the police, who inflicted the usual truncheoning before releasing him.