The Wanganui Chronicle. " Nulla Dies Sine Linea." WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, SOCIALIST GERMANY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 9 October 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. " Nulla Dies Sine Linea." WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, SOCIALIST GERMANY.

According to Mr. Harry S. Gullet", London correspondent of the Sy.lnc.-y "Sun," tfro Social Democratic Party in Germany is about to assume control cf tho political situation in the German Empire. Tho world, ho says, has no parallel for tho suddenness of the development of this party. It commenced with the Universal Working Men's Association, founded by Lassallo in 1863. This Association suffered from dissension 3, bad leadership, and persecution at tho hands of tho authorities. Its leaders were imprisoned and exiled. Its ono newspaper had to bo published first at Geneva and then at London. Its propaganda had perforce to bo colourless «»id quiet. Yet it grew steadily year by year. In Karl Marx it found its greatest and most intellectual leader. The party which succeeded tho Association has always been organised and administered by the working classes without professional organisers or profes-

sional agitators. It has been fighting "a soldier's battle," and the military training which every male German receives has taught the rank and file of the party the strength that lies in discipline. To-day the Social Democratic Party is the strongest individual party mi the Reichstag and the greatest force \n Europe for international peace.' The Party is in close touch with British labour leaders, and it resolutely refuses to believe in the "British menaoe." At the last general election the Party's strength in the Reichstag was raised from 57 to 110, and it has 224 members in the various State Diets and 10,000 municipal councillors within the Empire. The number of its adherents grows enormously year by year, and its funds accumulate in proportion. During 1911 the Party enrolled 135,000 members' and 171,000 additional subscribers were gained by the Party's 86 daily newspapers. At the elections in January of this year the Party spent £45,000. as against £23,000 in 1907 and £14,000 in 1903. While its ideals are revolutionary, the Party's methods are essentially evolutionary. It can at present render all other political parties in Germany impotent, and presently, it is prophesied, it will take control of tho political machine.