,oi 4 GERMANY 



should have been shifted on to their shoulders, while the landed men did not bear 

 their fair share. The opposition betweeil the agrarian and the industrial interests had 



shown itself in the formation of the Hansa Bund (June 12, 1909). wherein 



the great captains of industry united against the feudal aristocracy. 



The immediate (and ostensible) aim of the Bund was to oppose the 

 financial reforms as advocated by the Conservatives and Centre. From the first the 

 Bund asserted that it was an "economic organisation and not a political party,": 

 that what it stood for was ""'a fair economic policy," and that it drew its members 

 from all parties. Its real aim, however, was not to allow the landed interests to hold 

 a monopoly of political power. At its first meeting there were representatives of over 

 100 Chambers of Commerce and more than 400 other commercial and industrial 

 organisations. Altogether some 6,000 delegates took part in the proceedings. 



The Hansa Bund only gave expression to the general discontent which continued 

 for a year and a half, until the general elections in 1912, the results of which may 



certainly be attributed to its influence. Even earlier, the popular temper 

 Socialist was showing itself at the Reichstag by-elections, where the Social Demo- 

 successes, crats were enabled to gain three seats out of a total of five. It was the 



same in the state elections; everywhere the prevailing discontent expressed 

 itself by sending Social Democrats to the legislatures. The best instance is perhaps 

 that of Saxony, where the elections, on October 21, 1909, took place for the first time 

 on a system of plural voting. According to this, every man who pays direct taxes has 

 one vote. If his income exceeds 80, or if he owns 2 hectares (about 5 acres) of land, 

 or if, by reason of his having passed the necessary examination, he is qualified for 

 one year's military service, he has two votes. If, however, his income is over 100, 

 or if he is a professional man lawyer, doctor, high-school teacher, engineer or artist, 

 or, being an agriculturist he owns more than 4 hectares (about 10 acres) of land, 

 he is entitled to three votes. Again, if his income exceeds 140, or if he is the possessor 

 of more than 8 hectares (about 20 acres) of land, he is entitled to four votes. Finally, 

 every man over fifty years of age has an extra vote, but no man may record more than 

 four votes altogether. Such a scheme is broad enough, and therefore the striking 

 success of the Social Democratic party l is of more than ordinary significance. -;r' ' 

 The new Chancellor was fully alive to the situation, and already in his first speech 

 to the House (December 9, 1909) he attempted to discount the successes of the Social 



Democrats. " I am of opinion that there are large masses among our 



people who do not wish to be nurtured on . . . revolutionary changes. 

 Chancellor. . . : What our people desires above all else is that it may not be 



disturbed in its daily work by unrest and experiment; that, on the con- 

 trary, it looks for protection to a political policy which is stable and reliable." On the 

 other hand he hinted clearly enough that he had no intention of being influenced by 

 any party; that his aim would be to carry on the government independently of all 

 parties. That was about as far as his programme went, and in reality it was wherein 

 his strength lay. Those who knew Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg were not surprised 

 at this attitude. An excellent administrator, he believed in no sensational policies, 

 but in thoroughness in administrative work. Accordingly he appointed (June 1909) 

 specialists to the offices rendered vacant by the financial crisis. With the rejection 

 of the Government's estimates, Herr Sydow, the Secretary of the Imperial Treasury, 

 had resigned. His successor was Herr Wermuth. 2 To the Ministry of the Interior, 

 Herr Delbruck 3 was appointed. Herr Sydow 4 became the Minister of Commerce, 



The composition of the Saxony Diet after the elections was as follows: Conservatives, 

 29 (in place of 46 in the previous Diet), 36 National Liberals (34 previously); Party of the 

 Middle (lasses, i (no change), and 25 Social Democrats (previous Diet i). 



1 Adolf \\ermuth. born March 23, 1855, Under Secretary of the Interior, 1904. 



Clemens Delbruck, born Jan. 19, 1856, Senior Burgomaster of Danzig, 1896; Governor 

 (Oberprasident) of West Prussia, 1902; Minister of Commerce and Industry, 1905. 



4 Keinhold Sydow, born Jan. 14, 1851 ; Undersecretary of the Post Office, 1901 ; Secretary 

 of the Imperial Treasury, 1908. 



