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8 THE FATHERLAND
the management of railroads, in the form of an Interstate Com-
merce Commission. Here a small body of men make rules af-
fecting railroads which are really laws, enforce those rules and
hear appeals on the subject, few of which pass to a higher court.
This body is a striking example of the effectiveness of the sys-
tem. It accomplishes more with less effort and greater dispatch
and satisfaction to all concerned than any department of the
American government. It is the Bundesrat system applied to
railroads and here for once in America, it works. 0
Another momentous application of the principle is found in
the American cities which have adopted the so-called commission
system of government. This system consists in delegating all
the municipal powers to a board of five commissioners, who pass
the laws, execute them and pass judicially upon their interpreta-
tion to a certain extent.
Real Effectiveness in Government
So etiective has the system proven that several hundred of
the most progressive cities have adopted it within a few years’
time.
The same principle is applied in primitive communities of
miners, where miners’ meeting acts with full powers, and such
communities are well governed until the regular system of gov-
ernment is substituted therefor.
There can be no doubt of the superior, and vastly superior
benefits of the system over all other forms of republican govern-
ment. Other nations must give way to Germany until they adopt
some equally effective method of ascertaining and carrying out
the will of the people.
It is no criticism of the principle to show that Germany on
account of gerrymandering and the property qualifications of
voters in the kingdom, is not governed so much by universal
suffrage as by property. Even though one million voters because
of their means and particular location overbalance 6,000,000 not
so well situated, the system is not rendered ineffective. The
will of the million is ascertained and carried into effect. The
question between the one and the six million is one of the qual-
ifications necessary to enfranchisement. Were the 6,000,000 to
gain complete enfianchisement at a stroke, as did the American
negroes, the ‘system would still be there to ascertain ‘and carry
into effect their will, whatever it might be.
And, incidentally, taxation without representation really de-
mands property qualifications. Personal liberties have long ago
been established. Enfranchisement without property qualifica-
tions is really taxation (for property owners) without repre-
sentation, for to overbalance the property owners who are the
taxpayers by the votes of those who have nothing and to impose
taxes on them which by no means they could oppose, is in truth
taxation without representation. -
The question of who is to be enfranchised, however, is a dif-
ferent question from the question of the form of government
and quite aside from it. It is a matter of purely conflicting
interest.
Collective Efficiency
The German system, however, does not end with promptly
ascertaining the will of the people. It has a particularly eliicient
system of carrying it into effect, termed collectively, the bu-
reaucracy.
The Kaiser through the Imperial Chancellor has the appoint-
ment of all public officials of the empire. As King of Prussia
he appoints all Prussian administrative officials. Other kings
similarly appoint the administrative oflicers of their kingdoms.
Thus, a vast body of otiicials exists, who hold for life or during
good behavior, who must be competent, who have every incentive
to good public service because their life jobs depend upon it and
because they command and receive the respect of the public for
honorable service, and who are instantly responsive to the Kaiser
and the Bundesrat, for their actions. They are protected from
interference in the execution of their duties by special courts
and theyare, so to speak, the fingers of the king, which must be
clean and which must, in the case of a constitutional monarch as
in Germany, carry out the will of the king which is the will of
the people, as constitutional monarchs in modern times are
merely hereditary presidents,
With this remarkable and efficient means of carrying out its
will, the power of the Bundesrat for national good can be appre-
ciated.
How different is the condition in the United States where even
after the will of the people is ascertained, there exists a large
body of untrained oflicials, expecting, especially locally, to hold
office for only a few years, during which time they “must get
their's while the getting is good," as the only means of carrying
it out.
C3" the“? be 3")’ wonder atthe dissatisfaction and unrest of
the public when their cherished system is the real cause of their
chief ”"“b1"5- Llbe"Y- equality and fraternity are only emPtY
phrases unless those who would destroy them can be brought
within the e&'ective displeasure of the state. And this cannot be
done under modern conditions in America,
THE DIVISION OF THE NATION’S FORCES
By Dr. Hanns Heinz Ewers
(Dr. Harms Heinz Ewer: is one of'lhe foremost German writer: of to-day. He is the leader of that powerful Romantic move-
ment which harmade modern German literature :0 colorful and fantarlic. Dr. Ewen is also a globe trailer and considered to be
one of the best informed travelers in the world. He has served in the German army and ha: seen actual fighting in East Asia, 5011"’
Africa, Morocco and the Balkans. His knowledge of military a,0’air.r is that of on e.rpert’.r. The following article is a keen analysis
of the actual condition and strength of the armies at war.)
GAIN and again one hears in American centers, gossip with
regard to the surrender of the Austrians and Germans, be-
cause of the overwhelming strength of the Allies. It will, there-
fore, be of interest to know just what is meant by this “over-
whelming strength."
It must be understood that a country, in its most extreme need,
could send ten per cent. of its entire population into the field-
that is, if it had sutiicient uniforms, guns and ammunition for
such a number. This ten per cent., however, would include every
person able to carry a gun. At all events, it would be wise to
deduct a considerable amount.
According to this theory, Germany, with a population of sev-
enty millions, should be in a position to furnish not less than
seven million soldiers. However, it would be well to estimate
that Germany's utmost possibility would be to bring 5,500,000
soldiers into the field. Austria is able to depend on but 3,500,000.
while the theoretical figures, with a population of fifty-two mil-
lions, would be 5,200,000. The Turk should have a standing army
Of 2,400,000 men, with its population of twenty-four million
Souls; but certainly cannot be counted on to send many m0I’C
than one million men into the field.
We C3“: 3CC01'dlng to these figures, estimate:
5.500.000 Germans
3,500,000 Austrians
1,100,000 Turks
A total of 10,]00,0(X) men
