"Gott set Dank"

Drum fire sounded in the Reichstag as debate upon the policies and approval of the new Luther Cabinet opened. Political howitzers fired large, explosive insults, while the smaller guns kept up a din of hissing. Now and again a single rifleman let fly with a derisive snarl. Rarely has a more turbulent session been seen in the historic debating chamber, which was literally filled with growls, gnarls, mutterings and other verbal abuses.

Dr. Breitscheid (Socialist) opened debate against the Government. He mentioned in the course of his speech that a tariff war between Germany and France would be fatal for Premier Herriot.

"Is your speech paid for by France?" came from Major Henning, satellite of Ludendorff. (Mixed cheers and boos.)

Retorted Breitscheid with heat: "That is a scoundrelly thing to say!" Cries of "Barmat!" (Reference to an impending trial of Barmat Brothers, bankers, scandals involving whom are said to implicate several leading Socialists.)

Continued Dr. Breitscheid, turning his attention directly to the Government : ''Germany is now on the road toward the restoration of the old regime."

A nationalist cried fervently: "Gott sei Dank!" (Thank God!)

The Socialist speaker turned furiously to where the voice came from: "Nothing could characterize the new German Government better than your exclamation. The Luther Cabinet is certainly a stage on the road toward rnonarchy." (Howls, cheers, jeers.) Count Westarp--fiery Monarchist--rose to make the surprising statement that his Party was resolved to support the Experts Plan: "Every German Government is bound to carry it out and we Nationalists realize quite clearly that we must cooperate in so doing. Now that we Nationalists have entered the Government, there can be no talk on Germany's part of breaking the agreements which have been concluded."

When Chancellor Luther stood up to plead support for his so-called Non-Partisan Cabinet (actually it is predominantly Monarchist), a Communist yelled: "You henchman of Morgan!"

At one period of his speech, he said : "We have unanimously decided that the form of the German State is not to be altered." (Loud, ironical laughter.) Continued the Chancellor: "This matter is really too serious for me to adopt the standpoint of those who laugh about it."

All through the Chancellor's speech there were constant interruptions, slamming of desk-lids, rude calls. At one point, the Chancellor was forced to halt by the indescribable racket of Government supporters and Opposition as they vainly and vocally tried to shout one another down. Herr Luther looked pleadingly toward the President's Chair, but Herr Doktor Loebe was not there; he had left the Chamber for a snack of Frankfurters and beer. The Acting President, Herr Riesser, much preoccupied, suddenly became aware that the Chancellor was not speaking, looked up, caught Herr Luther's eye, jumped up in a fury, spotted Herr Schwartz (Communist), who was outshining his comrades in his vociferous bombilations, ordered him to leave the chamber. Herr Schwartz sat down, refused to budge. The Acting President suspended the session for five minutes and at the end of that time was able to say:

"Herr Schwartz has left the hall. He is forbidden for a period of eight days to enter the Reichstag. Had I found him still in his seat when this session resumed, he would have been suspended for 20 days instead of eight."

Chancellor Luther resumed his speech to a low, monotonous rumbling. He began to go over the individual members of his Cabinet. Eventually he came to Count von Schlieben, Minister of Finance. Count von Schlieben is a Johanniter (member of the Order of the Knights of St. John, which to Republicans means all that is Hohenzollern and Monarchical). Said the Chancellor: "The Johanniter order is merely a benevolent organization." (Ironical hilarity from the Left.)

Eventually, the Reichstag approved the Cabinet by 246 to 160 votes. The division of the voting made it quite clear that the Government was entirely dependent upon the support of the Catholic Party, which has expressly reserved its liberty of action in supporting Chancellor Luther at this critical juncture.