Reichstag in Revolt

Striking through their duly elected Reichstag, the German people hurled at President Paul von Hindenburg last week the most savage rebuke possible, short of revolution.

In the Speaker's Chair when the new Reichstag met for its first business session this week sat 210 Ib. of Fascism. Not merely fat but broad, big-boned and mighty-muscled, Speaker Hermann Goring cut the figure of a squat ogre. But slender and insignificant of mien. Chancellor Franz von Papen was present, carrying ostentatiously under his arm a potent slingshot & pebble: an undated decree dissolving the Reichstag signed by President von Hindenburg.

Everyone knew the Chancellor would use this weapon rather than risk a vote of no confidence (which would force his Cabinet to resign). But most Deputies expected the new Reichstag to live at least long enough for Herr von Papen to explain his scheme of lifting Germany by her own bootstraps out of Depression, his famed "One Year Plan.* Instead, before the Chancellor could start explaining, up popped Communist Deputy Ernst Torgler, shouting denunciation of President von Hindenburg for signing a decree earlier in the week which made the One Year Plan law.

"Down with von Papen's Starvation Cabinet!" wound up Herr Torgler, then presented a motion of no confidence on the issue of the President's decree.

As voting began Germany's welterweight Chancellor dashed up to her heavyweight Speaker, held out toward him von Hindenburg's decree dissolving the Reichstag. Brushing this aside, 210-lb. Hermann Goring shouted: "Can't you see that a vote is taking place?"; drew thunderous cheers.

Baffled, though only for an instant by mighty Goring, Chancellor von Papen flung the decree of dissolution at the Speaker's desk, stalked from the Reichstag, drew catcalls. Voting continued. Tellers kept on counting, as though the Reichstag were undissolved. Presently they announced: 513 votes of no confidence, 32 of confidence, five abstentions.

"I consider the dissolution decree invalid," cried Speaker Goring, "because it was presented by a Government which the Reichstag has overthrown!"

Amid pandemonium the Deputies voted "adjourment until tomorrow," thus constituting themselves a Rump Reichstag. Rumors flew that 84-year-old Paul von Hindenburg would declare martial law, call out the Army and disperse the Reichstag with bayonets should it dare to meet. Not anxious to be pinched or prodded, Fascist Goering said that, after all, perhaps there might be no rump session.

Under their Constitution Germany's people must elect another Reichstag with in 60 days, but under martial law is a free election possible? German democracy faced last week the unmasked and unashamed autocracy of the President and his "Cabinet of Monocles." For the first time all parties of any consequence had united against National Hero Paul von Hindenburg. Grotesquely enough, they had united on a Communist motion.

*Chief features are: 1) Stimulation of industry by Government remission of $476,000,000 in taxes to industrial firms; 2) relaxation-- of Germany's minimum wage law on the basis that the more men a firm re-employs the deeper it may cut wages; 3) higher tariffs and fresh quota restrictions against "dumping"; 4) appropriation of $32,130,000 for new public works (TIME, Sept. 5).

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