Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. pro-Monarchist candidate, had two things in his favor in the Presidential election: 1) Several speeches made, last week, by Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, leader of the German Peo ple's or Industrialist Party, in Hindenburg's behalf, which removed all doubt on the attitude, not only of his party, but of the Government; 2) public denial that U. S. bankers had threatened to withhold credits from Germany should the old soldier, nearly 78 years of age, be elected.
On a drizzling Sunday, 31,000,000 Germans, or 85% of the electorate, went to the polls from church, or to church from the polls. Serious disturbances—between Monarchists, Republicans and Communists—interrupted the Sabbath calm. From north and south, east and west of Germany reports filtered in telling tales of violence. Several persons were killed, many were more or less seriously injured. In Berlin, the same story was told; but it fell to the Communists to supply a note of humor. The Communist Red Cat or ganization paraded the city in motor trucks singing their "Miau-Miau" song.
Two hours after the closing of the polls, returns began to trickle in. Early reports showed ex-Chancellor Marx, Republican candidate, in the lead; but as time wore on, Hindenburg grew stronger and stronger. Marx captured Berlin by a huge majority. At Nürnberg, Stuttgart, Cassel, Heidelberg, Marx scored slight victories over the Monarchists; but the Field Marshal came back strong in Munich, Stettin, Leipzig, Halle, "the reddest town in Germany," Frankfort, Coburg, home of deposed monarchs. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg was declared elected President of the German Republic. Returns:
Hindenburg, pro-Monarchist...14,648,755
Marx, Republican............13,760,089
Thaelmann, Communist.......1,931,635
Void ballots.......21,896
Hindenburg's relative majority......888,684
Hindenburg's absolute minority.....521,473
Field Marshal von Hindenburg is the first German to be elected President on a popular vote, for the late President Ebert was appointed by the Weimar Assembly, the constituent body which framed the Republican Constitution. The election of the Field Marshal means that roughly 48% of the German people arc in favor of a Monarchy (for whatever vaporings have appeared in the press, the essential issue was Monarchy vs. Republic, although there is no question of an immediate restoration of the Hohenzollerns). About 45% of the people remain attached to the Republican régime, although the Catholics, forming about 30% of the Republican vote, could certainly be expected to sup port a Monarchical fait accompli. Something under 8% of the people favor a dictatorship of the proletariat.
More important for the present is the personality of the Field Marshal. In 1914. he was recalled from the retirement into which he had been sent by the Kaiser, appointed to the command of the Eighth Army and as such won the immortal (from the German point of view) victories of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes. He was subsequently promoted to be Field Marshal, appointed Chief of the General Staff (the highest Army position) in succession to Falkenhayn.