Order 1017647: political, social, religious and ethnic composition of german society from 1871-1924

Police Reports (S.C. translations from Richard Evans (ed), Kneipengespräche im Kaiserreich. Stimmungberichte der Hamburger politischen Polizei 1892-1914(Reinbeck bei Hamburg, 1989) (Pub conversations in the Empire)

193

Visited Strandt’s tavern (Schlump 3, cellar). There were about 10 people (workers apparently) in the small room, three of them were committee members of the SPD. Those present were discussing this month’s Sunday May Day celebrations. They talked about the police authority ban on a mass march to the festival square. “Because of this we will march to the square in twos and threes (vereinzelt) and through a number of different streets and show the police authorities that they [the party members] will adhere to the regulations. The party committee and the Echo have informed all members that they should abide by the police regulations exactly. This is to show the capitalists here that this celebration is organised by the party of social democracy and that police intervention is unnecessary. Even if it is the case that the Capitalists portray us as needlessly rough and raw, we will prove to them in this way that we have studied human life and we belong to a party which has woken up to this [?] . We need to proceed calmly. We cannot yet achieve anything with force. That day has not yet come. Here in Hamburg there are still too many workers who carry out their work in an unenlightened state. For this reason it is the duty of every member to enlighten these unenlightened workers, to wake them from their deep sleep and persuade them to attend our meetings and eventually to join our party. When we reach the stage where all workers have joined, then we can say that the day has come. Then we can say to the capitalist ‘Do you want to, or not?- otherwise we will proceed with force’. If we were to use force now then half the party would withdraw because honestly speaking there is at no real cohesion amongst us any more. Even if they shout Bravo at meetings, those are the ones who carry their hearts in their trousers [ in English ‘boots’ = scared ] They only want to show their colleagues and neighbours that they are present at the meeting, it means nothing else. We will probably not live to see the day. (Jochum 2.5.1893)

205

Linke’s tavern at 81 Humboldt St. was visited between 9.15 and 10 O Clock. There were three workers present and in conversation. One worker said “The disputes within the party are never ending. It is regrettable how people who play a major role and who are really clued up keep tripping up and giving the capitalist press all the material they want [literally: ‘providing water for the Capitalist mill’ S.C.] There has not been a single day recently without them [the capitalist press] criticising and cashing in on some stupid mistake by one or other of the party comrades. Only too often it is easy to see the envy and ill-will which results result when older party comrades are confronted with new questions”

Another worker said “Unfortunately there is this idea in the party that only the leadership and exceptional agitators have the right to express their opinnion . Instead of training every party member so they can become agitators and suchlike, most [lit: ‘The big heap’] are shoved to the side, although it is still seen to that the large mass pay their subs on time. People curse the employers a good deal over the way they treat the workers. But the treatment of comrades by the party leadership leaves a lot to be desired. They talk a lot about equality, brotherhood and justice, but they don’t act accordingly.” (Graumann 27.6.1896)