Presidential Campaign

With the administration of the oath of office to Herr Walther Simons, President of the German Republic until a successor for the late President Ebert has been chosen, the Presidential election campaign broke its fury over the country. The election is to be held Sunday, Mar. 29. The main, if not sole, issue is a fight between Republicans and Monarchists for control of the Republic. Neither Chancellor Luther nor Foreign Minister Stresemann, two of the most prominent German statesmen, is a candidate.

The official candidates number five: Dr. Karl Jarres is joint candidate of the Nationalists (Monarchists), German People's Party (Stresemann's group), Freedom Party (Ludendorff's Party), Bavarian People's Party (mainly Catholic Monarchists). Dr. Jarres is 51 years of age, a lawyer by profession and from 1914 to 1923 Mayor of Duisberg. Late in 1923, he became Minister of the Interior in the Stresemann Government and held the same post and the Vice Chancellorship last year in the Marx Government. Upon the advent of Chancellor Luther to power, he once again became Mayor of Duisberg.

Candidate Jarres was considered to have the best chance of obtaining an absolute majority in the election.

Dr. Wilhelm Marx, cleric, is candidate of the Centre or Catholic Party. Last year, Dr. Marx was Chancellor in succession to Chancellor Stresemann. Recently, he was appointed Minister President of the Prussian Government (TIME, Mar. 2) but failed to obtain a vote of confidence and had to resign.

Dr. Willy Hellspach, 48, former professor of Applied Psychology, now Staatspresident (President and Premier combined) of the Baden Republic (a semi-autonomous German State), is the Democratic nominee. He has not the remotest chance of election.

Dr. Otto Braun, former Prussian Minister President, is the Socialist candidate. Dr. Braun is supported by the strongest individual party (130 Reichstag seats) in Germany; but there is no possibility of obtaining political allies and, therefore, he stands no chance of being next President of Germany.

Ernest Thalmann, prizefighter, is the Communist candidate. His party has 45 seats in the Reichstag.