THE GERMAN REVOLUTION 129
organization for working women; and petitioned the Frankfurt
Parliament to recognize the right of workers to organize.^8
In October, Weitling issued a prospectus for another paper, to
be known as Der Urwähler. It was printed by Rudolf Liebmann,
in Berlin, Friedrichstrasse 18. The paper, which sold for a few
cents a month, never secured more than 150 subscribers and died
after the fifth issue. As its masthead it carried the symbol of a cock
crowing to greet the sun and the words, "No division of goods,
no forced labor, but rewarding work and honest trade for all," a
rather mild slogan for a communist!
Although Weitling advocated such relatively moderate reforms
as the repeal of all protective tariffs and the establishment of com
plete free trade, and discussed such problems as emigration, recrea
tion for the workers, and the techniques of political elections, the
new paper was devoted essentially to the principles of co-operative
association. Weitling's major concern was the abolition of exist
ing laws of inheritance, the destruction of the prevailing monetary
systems, and an attack on the evils that arose from private prop
erty.
"The future belongs to us," the editor proclaimed optimistically
in the first issue of Der Uriwähler; "our little band has grown into
a great army and we can accomplish great things." He called upon
the national assembly at Frankfurt to enact a thorough program
of political reforms based upon liberty and justice for all, freedom
of the press and the protection of minorities, a three year mora
torium on all mortgages, and state support for co-operative so
cieties.
For the enlightenment of his readers, Weitling discussed the
concepts of democracy, republicanism, socialism, and commu
nism, and described the red flag as "the banner of agitation and
suffering," "a symbol of the blood that is shed for the salvation of
mankind,... the banner of fanaticism and faith, of hope, love
and revenge ... a flag of fanatics, ultra-radicals, revolutionaries,
(^8) See Ricardo Huch, Alte und neue Götter, Die Revolution des neunzehnten
Jahrhunderts in Deutschland (Berlin, 1930), 375-403.