He at once brought into the Bundesrath a very severe law, forbidding all Socialist agitation and propaganda.

He succeeded in passing it through the Council, but it was thrown out in the Reichstag by a very large majority.

No one voted for it except the Conservatives.

The law indeed was so drawn up that one does not see how anyone could have voted for it; the first clause began, "Printed writings and unions which follow the aims of Social Democracy may be forbidden by the Federal Council," but, as was pointed out, among the aims of Social Democracy were many which were good in themselves, and many others which, though they might be considered harmful by other parties, were at least legitimate.

Directly afterwards the Reichstag was prorogued.