STROEBEL. I appreciate that.
BEERMANN. I also take part in political life. I am a candidate for
the Reichstag and as such I have a decided opinion about these
matters.
STROEBEL. Without doubt, Herr Beermann.
BEERMANN. Well then, there are, in extreme cases, ways around the
law, and there must be.
STROEBEL. I am of a different opinion.
BEERMANN. God knows, it is not the business of the police to
provoke this enormous scandal. All authority will be destroyed. It
will shatter the respect of the masses for the people higher up.
STROEBEL. But this scandal was provoked--[knocking on the diary
with his finger]--by these very people.
BEERMANN. If a man once in a while goes into a certain room--that
is no scandal. It only becomes a scandal when the story is made
known to every Tom, Dick and Harry. That's what must be prevented!
STROEBEL. I value the humane motive which evidently is prompting
you, Herr Beermann. But you must admit that we are acting entirely
in accord with the views of the classes you mention.
BEERMANN. You are not!
STROEBEL. Yes, we are. Two weeks ago the good people here founded
a Society because they felt it was necessary to proceed more
severely against public immorality ...
BEERMANN. ... Against immorality in the lower strata where it
easily degenerates into licentiousness. As the President of this
Society, I, at least ought to know what was intended.
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