brought on by a dissolution
of the Reichstag after the refusal of that body to vote the (p. 235)
Government's colonial estimates, were of interest principally by
reason of the continued show of strength of the Centre and the falling
off of the Social Democrats in their representation in the Reichstag.
In the practical working out of political forces it had come about
that the Centre occupied in the chamber a pivotal position of such
consequence that the Government was in effect absolutely dependent
upon the vote of that party for the enactment of its measures.
Naturally enough, the party, realizing its power, was prone to put its
support upon a contractual basis and to drive with the Government a
hard bargain for the votes which it commanded. While hardly in a
position to get on without Clerical assistance, the Government in 1907
would have been willing enough to see the Centre's power and
independence broken. Not only, however, did the Centre not lose seats
by that contest; it in fact realized a gain of two. On the other hand,
there was compensation for the Government in the fact that the Social
Democrats fell back. They polled a total of 3,250,000 popular votes,
as compared with 3,008,000 in 1903; but by reason of the antiquated
distribution of seats which prevails in the Empire, the unusual vote
polled by other parties, and also the unusual co-operation of the
party groups opposed to the Social Democrats, their representation in
the Reichstag was cut from 79 to 43.[345]

[Footnote 345: The total number of popular votes
cast in the election was 10,857,000, of which
number government candidates received 4,962,000,
and opposition candidates 5,895,000. The numerical
strength of the various elements composing the
Reichstag consequent upon the elections of 1903 and
1907 was as follows:

_1903_ _1907_ _Seats_ _Seats_
_gained_ _lost_

Centre 102 104 2 0
Conservatives 53 58 5 0
Free Conservatives 22 22 0 0
National Liberals 51 56 5 0
Social Democrats 79 43 0 36