Ebert arranged for the civil servants who had helped run Germany under the Kaiser to stay in office. This meant that the state could keep running (tax would be collected, public services would be maintained), but these civil servants had no loyalty to the new government
He reassured Groener that the army would not be reformed. This meant that Ebert had military support to protect his government from the continuing riots
He told industry leaders like Hugo Stinnes that the new Republic would not confiscate land or factories and that there would be no nationalisation of private industries. This meant the economy continued to operate
He won the support of the trade unions by promising their leader, Carl Legien, that the new Republic would try to achieve an eight-hour working day. This helped limit further strikes
Ebert was trying to ensure both left and right wing support for the government
