The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-19
.L0UBET IS PRESIDENT
His Election Great Republican
Victory.
IS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Loubet Was Not Implicated in the Pan
anna Scandals-Right Man in the
Right Place Demonstra-
tions in Paris.
1899 by Associated Press.

Paris, Feb. 1S.-This election by a sin
gle ballot and by republicans only is
the greatest republican victory since
Grevy's walkover. The new president
comes from a part of France where the
Roman power lasted longer, namely,
Marsanne, in the department of the
Drome. He gives the impression of re-
mote Latin origin, and looks to be
solid, practical man who sees the facts
of life just as they are. AS president
of the senate he has often had expe-
riences that will be useful to him as
president of the republic, but he is es-
sentially plain, middle-clas man.
whose mind was sharpened by his
practice at the bar in the provincial
town of Montelimar, in the south of
France. He is there most popular, and
every one at Montelimar counts him
self a personal friend of Loubet, who,
as mayor, county councillor, deputy
and senator, always acted as the serv-
ant of the public.
Obliging to his neighbors, he was as
accessible as General Grant or Lincoln
thick set figure, massive and somewhat
Roman, though homely, head indicates
a steady, sturdy character who can nail
his colors to the mast. but only fights
when there is good occasion. He be-
longed, under the empire, to the repub-
lican party, then calling itself liberal.
In 1870 he threw himself into the ma
NV
Gambetta. He was elected county
councillor in 1871, then mayor. and in
1876 was sent to the chamber of depu-
ties, where he sat between NM. Henri
and Martin the historian. h
Accepting Theirs leadership, but ia
voring the scheme to declare Grevy his
political heir and to reconcile Gambetta
with both, he seemd to bide his time
and was in no hurry to- push for
ward. Nf
MacMahon's government gave him
prominence in disfnissing him from the.
mayoralty of Mcnteiimal' in 1877. thus
exasperating the Dfome republicans
M. Loubet, at the legislative elections
in 1877, was triumphantly returned
His subsequent candidatures We're, not
opposed and in 1885 he was returned by
Drome as a senator. In all these years
he was useful deputy, chiefly work
ing in the committees and speaking lit
tie. He was the intimate friend of Sem
ator Carnot and of NJ, Tirard, and in
1888 the latter appointed him minister
of public works, in which capacity he
carried out scheme to convey the
sewage of Paris into the ST. Germain
forest
President Carnot asked Loubet in 1892
to form cabinet, but 1t fell under the
weight of the Panama scandal, in
which some members, albeit not Loubet,
We're implicated. This administration
was marked by the mission of Admiral
Gervais' squadron to Cronstadt and
the visit of the court of Russia to the
flagship Magenta.
NJ. Loubet was personally innocent of
Panamaism, but. like NJ. Carnot and NJ
BrissOn, he thought the sheltering of
the accused eXpedient. He has never
since filled other office except the presi-
dency of the senate, to which he was
first elected in 1896.
He belonged to M. Carnot's innermost
council and his wife was Nine Carnots
best friend. The president is thorough
ly domestic and dislikes snowy socl-
ETY.. He likes to spend his time at
home. and is great reader He is
not rich, nor does he covet wealth and
honors. He is strong in financial ques-
tions For many years he lived in an
unpretentious fiat and dined off a white
oilcloth instead of tablecloth His
hands, tlguratively speaking, are clean,
but his beard and clothes are untidy,
thus contrasting with the late presi-
dent.
M. Loubet. for having formerly, when
premier, sent jointly with the foreign
secretary, M. Ribot Admiral Gervais
to Cronstadt, is persona grata to Rus
sia. For three years. as speaker in the
senate. he lived in the palace of the
Petit Luxembourg, in much the same
style as the president lives in Washing
ton. He returned to Paris from Ver-
sailles this afternoon by train. He is
the first president who has done So
He ordered an open carriage and pair
to await him at the station, instead of
a carriage and four He was well re-
ceived by the tremendous crowds. He
arrived by daylight and had an escort
of cuirassiers. The entire absence of
haughtinesS in his demeanor was IA
vorably remarked.
Loubet is the right man in the right
place. The Importance of to-day's
presidential election for the welfare of
the French republic and the prestige
of France abroad cannot be overesti-
mated. The question was whether the
law should be paramount or an ire
sponsible league-the league Of the
French fatherland, in the hands of the
clerical, monarchial and military agi-
tatorS.
Never was more monhtrous conspiracy
engineered to perVert whole nations
sense of Justice in order o perpetuate
the greatest miscarriage of law of the
century and shield a few felons from
the consequences cf crime. The more
sensible part of France feels that in M.
Loub@t election a great weight
has been taken off their conscience and
hope that a new leaf will be turned over
the worst page in French history
N. Clamenceau wrote yesterday that
it was necessary that the new president
should be man not connected with the
Dreyfus affair. He therefore would
support NJ. Loubet. Fairness, this, but
the natiOnalists do not want fairness
They want Dreyfus, guilty. or innocent,
to remain perpetually at DEVILS island
1t was enough that NJ. Clemeneeau sup
ported Loubet The nationalsts declar-
ed that the latter should not be presi-
dent, or they would make Paris too
hot for honest people to live in.
But suppose Loubet were elected by
a large majority, would they set their