New-York tribune., 1901-11-17
FRENCH SOCIALISTS AND MINISTER'S.

FRENCH SOCIALISTS AND MiNi"i H"S-
The WaIdeck- Rousseau Ministry in France Is
now confronted not remotely, with the most
serious peril of its whole career Ihat Is .he
disaffection of the so-called Ministerial Sociai
lists 1t will be remembered that "hen W.
Waldeck- Rousseau formed his Ministry OIL ne
publican Defence" which has IN 1he hiaiii
been successful and has lasted longer thah any
other in the history of the republic. he thought
it we'll TO include in it representatives. VI DO
MANY as possible of the parties into which the
chambers are divided. Accordingly he invited
NJ. Mierand a well known Socialist. to accept
o nortfolio NJ MilIerand. before accepting,
consulted his party chief. NJ. Jaures, and the
Io++e, after some thought advised him to ac-
cent and promised him-and the Minlstry-1he
srlDnort of his faction of the SOCIALIST party.
That promise NJ Jaures has faithfully kept
bringing to the support of the Ministry enough
Socialist votes TO give it majority Oh Sky VI
thereabouts upon division. Indeed 1t Is chlen!
TO this Socialist support that the Ministry owes
its long tenure of life
That NJ. Waldeck-Roussesu made to NJ. Jaures
any promises in return does not appear. Douot-
less however. NJ. Jaures had some pretty saus
factory reason for expecting governments
action favorable to the causes he represents
Early in the present year, in fact. the govern
ment virtually promised legislation granting
miners an eight hour day. Well. such legisa-
tion has not vet been adopted. and NJ. Jaures
is becoming impatient and dissatisfied. The
government has not il is true refused to enact
il. But il has referred the matter to COM
rrittce and that means indefinite delay. The
result is that NJ. Jaures is openly finding fault
with the Ministry and with NJ Millerand, ana
seems 10 be upon the point of Withdrawing ms
support Certainly if there should be strike
of the miners such as Is threatened and may
occur NJ any time, NJ. Jaures would blame the
government for Il and would cast the voting
strength of his party against the Ministry And
that would probably mean a ministerial defeat
and resignation.
It is to be supposed. however. that NJ. Wal
deck Rousseau. than whom there is no more
astute politician in France appreciates the situ-
alton and is prepared 10 deal with II. He can
scarcely intend 10 let his Ministry fall, II he
can help It. before the general elections which
are set for next year, and he will probably find
some modus vivendi by virtue OF which the
necessary socialist support can he retained His
dependence upon so incongruous combination.
and the consequent danger 10 which the Min
istry Is exposed. will. however. serve as ad-
ditional incentives toward the creation of what
France so greatly needs namely, homogeneous
majority party, upon the support OF which the
government can rely without having TO trim its
sails TO catch the breezes of half dozen differ
ent parties or factions. Beyond doubt the chief
effort OF the coming elections VIII be TO secure
such majority. and there is scarcely anything
conceivable that would be more auspicious OF
good for France than the success OF that effort