The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-22
Senate Debating a Bill to Cut the
Period from Three to Two
Years.
OLD ARGUMENTS ANSWERED.
Army Officers No Longer Pretend
That Twenty-Four Months Is
Not Long Enough Time to
Form a Soldier.

| SPECIAL BY CABLE TO THE NEW YORK
| HERAL AND HI ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC.
Paris. Feb. 2I.-tCopyright. 1s03.)-For
some weeks past, the Senate has been en-
| gagged in debating a very important bill re-
| ducing the period of military service to two
| years.
If there is one special matter in which
| none of the previous governments of France
can stand comparisons with the Republic.
1t Is the military question. While preced-
ing governments have all employed war,
not for the defense Of territory, but as a
| diversion from domestic difficulties. the Re-
public has already given US thirty years
of profound peace.
When the Republic came into existence.
the term of military service was seven
years. The Republic reduced that term
first to five years and then to three. 1t is
true that the Republic has made those con-
scripts who formerly served only ole year
pay for the reduction by serving two. ana Ii
is not sure that certain careers can be con-
tinued honorably after an interruption OF
But that will be seen later. and. in case
| such obstacles should have to be recognized.
1t will be easy enough to overcome Them by
| modifying the law so as to have two years
as the maximum service and reducing mat
period to one year In the case OF certain
candidates Indispensable to society.
ARGUMENT ANSWERED.
lhdt IL CStSNdi " Jul NNoS ~
tributive Justice would be roughly shaken
II we continued to witness medical students,
for instance, Obliged to pass two years IN
the army 50 that the peasants and working
men should be able to reduce by one-thlrd
their three years service
Besides, with usage; everything VIII hna9
Its proper place. and real progress Will
have been accomplished.
Nowadays military men have almost aban-
insuficient to form a soldier, seeing that it
has been demonstrated that the children OF
the bourgeoisie developed into officers with
two years at Saint Cyr or at the Eeoie Poly
technique.
As We were talking of the Senate. let us
take advantage of it to announce the cleo
ton of our conferee, Ranc, as a Senator
from C~orsinea, in place of Nj. Combes, who
Evoted for the Clarente Inferieure.
This election was very well received by
the whole of the press, while NJ. Ranc
counts only friends.
At the same time there were taking place
various legislative elections. While the
electors of Corsica were returning NJ. Ranc
a big meeting was being held in Paris, at
which several soldiers were present in uni
form to protest against the cruelties inflict-
ed by the Turks upon the Macedonians and
to force the Powers to intervene with the
object of insuring the carrying out of the
treaty of Berlin.
Orators Of all parties were heard-Royal-
lists as well as Socialists-and for the first
time in many a day they were all. agreed.
Their only rivalry was that or eloQuence
and courtesy.
MAJoRITY's SHAMELESS THREAT.
In the Chamber of Deputies the "bouil-
leurs de cru continue their obstruction,
with the object of avoiding the final meas
ure pressing the measure and sale of al
cohol.
There Is something shameful in the atti-
tude Of those Deputies, who are backing a
fraud and striving to starve the budget.
They have lost all restraint, and those
among them who belong to the Government
ion that they might punish the Cabinet for
its uncompromising attitude toward people
guilty of fraud by voting against the Min
fstry on the first political question that
came I'D.
This impudent eventuality was discussed
in all seriousness. and, perhaps.it would have
become an accomplished fact If the 'bouil-
leurs de cru" of the eastern departments
had not declared themselves satisfied with
the Governments concessions.
This broke up the group of "bouilleurs'
and, perhaps. saved the ministry.
This alcohol encounter will none the less
remain one of the most loathsome episodes
Of our parliamentary annals