The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-17
FIRST CLASH OVER
. FRENCH PRESIDENCY
Partizans of Fallieres and Doumer
. Have Their Preliminary
Skirmish.
New York Herald Special Service.

BY J. corneIy.
Paris, Dec. l6.-The first preliminary
skirnlish in the presidential election,
which takes place Jan. IS, occurred last
Tuesday. The republicans, radicals
radieal-socialists and socialists, who
form what is called the "block, -
whereon relied the Waldeck- Rousseau
and Combes cabinets, intend to make
the president of the senate, M. Fail
Heres, their candidate for the presi-
dency of the republic, in succession to
M. Loubet, who misses no opportunity
to affirm his resolution to retire.
The moderate republicans, styled pro-
gressists, united with few of M.
Doumer's radical friends and in coali
ton with the entire reactionary right,
ntend to vote for M. Doumer.
The aim of the first party is to give
M. Loubet successor who resembles
him. The object of the second is to
swerve the republic to Cesarism.
The Secret Ballot.
The present voting system, being Sc
cret, admits every species Of coalition
and consequently of vote. Some per-
sons have thought that if the voting
for the presidential election were pub
lie, the republicans would not dare
vote for the same candidate as the
right on account Of their electors. Hence
arose the proposition to make the presi-
Dental vote public. AS this publicity
was to overcome NJ. Doumcr's candida
ture, the partizans Of whom are ex-
tremely active, it is natural that M.
Doumer' supporters opposed it and in
sisted upon the secret ballot.
Issue Was Joined
On Tuesday the two parties joined
issue for the first time. 1t was regard
ing the proposition asking the govern
ment not to prorogue the chamber until
it had discussed the public vote. M.
-Fallieres' partizans were worsted and
M. Doumer' s supporters obtained ma
iority of six.
This is the first time in six years that
the majority has ceased to belong
to republicans without admixture. One
may deduce that M. Doumer has ma
jority of six votes in the chamber.
That does not mean to say, however
that he will be elected president of the
republic, for, in the senate, the ma or
ity which voted separation Of church
and state has 76. That vote may be
regarded as an indication of the purely
republican majority. In this case M
Fallieres' majority in congress woulc
be 76, less than six votes of the new
majority in the chamber; that is to say
: 20 votes.
But that the vote Of the chamber pro
duced a great effect, was proved the
very next day at the banquet of the
. Republican Alliances, whereof M. Car
not is president When all the speak
ers insisted on the necessity Of main
aiming and- demonstrating The -Hbleek's
they rightly said reconstitute, - for a.
II matter of fact, the "block'' has beer
destroyed by the chamber.
1t must not be forgotten, either, tina
n the early days of January one-thir
If the senate will be renewed and tina
hese elections may modify the senate
'ial majority and consequently tn
presidential election.
The last days of the session have beer
ones, tho the chamber was unabl
o examine the budget in due time. o.
he other hand it adjourned the pre-
,osal to repurchase the western railway
which would cost the taxpayers the mic
rume Of $s0o,O0O,OOO.
Workingmen' Pensions.
1t adjourned this until after the pre-
Of the nav on workmen
tensions and that PRONUNCIATION is no
-et near. The deputies appear to rea
re their inability to settle the questio
md they scarcely meet in sufficien
numbers to conduct discussion. Th
vorkmen s pensions may suffer the sam
ate as the repurchase of the Wester
railway.
T~~ There has been another scandal in tn
hamber regarding the British diplomat
c note which was alleged to have bee
communicated to Berlin by one Of tn
french ministers. The fireworks faile
go off. M. Rouvier was able to PIT
lis foot upon it.