Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-03
PARIS GREETS
TWO MONARCHS
GLAD HAND TO ALFONSO AND
CARLOS
King Of Spain Worries the Police by
His Furious Driving Of the Auto
mobiIe-The Presidential
Succession
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Cable to The Herald.
PARIS, Dec. This week we have
had the informal visit Of the king of
Spain on his return from Germany and
the formal visit Of the king Of Portugal,
and Parisians have taken both sover-
eigns to their hearts, the former be-
cause of his youthful good nature and
the second because of his air of portly
good fellowship.
Both shot with M. Loubet at Ram
bouillet, which led to some i'll natured
folks remarking 1t was the close season
for ordinary people and 1t was a bad
example for republicans, this breaking
of the law by kings.
To this 1t was only necessary to say
that since Rambouillet Is entirely sur
rounded by walls one can shoot there
the year round. But the king of Spain
committed a still graver fault when he
went to breakfast at Saint German.
He drove his automobile so fast that
every policeman he passed took the
number of the machine SO that he could
have the proprietor hauled UP later for
speeding.
The royal visits have cast a fare
well glamour over the last days of M.
Loubet's presidency, and the regret at
his retirement is increased by the pro-
found ignorance as to who his success
sor will be.
been mentioned, but no one is yet seri-
ously discussed by the press. One thing
is certain, M. Doumer is much to the
front. thanks both to his own efforts
and those of his friends. He will have
on his side when the electoral congress
meets at Versailles all the adversaries
of the republic and a certain number
of the radicals.
But the best section of the republican
party, all those in fact who have di-
rected the republic these last thirty-five
years, are already supporting the candi-
dature of NJ. FalliereS, first because of
a sort of tradition that the president Of
the senate should become the president
of the state, and second and especially
because NJ. Doumer is feared on ac-
count of his marked personality. Those
who support him say we have In him
second Roosevelt, which is rather too
f1attering.
Republicans, on the other hand insist
upon our parliamentary regime, and
that Mr.. Roosevelt, however admirable
in the imperial role of an American
president, would be at once bothered
and bothersome in the French presi
dents role.
AS no majority is yet formed it is
possible for the republicans to block
M Doumer's way by asking M. Bour-
geois to become a candidate, thus leav
ing M. Doumer no chance, and it is
even possible that at the last moment
great effort will be made to force M.
Loubet into a second term in spite of
his reticence and his formal declara-
tions. Should this happen all the other
candidates will retire. In any case the
presidential crisis promises plenty of
excitement.
The chamber meanwhile boldly dis
ousses the budget and timidly debates
the pensions for workingmen. The more
the latter questions are discussed the
more are dangers found lurking there
in. AS for the senate 1t will soon finish
the debate and pass by considera BILE
majority the bill for the separation of
church and state, such as was adopted
by the lower house. The bishops and
pope seemed disposed to accept such an
action without protest.