New-York tribune., 1906-11-12
PREMIER CLEMENCEAU.
HosU He Formed Cabinet in 42
Hours and 25 Minutes.
Paris. October 30

"
signs his name without the acute accent over
the first e. has by far the strongest and most
picturesque individuality of any of the public
men of the day. The champion Cabinet smasher
of the parliament Of 1881. who in three and a
haif years upset the two Ferry ministries. the
Eamoetta ministry and the second de Freycinet
ministry. and VINO became invunerable because
ne never took the place of the ministers whom
ne had turned out. has invented a new method
or creating cabinets almost as original as the
drastic measures which he used to employ TO
destroy them. DR.. Clemenceaus prescription for
cabinet making presents a new feature in
French parliamentary institutions. This is the
way that the feat accomplished On Octo-
Der u the President of the Republic intrusted
Dr.. Clemenceau with the task of forming the
new ministry. and forty-two hours later DIR.
Clemenceau had formed his Cabinet. held pre-
liminary Cabinet council at the Ministry of the
Interior. and twenty minutes afterward tho
twelve ministers headed by DR.. Clemenceau.
walked out of the courtyard Of the Ministry OF
the Interior into the Place Beauvau, crossed the
Rue du Faubourg Sa:nt-Honore and mounted
the doorsteps of the Elysees Palace. the White
House of the French Republic. which is only
couple of hundred yards from the Ministry OF
the Interior. and in less than five minutes the
Prime Minister presented the members of the
new Cabinet to President Fallieres. who. with
a genial smile. shook DR.. Clemenceau warmly
by the hand and said: well. you certainly
have lost no time. You have the reputation Of
being able to overturn ministries quicker than
any man, living. and, far as can recollect.
YOU have now beaten the time record in forming
onew In fact DR., Clemenceau had done the
trick in exactly forty-two hours and twenty-five
minutes.
AS soon as he received the Presidential man
date to form a Cabinet Dr. Clemenceau sum-
moned ordinary taximeter automobile cab,
and. starting forth from his private fat in the
Rue Franklin. called upon NJ. Sarrien. the ex-
Premier After ten minutes conversation he
sped to the Ministry of War. IN the Rue de Gre
nellie. and chatted for while with NJ Etienne,
the War Minister. and while there telephoned
to NJ. BRAND. Minister Of Public Instruction.
Public Worship and Fine Arts. In half hour
the red taximeter motor car hired by DR.. Glenn
enceau came whirring out of the courtyard OF
the Ministry Of War and the chauffeur. putting
on the fourth speed. proceeded at dizzy pace
UP the Boulevard Saint -Germain. Near the
bridge leading to the Place de la Concorde the
automobile was held UP by the street police for
exceeding the speed limit Of twelve kilometres
an hour. DIR. Clemenceau gave his card to the
policemen, and told them to call at his fiat. NO.
Rue Franklin. where the fine would be paid.
and. showing his plaque as Senator, said that
urgent public business prevented him from los
ing time in conforming with the municipal reg
ulations and formalides of the proces-verbal
DR. Clenenceau was allowed to go on, but did
80 at more moderate pace. The auto car was
seen to turn into the courtyard Of the Elysees
Palace Five minutes conversation with Presi-
dent Fallieres OFF again TO the Ministry Of War.
where the aide-de-camp of General Georges
b,5 ned by tel
ephone. the general himself being away from
Paris on leave of absence In Austria. The aide
de-camp was instructed TO telegraph at once to
General Picquart to Immediately to Paris
by the Orient Express
DR.. Clemenceau then continued in his auto
mobile TO the Minister Of the Interior. where
he anxiously awaited by upward Of
twenty journalists. all anxious to interview him.
Alighting with youthful activity from the auto
car, tossing his overcoat to attendant. he
walked rapidly to the anteroom filled with
porters. and. shaking those whom he knew per-
sonally by the hand, said: Ca marche tres
bien TALL goes WE'LL. So far there are two ac-
ceptations to the new Cabinet, those of BRAND
and myself! I will keep you thoroughly posted.
and am ready TO talk freely with you. for am
a reporter, and one of your cloth" Whereupon
DR.. Clemenceau answered numerous questions
put to him by reporters. not only of the repub-
lican and radical newspapers, but by those rep
resenting journals of the opposition such the
reactionary "Gaulois.' the "Libre Parole" the
'Liberte" and the "Intransigeant." For and
all there was a pleasant word of greeting and
useful information. One of the reporters
marked: But. NJ. Clemenceau. you made an
allusion just TO certain diff1culties"@.
Before the young interviewer could complete
his sentence DR.. Clemenceau replied: "Ah, yesI
already overcome. and 1 am wrestling with the
other one: 1t is settled I will tell
you all about it. Goodby. must be Off" And.
waving his hand TO the reporters. whom he
playfuIly terms his "accomplices' he jumped
into his auto-car, and the address whispered
to the chauffeur through tube from the IN
terror was inaudible TO the bystanders
Putting his head out of the window. DR.
Clemenceau said with smile Come back
here again at about hall past six ton morrow
evening for l shall probably have something to
tell YOU" And the auto-Car sped forth to the
residence of NJ Millerand. and thence dozen
visits were made to different men. with now
and then a swift dash TO the Elysees Palace 20
keep President Fallieres posted to what
going on. Late in the evening and early next
morning the red auto-car dashed about from
ministry to ministry. and at half past six in
the evening came to a standstflI in the court
yard of the Ministry of the Interior. The group
Of reporters in waiting. notebooks IN
hand
In reply to numerous eager questions DR..
CIernenCeau said: ''The Cabinet is practically
formed. as. perhaps. you already aware. I
AZ your disposal If You want detailed in
formation; NJ. Thomson remains at the Marine.
and this suits us perfectly; NJ. PichOn will. l
am sure. make first rate Minister of Foreign
Affairs; NJ Mi,lerand is not in the Cabinet be-
cause the only portfolio he would accept was
that Of Foreign Affairs; NJ. Guyot Dessaigne