New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-14
Successor to Loubet to Be Chosen This Week Char.
acteristcs of Candidates.

who have yielded 10 the course Of events in
stead Of making any attempt 10 direct Il. Many
frenchmen think that their country will be
safer with Chief Magistrate who will be the
passive rather than the active head Of the
nation. man of middle class abilities. ready TO
become the mere instrument Of the ever chang
ing and ephemeraI majority Of the Chamber
OF Deputies. So much for the issue at stake.
With regard TO Paul Doumer. who Is I'M
doubtedly the popular fayorte IN the race for
the Presidency on Wednesday next, he is In every
sense OF the word self-made man. He began
his amazing career locksmith's apprentice.
and is the son of working people OF the hum
blest kind. who could afford to give him only tho
most elementary education. II not exactly
easy for him 10 fill up tho vacant educational
gaps. But he did Il by way of privation and
hard work. Part of the money he earned by
the labor Of his hands went to pay for his in
struction in the same way that all his leisure
time was devoted TO his future advancement
In due course he became Bachelor des
Arts'-that is 10 say. he obtained, by passing
tho necessary examinations. that scholastic de-
gree from the state which is Indispensable in
French professional life and the possession OF
which constitutes the sole plea on which the
government permits young French citizens 10
serve one year in the army instead of three.
After having thus been graduated Paul Doumer
abandoned manual labor and the business of a
locksmith and adopted journalism. first a
reporter then a special writer. becoming
ultimately the Editor of the "voltaire." in those
DAYS a very influential organ OF the Partisan
press AS usual journalism led to politics, He
became the principal private secretary to NJ.
Floauet when the latter Prime Minister
entered the Chamber and. after successive rises.
became Minister OF Finance I'm the Cabinet OF
NJ. Bourgeois.
At that period Of his existence his family was
somewhat of a drag upon him. For he has
eight children, and his wife. the daughter OF
very learned professor. and a charming cultured
woman, herself q teacher prior to her marriage
brought him fortune. Indeed. when the ad-
ministratien in which he had office was over
thrown. and he found himself reduced once more
10 his pttance q member OF the Chamber OF
Deputies he experienced much difficulty In
making both ends meet. especially as he was
b,,rdened with liabilities amounting. IL is said.
to about $1,000 francs. For a time things went
hard with him. and then he was appointed
10 the Governor Generalship OF Indo-China,
Frances great dependency in the southeast Of
Asia Some say that the Office was rendered to
him by political rivals anxious 10 get him out
of the way. while according TO others II was
placed within his reach by friends and admirers
who aware OF his circumstances and who
had interested themselves In h. behalf. At any
rate, he accepted the post. which carried with It
a salary allowance OF something like $4,000
year or more. Being a man of simple tastes,
model husband and total abstainer, he not
only managed TO retain his health in the Far
East, but likewise to save enough money In his
five years OF office TO pay OFF his debts and in
sure himself modest competency. at the same
time maintaining the dignity OF his high Office
with q proper degree OF state and splendor. He
proved himself while out there wonderfully
clever administrator, and enjoyed tho distinction
Of having been the first OF q long LIST OF Gov.