Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-30
THE FRENCH VITICULTURAL CRISIS

The maxim "Audaces- fortuna juvat" Is
usually read Fortune favors the brave"
but bravery is not always
Marcellin the synonym Of audacity.
AIh.r+ and this fact is clearly illus
trated in the case Of q man
who with fiery speech and apparent con-
viction found himself suddenly at the
head Of great popular movement which
was begun on May Is in the little vii
lage Of Argeliers, in the department OF
Aude. in the south OF France.
Marcellin Albert became the mead and
front Of the 1.4OO souls originally COM
prising the viticultural revolt in the
Midi. But when the movement burst
these narrow bounds and swelled to vast
numbers which threatened the discipline
of the army and the safety of the state.
the village chieftain lost his audacity and
hesitated as II overcome by the dread
Of the very element he had invoked.
The irruption of Marcellin Albert in the
cabinet Of M. Clemenceau at Paris: the
interview and return to Montpelier.
where amid the Jeers of the crowd he
endeavored to explain his detection to
the cause he had represented, IS an un-
expected illustration of human frailty.
Of the transition from the sublime to the
ridiculous. How. indeed. explain why he
should accept from M. Clemenceau the
loan Of $2O The astute minister. who
Is both metaphysician and physician.
did he read in the lines of the face Of
this artless representative OF the people
the "cafetier" that he had been, rather
toned to accept the traditional tip from
the client? The opportunity to put the
leader out Of commission was too good
to be lost. With dramatic exhortation to
patriotic sentiments, an tmpassioned ap
peal by the premier to return to his
people and have them forget alI but
country, Marcellin Albert found himself
In t tears in the street; at the station. with
lister had placed in his hands as he hur-
rted him away to execute the MINISTER'S
mission. Hypnotism! Albert has prom
he bids them he viii deliver himself to
the authorities He keeps faith with the
minister. and sends back the $50. Albert
In prison Is "out Of commission" but the
committee at Argeliers still confronts M.
Clemenceau. and the situation in the Midi
is still grave and full Of danger.
Il
The mantle Of Marcellin. will 1t fall upon
some one less conscientious? Does NJ An
tonin Palazy aspire to that
Aloert's honor? M. Palazy's name has
cr...-.., not yet been mentioned in
the cable dispatches, but he
Is nevertheless a serious factor in the
drama. His methods are the converse of
those Of his predecessor, for Palazy declares
that the safety and protection of the wine
growers interest Of the Midi lie in the or
ganization Of a formidable trust Is NJ
irst 1ne secret agent Of an American
perhaps probable M Palazy owns a jour-
nal. IAction Viticole. in which he writes:
lndividuaiism In wine Is a thing of the
ISOLATION only. for the exploitation of wine,
can save us. Association can establish the
price and, rendering itself mistress of the
market. can force the buyer to submit to
its terms"
M. Palazy has thus discovered the for
mula which constitutes the subject Of much
discussion In America. Government in
France will be led by sentiment Of preser-
walton to adopt the principles Of M. Palazy
and those who are behind him, with the
result that the object of the revolt in the
but every other necessity Of life in that
country will be so augmented in price that
only the producer may exist. while the con-
sumner may perish; The situation is not
unique. but general.
4 r.
NJ Antonin Palazy writes further in his
journal: IAN Irresistible economical evolu-
ton is coming over the old
Economic world, trusts in America,
Evolu+ion cartels in Germany. comp
toirs, associations. coop
erative syndicates. ETC.. in England: every
where social organisms little by little are
being substituted for inefficient individual
initiative. The power of many multiples
the action of each one. That which the
Danes for example. have done in the pro-
duction of milk, that which the north has
done in the production of sugar. the east
and the west in the production of salt. why
should the Midi not do in the production of
wine? And this may be done by mutual as
ISOLATION in the form Of the trust, the car
tel and the cooperative"
M. Palazy continues thus: ITO substi-
tute a single seller, the society, moral
person, representing a multitude or sellers
of wine-who would represent the viticul-
turists by united body under the form of
colossal. powerful and well-organized
syndicate in place of a seller who, under
pressure OF urgent necessities. lets his wine
go at any price"
M. Palazy at this moment, it should be
noted has organized society in the seven
Mediterranean departments which numbers
already 1900 adherents, representing
production of ten million hectolitres. The
total production Of the region being twenty
four millions, 1t Will be seen that this pro-
posed trust Is really absolute master Of the
situation in actual France. with the inten-
ton Of extending 1t over the vast vineyards
OF Algeria.
If this ambition is realized. and it is said
to be already an accomplished fact. a So
luton Of the viticultural question has been
reached to the satisfaction Of all, except the
unhappy consumer
1t is a mere suggestion-and with no
intention to reflect upon the good faith
of Marcellin Alberto say that his sud-
den disappearance from the scene may
not be entirely due to that heros apparent
righteousness. but to revelations made to
him in Paris by the trust.
1t Is not possible for those removed from
the Midi to form an impartial opinion Of
the situation in the wine-growing districts
of France. at Montpelier, become the
point of central interest and where on the
9th instant, there were gathered 6DO.OOO
viticulturists. The 10th of June had been
fixed as the limit within which the govern
ment should present the project of law
against fraud. which 1t was held was the
unique cause of the low price of wines. The
government was asked to take energetic
measures against the watering and sugar
ing Of wines. The government at Paris. In
fact. recognizing the distress OF the wine-
growing districts. submitted the project of
q law, but unfortunately no action was
taken and the discomfort, which seemed
conferred in the Aude at Argeliers. spread