Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-21
Clemenceau Government Falls Amid
Uproar and Riot in
Chamber. aA.
PREMIER DIGS HIS OWN GRAVE
Taunts Delcasse InoppOrtunely About
Affair in Algiers.
HIS MAJORITY DESERT HIM
Veteran Politician Loses His Head
Under Calling Fire..
CRISIS WAS NOT EXPECTED
Chamber Was ON Eve of Adjournment
CRISIS WAS NOT EXPECTED
Chamber Was ON Eve of Adjournment
Row Comes over Discussion
of Naval ScRndals-NO sue
ceAsor Mentioned.

PARIS, July 20.-The Clemenceau cabi.
net fell suddenly tonight under dramsti~
circumstances at the conclusion OF vio-
lent debate over the naval scandals, ex.
tending over several days.
Delcasses, chairman of the Investigation
committee, led the attack upon the naval
administration, especially during the in
cumbency OF M Pelletan and NJ. Thomson
former ministers OF marine. But NJ. Pi-
card, who succeeded NJ Thomson, had
promised in the name Of the government
to complete series of reforms, both In
the administration of the and in the
methods of construction, and the chamber
was ready TO vote confidence in the gov
ernment, when an incident occurred which
changed majority into a minority.
Premier Clemenenceau, who always has
been an adversary of NJ. Delcasse, smart
ing under criticisms, and doubtless over
confident of a majority, which on July Is,
upon the general policies of the govern
ment 1872, taunted the ex-minister OF
foreign affairs, who was thrown over
board by the Rouvier ministry at the
dictation of Germany during the crisis OF
1905, with having led France to humiliation
at Algiers
Big UprOar In Chamber,
foreign history in which Delcasse was
Decasse was sacrificed, was fatal error
Instantly there was an uproar of dissent
from both sides of the chamber. Del
casse flung back the taunt in Clemen-
ceau's face with bitter words, declaring
amid cheers, that France had gone to
Algeciras in the interest of peace
Hot words were banded back and forth.
NJ. Delcasse intmated that Clemencsau had
inspired articles in the foreign press dur
Ing the crisis but the latter emphatically
denied this imputation. The premier
seemed for the first time in his parliament
tary career to lose his head. Finally NJ.
Deloasse, as he was entering upon an ex-
planation of the situation of 1905, drew
himself up proudly and said;
Il shall say nothing further on that
subject. l have nothing to fear. Nothing
in the past; nothing in our common MEM
ories OF twenty-five years embarrasses me.
If 1 look back / see 1 have left something
besides ruins"
Then turning directly to Clemenceau, he
said;
You were PRESIDENT OF the naval in
vestigating commission OF 1904. Your un-
sparing attacks upon every government
during twenty-five years seemed sufficient
guarantee that you would find the root
of the evil. What were the resultsf ask"
CIemenceau In a Rage.
NJ Clemenceau now evidently in rage.
tried to parry the thrust by returning to
the charge.
Your policy as foreign minister" he
shouted, lied US to the greatest humilia-
ton France has experienced In twenty
years"
Another storm Of hostile cries arose. sew
eral deputies exclaiming: 1T is an outrage
to say that
But the premier tried to assume his old
cynical air. "Oh, no false Indignation,
pray you" he exclaimed. You brought
us to the verge OF war without military
preparation"
Again the tumult was redoubled.
yes" he shouted above the roar, ''tho
whole world knew that the ministers of
war and the navy when the question was
put to them replied that France was not
ready / have not humiliated France; Del
casse has done that"
Government IL Beaten.
The scene when the premier tok his seat
j was lndescribable. Amid the widest ex-
citement the vote was taken, and when II
was announced that the government had
4 been beaten 212 TO 176, Clemenoeau clApped
s his hat on his head, pulling It far down
4 over his eyes and stalked out OF the cham
ber followed by the other ministers, in
token that he intended to resign
NJ. Clemenoeau went Immediately TO tho
Elyssee palace and told the story 10 Pr0si-
dent Fallieres, who seemed stupsfied at
the incident, but he accepted the resigna-
u ton OF the premier and his ministers.
There is but one opinion In Paris To-
d night-astonshment that an old pariia-
S mentary warhorse, like ClenSnoeau should
y have committed political suicide BY his
awkwardness in recalling the AlEeciras
4 spectre on the eve OF adjournment when
d. the government was assured OF q majority
: on the naval question.
The fall of the cabinet was % uneR-
peoted that the political world was oom-
pletely at sea as to who will be at tho
- head OF the government. President FAl-
Heres will consult with the presidents of
the chambers tomorrow, in accordance
with the usual custom. The name Of Leon
Bourgeois, former premier and minister OF
foreign affairs, is most frequently men
i. toned. but his age and health are against
him. M. BRAND minister OF justice; M.
Poincaire, minister OF finance; M Mile
rand minister OF commeroe; ID. Piohon.
minister OF foreign affairs; NJ. BGrthOu,
minister OF public works, and n. DelceAss
~ are also mentioned In the order named