Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-11
PrOga mme OF New Ministry Re-
veals No Good Reason For
Existence.
Very Vogue Regarding Question
of Regulating the
Congregations.
HOW LONG CAN MINISTRY EXIST

France has a new Premier and a
new Cabinet, and the question is
being frequently asked: "How long
will they last?" All the political
journals of Paris, except the ex-
treme radicals, are of the opinion
that Premier Monis has assembled a
scratch" Ministry, and few political
observers believe it can last for any
considerable time. Only two or
three men are considered to possess
ministerial ability. All are clever
men of affairs, however.
N. Monis, the Premier, is lawyer
and viticulurist or vinegrower, and
until three months ago was also
manufacturer of brandies. He is
believed to have withdrawn from
the brandy business because he be-
lieved himself in line for the
Premiership, and knew that he
would figure much better in the pub
lie eye without that connection.
NJ. Bertreaux, the new Minister of
War; is a stock broker. Minister
Cruppi is a lawyer M. Delcasse is
considered the ablest statesman in
the new Cabinet. How long he will
be content with fourth place in re-
gard to influence is questionable.
NJ. Monis, who was born in
Gironde in 1916, is of massive ply
steal mold. with a phlegmatic en-
dowment of good nature, and capable
always of fully defending his per-
sonal dignity. He helped floor the
first Radical Ministry, that of
Bourgeois. Today he heads a Min
istry which is nothing if not dis
tinctly Radical. He collaborated
with M. Waldeck-Rousseau in oppo-
sition to the Combes Ministry, and
yet is today the chief Senatorial
representative of the Combeist
party. At the same time his political
personality, contrasted with that
of NJ Combes, seems to characterize
him as a much safer Premier than
the latter. He has an authoritative
manner and certain gift of oratory.
1t was NJ. Monis who organized
the great strike of viticulturists in
the Gironde district against the
legal delimitation of the Bordelaise
wine region. He can never hope to
be as distinct a directing force in
Government as was M. BRAND.
President Fallieres is said to regard
him as capable of healing the wide
breach that exists with the Republi-
can ranks simply because he is held
to be less violent than other Com
best leaders, but through his Cab
met represents the three great
groups of the Left-the Radicals,
Radical-Socialists and Republican,
the very fact of his reputed modera-
tion is already giving rise among
them to rumblings of discomfort.
The programme of. the new Min
istry reveals no convincing reason
for its existence. Professedly its
policy regarding the lay and clerical
schools is to be as moderate as that
Of the BRAND Cabinet. The Ministry
will push along the movement for
electoral reform, including the pro-
iect for proportional representation.
It also proposes to develop the navy.
IN its intended treatment of the
workers, particularly those
who forfeited their positions at the
line of the recent strike, there is
marked departure from the Brand
policy. Intervention is promised to
obtain the reinstatement of these
men by the companies. Arbitration
'or the purpose Of obyiating strikes
will be favored.
That part of the programme which
S the vaguest and most obscure,
ms hence gives rise to the greatest
relates to the question
IF the Congregations. There is
llain attempt in certain quarters to
ull public apprehension by the pre-
ense that NJ. Monis inherits the mod
srate policy Of NJ. BRAND, but this
S palpably absurd, since II was the
diminished majority in favor OF this
which caused the change
II Cabinet. NJ. Combes is styled by
he Journal des Debats Honorary
President of the Council" and II de-
,lares that the despotic Combeist
bloc" has been reconstructed.
The situation is indeed above all
Else problematical at the present
and on the whole the
'ormation of the Monis Ministry
las brought renewed anxiety to
France without any compensating
prospect OF improved political condi-