The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-11

financial concerns. It was in 1898 that lie was first returned as deputy for the Sarthe, and a year after he had taken his seat NJ. Wadeck- Rousseau, one of Frances greatest prime ministers, offered this political newcomer the responsible post of minister of finance. Henceforth his ministerial career began. In the Wal deck Rousseau administration he served for three years and then, when M. Clem- enceau became premier he again took charge of Frances finances and evolved his now famous income tax bill which many people think may prove the rock on which his first cabinet will be wrecked.
 M. Briand. his colleague as minister of justice in the Cemenceau government. wishes to avail himself of NJ. CailauXs financial talents in his ministry, but M. Cailaux declined to accept the portfolio. with the present electoral system in France he is reported to have said, it is impossible to administer the finances properly" remark which politicians are now reyiyng when the opponents of cleo toral reform have just turned out the pre- mier who crossed their path. But when the Briand ministry fell, M. Caillaux-- because, think, he felt his hour was ap- proaching-returned to office. However firm his determination might have been to clamor eventually into the seat of the president of the council he never dreamed that his chance would come so soon. That fatal aeroplane at Issy moving down M. BertreauX, the predestined successor of M. Monis at the head of the government. swept the way clear for the active man at the ministry of finance. calmly biding his time amid his mountains of documents. It is merely bit of chamber gossip that the other afternoon, when the ministry was defeated M. Caillaux was the first minister to leave the house, crying as he An cc;s ,,ics'o 9 have been very like the man.
 His friends and foes unite in marveling at his extraordinary financial ability, at his remarkable mathematical talents, which manifest themselves, incidentally, in a lightning like ability to detect an err TOT Tn the most complicated accounts. His crltics-he has made some enemies by the touch of arrogance in his manner-say he is impetuous and uncompromising; his friends declare these are but the de- fects of his virtures. which the exercise or power is gradually correcting. He speaks English and knows England, highly gratifying and somewhat rare accomplish ment in French prime minister He has, moreover, many English friends and esteems England and English ways
 When one comes to investigate M CaiI- aux's politics one is struck by the simi- arity in his views to those of M Briand Last January he made confession of his S cred at Lille. He proclaimed himself a radical. radicalism, according to him. being the true expression of French de- mocracy The radical party, which, under different name, had founded the republic 40 years ago was equally separated from revolutionary agitation and reactionary tendencies. NJ. Caillaux, like M. Briand. has always insisted--but without the stig- ma attaching to the latter by reason of his revolutionary beginnings-that there are moments in the history of all gov- ernments when oppressive measures are necessary.
 As a parliamentarian M. Cailaux has neither the presence nor the voice which make good orator. But his speeches are excellent, based on limpid logical reason- ing, full of striking thoughts, and per- meated by a deliciously dry humor. There is fine vitality about them, and M Cail- aux has way of getting home to his audiences. After the paralyzing effect of the vaJlations of M. Monis France craves for a man. France, as Prince Vic- tor Napoleon said the other day, requires n leader, not a master. In his speech at Lille the new prime minister exclaimed, amid thunderous applause.
 Where a democracy stands still 1t goes backward. Gentlemen, let us wake up' The acts Of the premier who spoke that manly phrase will be awaited with sym pathy in France disgusted with the lats ministrys unworthy exploitation to tho subversive influence in the state.