The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1912-10-15
FRANCE LOOKING
FOR A PRESIDENT
Bourgeois, HanOtaul, Poincare
and DeschaneI Possibilities.
FALLIEREs NOT CONSIDERED.

hcPabftS FfoWHs CPuH oeSouu efH
For Its President--clemencea ane
DeIcasse Are Among the "Dart
Horses"-The Situation.
While the United States Is in the
midst of an exciting presidential cam
paign France is busy discussing who
shall be her next chief executive.
President Fallieres' seven year tern
will end i'm little less than four
months and. although there is no con
stitutional provision against second
term. attempts of presidents to succeed
themselves are looked ON unfavorably
in France; so there is no question OF
Fallieres' candidacy.
Five men have been conspicuously
mentioned as probable occupants of the
Elysee. as the French call their White
House. Although the choice of the
chamber of deputies and senate when
they meet in joint session at Versailles
is likely to fall upon one of these five.
the fact that in strength all are about
equal may result In the election of a
dark horse"
Senator Leon Bourgeois, who is re-
garded by many as Frances grand
old man." could without much doubt
obtain the presidency If he should make
the slightest effort To do so. but Bonr-
geois. who has been prominent I'm poll
tics for thirty years, has lately been
out OF health and has let it be under
stood that he will not be a candidate.
although he has refrained from posi-
lively committing himself. He has
been In many cabinets, has held the
post OF prime minister, and has inter
national fame on account OF his work
at The Hague conferences After the
fall Of the Caillaux ministry Bourgeois
was asked to form new ministry, but
declined, agreeing. however, to take
his present unimportant portfolio In the
Poincare cabinet In order to lend the
support Of his adherence to the present
government
Hsnotaux Booms Ribot.
Gabriel Hanotaux, the historian and
former minister Of foreign affairs,
has started a boom for another former
premier, Alexandra Ribot. whose wife
was Miss Mary Burch of Chicago. He
Ii q member Of the French academy
and the author of numerous historical,
educational and political works.
There are many who would like to
see Polncare, the present premier.
elected president of France, and 1t is
not unlikely that the choice may fall
upon him, for he has made an excel
lent record as president of the council
Of ministers. while his recent voyage
to Russia made him an international
figure. But Poincare is not politically
ambitious. He believes be could best
serve his country In his present post
and has said he prefers the position
Of premier to the presidency.
Antonin Dubost. the president Of the
senate. probably is the most active
candidate for Failieres' place
For three terms now the president
has been chosen from the senate. Ii
In generally considered, therefore. that
the chamber Of deputies will insist
upon selecting one of its members
when the joint session Is held to
choose a president IL 1t forces its
will upon the people its choice for
president VIII be Paul Deschanel. who
now presides over the chamber. Al
though younger than any OF the other
possible candidates except Polncare.
DeschaneI has had long political expe-
rience, Ia well known as a writer and
b extremely popular.
cIsmsncsau Ozark Horse
II the choice should not be confined
to the Eve mentioned the two dark
horses most deserving Of attention
are Clemencean and Delcasse. The
former favors PoiDcare and would not
make any effort to obtain the place.
but II bitterness between candidates
develops his known fighting qualities
may force him to the front DeIcasse
n generally supposed to have a secret
ambition to inhabit the Elysee, but
bis many enemies In political life prob
ably will succeed In keeping the door
closed to him.
An interesting commentary on the
democratic simplicity Of Republican
France Is found In the fact that FalIi-
eres. who as president for seven years
has received In salary and expenses
$240.OO0 a year or altogether more
than q million and a half. has Just
rented for $2.400 year an apartment
which he will occupy when be retires
from public life. This rental has been
commented on In some quarters a ex-
travagant, since Loubet pays only
$1,000 q year for bis apartment. to
which visiting sovereigns 50 to renew
acquaintance with . statesman who
once entertained them 1t the Elyses.