The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-10-25

OF the candidates in W. C. T. U.
election, where any one Of the ladies'
wouldn't mind having the job herself,
but at the same time openly and con-
spicuously urges the very person she
considers the most impossible of the
lot for the Office, secretly hoping that
the other dear ladies' will see as she
does this impossibility and unite on
her for the honor.
1t must be said, however, that the
system of electing presidents In
France is totally different from the
my hats in the ring, free-for-all,
catch-as-catch-can scheme in Amer
lea. In France. the senate and the
chamber Of deputies gather in Joint
session at Versailles and there elect
= president from among themselves.
The system works well in France.
II there are abuses, the people have
not heard of them. Besides, the pres
ident OF France is not an executive
He is passive; he is fgurehead with
about 100000 year in appoint
ments; the official entertainer" the
nations elected host to the great, and
near great, who visit the land. But
director of the nations policies, the
helmsman of the ship Of state, he is
not. The prime minister, ostensibly
appointed by the president, but really
elevated to the job by events in the
chamber or senate, LIS the real helms
man, the genuine head Of the govern.
ment.
The president to be elected in Jan
uary will be the tenth under the third
republic. He will be elected for seven
years instead of four as in America.
The other presidents were Theirs,
who resigned; MacMahon, who resign
ed; Jules Grevy, who resigned during
his second term; Sadi Carnot, assas-
sinated in Office; Casimir Perier. who
resigned; Felix Faure, who died in
office; Emile Loubet, who alone serv-
ed his full time and retired, and
Armand Fallieres, the present presi-
dent. said the tenth president;
rather 1t will be the tenth election
and the ninth president Jules Greyy
having served one term and part OF
another
Leon Bourgeois, present minister OF
labor. is notable possibility. His
greatest drawback is his poor health.
He is republican, and has long,
successful political career.
Raymond Poincare, present prime
minister, is younger man than Bour-
geois. He is certainly one of the
strongest men in the country and de-
servedly so, but he gave up Iucra-
tive law practice to form what is cali
ed THE Grand Ministry" and 1t is
doubtful IL he would consent to have
his name put before the Versailles
gathering as yet.
Paul Deschanel, president OF the
chamber OF deputies, has good chances,
but he may be considered too young.
President Antoine Dubois. of the
senate. 10 mentioned az possibility.
Theophile Delcasse, present minister
OF the navy, is another Minister
PANS, of agriculture; lean Dupuy, ed
ltor OF the Petit Parision,' and now
cabinet officer; Aristide BRAND,
minister of justice. and one OF two
others, are long shots.
should say that the race lies be-
tween Pofncare, Dubois, Delcasse and
Bourgeois. President Falfieres will
not stand for reelection
Still. while the professional polite
ians are undoubtedly doing some fine
gum-shoe work and are probably lay.
ing the wires for january 4, It's
mighty hard for an outsider, used to
the turbulent times OF American cleo
ton years. with weIl-defned and loud.
" defended candidates.. to tell what
will happen ten weeks from now, when
l the 100 or thereabouts. deputies and