The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-01-18
Premier Selected on Second
Ballot as President of
France, Gets Ovation Both
at Versailles and Paris,
Voting Marked by Confu-
sion and Duel Challenges
PEOPLE PLEASED AT
ASSEMBLY'S CHOICE
Cafes Filled With Animated
.Throngs, Who Extoll Vir-
tues of Nations Strong
Man"-New Executive Is
First Nighter' and Turf
Leader-Favorite in u. S.

Leader-Favorite IN u. S.
VERSAILLES France. Jan. 17.-Ray-
mond Nicolas. Landry Poincare. for the
last IL months premier of the French
eabinet. vas elected today president of
the republic Of France by the national
2 assembly. composed Of the members of
both chambers of parliament. in success
sion ito President Armand Fallie- Is.
whose seven year term expires Febru-
Aary1s.o
Tie widest confusion. out of which
the casting of the ballots.
Premier Pofncare's selection. although
made by parliament, as required by the
Fconstitution. is regarded as represent
ing the popular will of the nation The
choice took place on the second ballot,
on which the premier received So more
than an absolute majority OF the $50
votes cast Jules Pans, minister of agri-
culture, his nearest competitor. received
1s7 votes less than the new president.
THE FINAL BALLOT
The final ballot stood:
Raymond Poincsres 4SS; Inies PANS
sas; Marie Edouard Valiant 60
The first ballot. which resulted in no
election, was as follows:
RAYMOND Poincare 42e: Jules Pans
81: Marie Edouard Valiant 65; Paul
Deschane1, IS; Felix Ribot, 16; Leon
Bourgeois, 4; Alexandra MiIlerand. 9;
Alfred Mascuraud. ?; Theophile Del
casse. ?; Antoinin Dubost, 1; Henri
Rocbefort, /: blanks. 5.
NJ. Poincare was notified of his cleo
ton ine an apartment adjoining the
: voting hall by Antoinin Dubost. presi-
dent of the national congress who read
20 him the of1cial record of the election
signed. by, Dubost and the eight secre-
taries.
DUEL IS AVOIDED
NJ Poincare's first words on receiving
the notification We're;
Il shall try to show myself worthy OF
the confidence OF the national assembly.
shall forget without effort the strug
giles of yesterday and even the injuries.
Be convinced that I shall seek in every
thing at all times to be an impartial
administrator"
Premier Poincare was insulted by
FORMER Premier George Clemenceau
at the opening of the session. NJ Poin-
the minister OF justice, and /. L. Klotz,
minister Of finance, to act as his seconds
and TO arrange a duel.
I4sterS Clemenceau made a satisfac-
tory explanation to M. BRAND and M.
KIotz relative to the letter he had sent
Poincare. The incident was therefore
s considered closed.
ANOTHER DUEL CHALLENGE
Deputy A. de Monzie and Paul Bon
eour former minister of labor, also
4 quarre1ed in the corridors of the palace
2 lof Versailles as a result OF which NJ.
Monte sent his seconds to M. Boncour.
Poincare, now in his fifty-third year.
Ss Of medium height and sturdy build and
radiates an impression of force, both
physical and intellectual. He is versa
tile and comes from a family dis
tinguished in science and literature.
The president elect is a philosopher.
writer and a member of the French
academy with notable career in
French law circles.
His legal practice has been marked
by the fact that he never sends his
clients bill for legal services, al
ways asking them to send him the
fee which they consider his services
have earned
His concentration is remarkable and
he has been enabled. by crowding
through his affairs in a short working
day, to devote much time to private
study and social life.
POPULAR WITH AMERICANS
He is first nighter" and makes
a practice of attending the prominent
state events of the French turf
Americans have found him most in
teresting in the institutions and de-
veIopment of the United States and he
is accurately informed on current
American affairs
AS foreign minister. NJ. Poincare
greatly facilitated the work of the
American ambassadors.
Premier Poincare is known to
4 Frenchrnen as a strong man. and his
! personal qualities drew to his ministry
an extraordinary group Of French
public men. including Aristide BRAND.
Aiexandre' Millerand. Leon Burgoeis
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