New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-18
PRESIDENT PoINCARE.

France has done well. She was con-
fronted with something like an embar-
rassment of riches. Among the canol-
dates who were voted for at Versailles
Yesterday there were at least haI d
dozen men Of the first rank, any one OF
whom would make President 10
whose hands the welfare Of the repuD-
lie might safely be intrusted. Among
them the National Assembly selected
man Of whom it may confidently be
said that he is second to no other III
the promise of useful service. There
were older men Oh the list, with longer
and more varied experience, and one
or two who had in recent years az
tracted more attention from the world
nj large by their participation in SEN
sational incidents. But in an averag-
ing of all the qualities which are essen
tial to the highest usefulness In the
Presidential office IT is not invidious to
say that not one Outranked this dis
tinpuishpd member Of a distinguished
family. in the prime of his life and
mowers and supremely devoted 10 ana
expert I'm the particular forms of public
service Of which France to-day stands
most in need.
II is far cry back to Gambetta :
time: vet the fact is that the chlef
issue in this electoral contest was SINH
lar TO that over which the great Tri0-
me waged some of his hottest battles
In those days il was the question OF
scrutin ddrrondiSSement or ScrWtin de
Rstc. Now it is called proportional
representation. but there Is greater DIFF
ference I'm name than I'm substance.
The system of scrutm dGyTOHdiSsemcht
which now prevails. under which each
Deputy is elected from a single district
has confasSedly fallen into gross mis-
use. 1t is a prolific source of bartering
of votes besides which II affords no
minority representation. For number
of wears a strong demand has been
arising for electoral reform through the
adoption Of a Scyutin de liSte scheme,
under which Deputies shall he chosen
on general tickets in large districts
with a provision for adequate minority
representation. With this great reform
Raymond Poincare has been conspicu-
ously associated. End II was some time
ago recognized that his election 10 the
Presidency would he a sure harbinger
OF the adoption Of the system which he
has been advocating
Another highly significant feature Of
the case. which is 10 be regarded as Of
favorable omen TO the republic, Is the
intention OF Mr. PoinCare and his sup
porters 10 enhance, so far as Il may be
done legitimately, the importance Of the
Presidential office. IT is well known
that thus far some important preroga-
tives Of the Presidency have been left
in allegiance. Perhaps this was pru-
dent In the cases Of some Of Mr..
Poincare'S predecessors, at any rate,
the full exercise of them would have
aroused apprehension, IT, indeed, it
would not have been fraught with peril.
But the republic has found itself" 1t
has OutgrCMn its nervousness at the
fancied spectre Of monarchical restOra-
ton. 1t dan now safely permit the
Chief Of State to be more than an
amiable fgurehead That does not
mean that the Prime Minister is TO De
degraded or the ministerial system is
10 be abandoned; but il does mean that
the President is to be the real power In
the state that the founders Of the re-
public intended him TO be, so that the
high abilities Of statesman like Mr..
Poincare will not be laid upon the shelf
but VIII continue to be actively utilized
for the welfare OF the nation.