Semi-weekly herald., 1914-04-27
FRENCH ELECTIONS
END BITTER CAMPAIGN

PARIS, April PA single steel
tipped bullet fired by beautiful wom-
an has probably saved Raymond Poin-
care the presidency of France. Next
Sunday, the date of the general slec-
aons, will tell the tale. On Sunday
the fiercest political campaign the
third republic has seen comes to an
end. Party issues have long since
faded into dim and distant back
ground and the face of one who was
once the lovely second lady of the land
has taken their place. For the CORY
political fight, though ostensibly wag-
ed for and against three-year army
service, and income tax and election
reform, has completely changed its
complexion and in reality centers
about woman in prison. Six weeks
ago the eventual resignation of Presi-
dent Poincare was being freely dis
cussed. His political enemies, headed
by the mighty minister Of finance
and ex-prime minister, Joseph Call
laux, were in power, holding practi-
cally every portfolio in the cabinet.
Furthermore these same enemies ad-
mittedly stood brilliant chance of
continuing in power as the result Of
the elections next Sunday, whereupon,
it was reported, President Poincarc,
his hands completely tied, would ten
der his resignation. Political wiseacres
declared this eventuality to be the
consummation his opponents sought
for.
Then, without warning, came the
tragedy in the offices of the Figaro.
Editor CASTOR Calmette had been
waging a merciless war of semi
personal sort against Caillaux. One
letter of an intimate nature, written,
it was said, by Caillaux to his first
wife had been reproduced in fac
simile in the Figaro and report had
it that others more compromising still
were to follow. Madame Caillaux,
the cabinet officers wife, fearing let
ters to her, from Caillaux, we're on
the point of being published and that
her husband would kill Calmette, her.
self called upon and shot the editor
in his offices. France and the repub-
lie have need of you," were the words
she wrote in a note left at .heir home,
just before the shooting, for ner hus,
band at the time was fighting for an
income tax in the senate. Feeling
herself to be the unwilling cause of
most of her husbands troubles, IL
anyone went to prison she said she
wanted it to be herself. So she killed
| Calniette-she testified she only
meant to wound him--and with the
same small bullet killed her husband
politically, taking him from "France
and the republic which needed him"
much more effectively than all his po-
litical opponents together could have
done in lifetime. Calmette lived
even longer than the statesman. The
editor lived until after midnight of
che day he was shot; Caillaux retired
from the cabine. to private life three
hours earlier, announcing he would
not be a candidate for the elections
which come day after tomorrow. Fur
ther than that Nine. Caillaux's bullet
killed her husbands party along with
her husbands future. The Sunday
elections, it is admitted, will retire
Caillaux's political friends to private
life, and it is conceded that the new
party formed by former Prime Min
ister Aristide BRAND and ex-Premier
Louis Barthou--President Poincare's
political weapon-will win in walk.
This will mean completely new cab
met, cabinet friendly to the presi-
dent, thus shutting off the POSSIBLE
ity of his resignation. Some 600 mem-
bers of the chamber Of deputies are
up for reelection.