The sun., 1919-08-03
Poincare Not Seek
ing Re efe ction,
Jules Pam Looms
as Powerful Can
didate in Even t
Clemenceau~ De-
cliness to Run !:
By rcUNLIFFEl.lowRN

toohhhiy fhuuce US 10 betteve -
In his dotase, has just shown that ne
Is stiil possessed o. al his Intellectual
visor. his political aiertnsss and re-
sourcefulness. ana shia xeenness Of
Judgment by announcing general Par
lisndentary elections for next october.
This II what the French cali a coup
de maitre'.1a master stroke. Il Is
nothing more iiorsless than an appeal
by him to the nation against a legisla-.
tive chamber which has bona since
ceased TO represent the people and
whose constitutional mandats Of four
years ceased nearly eighteen months
ago Under. normal circumstances the
Chamber should have passed out of
existence In the spring OF last year.
and II the, tCiemenceau Government
consented to the prolongation OF its
powers instead Of dissolving IL Il was
because OF the difficulty Of holding q
general election while the war was
still in progress, and at time when
those who, were best entitled by their
military services in the field to ex-
1853 ttACah ftCWS ahu WAbutS
were precluded from casting their vote.
Indeed, the present Chamber has only
been allowed to linger on as a war
measure.
Now that peace with Germany has
been signed at Versailles its continued
existence verges on illegality and is
contrary to the spirit and letter Of the
Constitution. The members, however,
R.&l
seem to appreciate the fact that the
continuance of the tenure OF theii
seats in the Palais Bourbon was
dependent upon the good will of
the Premier OF his Cabinet and
of the President of the 'Repub-
lie. OF late they have shown them
selves more than ordinarily OBJ
structive and disposed to hamper the
Government in its task OF reconstruc-
ticn. Losing patience, Premier Gle
menceau has now secured the consent
of the President to the holding of the
new elections in October.
Thist has the effect of putting the
present Chamber out Of existence and.
incidentally. deprives It Of playing any
role in the Presidential election which
IA slated for next February. What
this means will be understood when
it, Is pointed out that in France the
Chief Magistrate of the Republic. in
stead of being nominated or elected
by the people. or by delegates spe-
cially chosen for the purpose, asinetns
United States, is elected By bct,
houses Of the national legislature, IN
joint session at Versailles.
The Outcome Doubtful.
It is difficult TO assert with any de-
gree of certainty what will be the
outcome Of this popular referendum
For that is what the general election
in October next is destined to be
There has been such a degree of bit.
terness against the present Chamber
OF Deputies on the part Of those mil
lions OF soldiers who fought SO gal.
lantly and SO untiringly for France or
the various battlehelds and among
those dear to thsm that 1t may safel,
be predicted that the political com
plexion Of the next Chamber will b
a very different one TO that which MAJ
be described as being now on its death
bed. II one may Judge by the att
tude Of the so-called Councils General
that Is to say the Provincial Diets
who enjoy the privilege OF electing thu
members Of the Senate. the mex
Chamber will witness the return Of al
entirely different class Of men--of mel
who represent the material interest
Of the nation, who have something
more at stake than their own selfisl
personal gain and advancement, men
In one word, who stand for something
in the community. in lieu OF beinl
mere carpet bag politicians, dependen
upon their legislative pay and preroga
tives--and the pickings.
The present Chamber is very largel,
Socialist; aided and abetted by a con
siderable faction OF advanced Radi
Gals, who are inclined 10 vote with tn
Socialists, for the purpose OF upset
ting the existing Government, eithe
In the hope Of securing power 10
themselves or else OF wreaking. ven
geance upon those whom they regar
as responsible for their being exclude
from oifice.,s, -tf on .--N4
They havesbeen responsible for moi
Of the legislative trouble during tn
war, and not only Premier Clemencea
but his present colleagues and h
predecessors at the helm or the shi
on state have repeatedly complains
with much right and justice, that II
stead of being able to devote all the
time and their energies TO oaFryin
through the war TO speedy and SUI
cassful conclusion y they were cor
SANITY being compelled TO waste pre-
efous days and even weeks in d
fcnding the. measures adopted wit
this object in. view, against discreet