New-York tribune., 1919-07-25
Cle1nencea11 Plans
Move to Check His
Foes i'm Chamber
Serves Notice He'll Present
Bill to Force Communal
Elections Before Presiden-
tial Vote, on January 20
Ne,o York Tribune
Special Cdble .Serrice

(Copyrght. 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
PARIS, July 23.-The great debate in
the Chamber of Deputies leading up to
the vote of confidence in the govern
ment showed that Premier Clemenceau
has against him first, the Socialists;
second, twenty Radical Socialists who
support Caillaux, and third, Deputies
who believe that they have q better
chance Of retaining their seats with
another Cabinet than Clemenceau's in
power when the elections are held.
The first two are insufficient to over
turn the Cabinet, and Clemenceau, with
the careless courage that makes him
redoubtable, has carried the fight into
the third camp. His speech meant to.
them: "You would like to overturn me,
thinking thus to gain time to improve
your electoral defepc ces. but az soon
as the peace has feen ratified | will
present bill dec neing that the COM
munal departmental, legislative, Sena-
torial elections be concluded as the law
demands before the Presidential cleo
ton on January 20. Now refuse me
q vote of confidence if you dare"
Foes Lack Courage
Those who pitlessly would have
overturned him on a question of eco
nomic policy and the cost of living
have lacked courage when the ques-
ton was crystallized into q proposition
of o,.to ir,;,, lo J, Of Z Ia
Thus once again the veteran who led
France to victory has triumphed be-
cause in the crucial hour he did not
fear to tell the truth.
Other reasons for his victory, though
less powerful, are, first, it was too soon
after July II for the disappearance of
the great organizer of victory; second
it was SO soon after July 81 that the de-
feat Of Clemencean would have ap-
pearcd a victory for the Socialist and
labor leaders. who had attempted to
organize a general strike on that day,
notwith standing the lukcwarm attitude
Of the workers and the deep annoyance
Of the public in general.
Finally, it was significant that the
ring leaders of the opposition did not
come forward. Aristide Brand-who is
the almost certain successor Of Gle
menceau on the inevitable day of the
latter's fall-when he arrived in the
chamber waited until Clemenceau's at
tention had been diverted before pass
ing before him to his place without
salutation. The packed chamber, read
ing in this action that BRAND was not
sure of victory said:
when BRAND is ready to look the
old man in the face the Cabinet will
be near it's fall"
Clemenceau Gains Strength
PARIS, July "a (By The Associated
Press Premier Clomenceau's oppo-
nents continued yesterday and to-day
to "shakc the plum tree" in the hope
Of bringing down another ministerial
plum like NJ. Boret, former Food Min
lister, if not the entire crop.
To-day they attacked the Premier
through Minister of Finance Elotz and
his financial policy, with the result that
there was an increased government ma
.jorty on a vote Of confidence, the gov
ernment getting 304 votes to 1874.
NJ. KlotZ expressed perfect optimism
on the ability of France to emerge sue
cessfully from what he termed during
the debate difficult but not desperate
situation. as against the gloomy views
expressed by hts critics. lie said he
had asked only 1,852,O00,000 francs
($37O, ,000,0 ,000) from new taxation, so as
not to incur reproach for making
victorious country pay the entire bill.
AS to the loan, the Finance Minister
declared, it obviously was inadvisable
to announce its exact form in advance,
and the confidence of Parliament was
essential to permit the government to
float 1t on the best of conditions.