Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-14
.FOCH AND CLEMENCEAu
MAY SEEK PRESIDENCY
Men Who Furnished Leadership.
Which Saved France to Con-
tend for Highest Honor.
DEsCHANEL STRONG CANDIDATE
Speaker Of Chamber Of Deputies,
Formidable Aspirant, Said to ~"
Best-Drcsscd Man in French Po-
Htfcal Life.
BY HARyAH BRANDON.

PARIS. Oct. 13.-At the beginning
of January the senate and the Cham
Der OF Deputies will adjourn to Yer
sailles for the election Of the next
President of tho French republic. This
portance owing to the circumstances
which led TO IL and TO the prominence
OF tho candidates.
Three men are ALREADY in line;
Deschanel. Speaker OF the Chamber:
Never before has such array of
great men commended for the presi-
Until the election of President poin-
care the deciding factor in favor OF a
presidential candidate had invariably
with any definite policy one, way or
the other could ever have hoped to
become the tenant for seven years Of
FalI!ere were perfect types of the
ideal President. because both had sue
ceeded in im,pr,essing The public dur
absolute neutrality in politics.
Poincnre Showed backbone.
Poincare. instead, obtained favor
with the m m because ena1 during his
shown enough backbone to stand up
dignity mi At the moment France vas
suffering from crisis OF despondency
owing chiefly 10 the Morocco trouble
which had led up to the well-known
squabble with Germany when the lat
dismissal of Dclcasse then Minister Of
Foreign Affairs.
Poincare saw his chance and as
sumed an !ntrans.geant attitude which
through the S. S. Manouba and Chart
age incident. The popular mind wa
who was apparently ready. to go the
limit in order to protect the dignity
OF the country against any possible
attack.
The only man who actually assumed
! a hostile attitude against Poincare's
election then was Clcmenceau. whose
presidents OF the senate and OF the
Chamber, both men representing the
CIemcneeau's Truce Over.
Today Clemenceau himself is about
20 enter the presidential race; The
temporary ,arrangement by which 2
the e'v war raj between himself us and Poinesre
and his party IS apparently over. The
war is ended and. with the return o.
/, is Clemenceau's dream 70 become
President of France Immediately after
o hd Ta eo be h tse he h esf o the
more within the frontiers.
campaign the chances appear about
equal to the three candidates Glenn
ka has in in his Ss , part he
and against him his peculiar tempera-
ment, when. being sharp. ironical. cut
ting and uncompromising, has created
the chief of them being BRAND. whose
bland manner and oonvineinE. quiet
| OF the present fiery Premier.
Foch Hero Candidate.
Foch goes to Versailles with the
halo OF the conaueror and with the
support of the military party which;
the Royalists. The extreme Socialists
will also look favorably upon him in
policy as premier has consistently been
against everything that smacked OF
the PEOPLES party.
interesting candidates comes Paul
Deschanel. In 1912 Deschanel came
very near to beating Poincare. and this
most favored candidates. AS Speaker
of the Chamber Of Deputies for several
years he has gained distinction for his
tempered deputies and for his unalter-
able courtesy. lie has no particular
policy. Democracy. liberty. prosperity
try. and any such glittering generali
ties are apparently his political creed.
Deschnnel Very Polished.
He is a very polished gentleman and
literary man and last. but not least,
is supposed to be the best dressed po-
ltical man in France, and the only
man who can entertain with the ex
Quisite charm of traditional France.
His house is the meeting place of ccle-
brities. Madame Deschancl is the
leader OF Frances younger set and has
the reputation of being a wonderful
hostess. AS Deschanel belongs TO the
moderate or center party, the aris-
tocracy is with him. AS member of
the french Academy, the leading lights
in the French literary and scientific
world crowd around him. Statesmen
and brilliant politicians follow. him be
cause of his position as Speaker. lie
can order the most delicate dinner and
supply his guests with the oldest and
most delicious wines.
His wife, who is tall and handsome.
wv