The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-23
FRENCH ASSEMBLY
ELECTS PREMIER
18th PRESIDENT

Z VERSAILLES, sept. az. cay the AS
ISOLATED I Press. 1--Alexandre MiIlerand
was today elected president of France
by the national assembly In session
here. He succeeds Paul Deschanel, who
resigned because of i'll health. !.
M Millecands received 6S5 votes out
OF total of 1872.
The national assembly, comprising the
members Of cheeseman's and chamber Of
deputies, met at 2 O'Clock this after
noon in the historic palace in Versailles
The assembly was called to oruer py
Leon Bourgeois, the president of the
senate. Premier Millerand,. whose cleo
ton to the presidency had been fore
casted by the action of the parliament.
tary caucus yesterday when he re-
ceived an Overwhelming preponderance
of the votes cast, was given a great
= ovation as he entered the assembly hall
IA moment after the session had begun:
Voting for 1.-THE presidency started
after only a brief interval at 2:10 p,m,,
and was concluded al 1856 pm. i
The complete vote was: Alexandre
list deputy from Lille. department Du
Nord) 50; Scattering. 20.
At 457 o'clock. NJ Millerand was
Proclaimed by Leon Bourgeois. presid-
ing officer of the senate and chairman
Of the assembly, as the eleventh presi-
dent Of France.
Alexandra Millerand has long been
one of the foremost figures in the po-
litical life of France, his entry into
cabinet experience 90 1888. when he
became a member of the Waldeck-
Rosseau cabinet. His early affiliations
were with the radical socialists and he
always has been keenly interested in
labor questions and has fathered num-
erous measures for the betterment Of
the working world, notably the old
age pension act which became operative
in 1905.
1t was M. Millerand's services to his
country during the great war, however,
as minister of war in the Viviani cabi-
net and his notable conduct of Frances
foreign policies as the successor OF
Clemenceau in the premiership afterthe
tigers retirement last January that
raised him into eminent eligibility
for the presidency and compelled his re-
luctant consent to quiz the premiership
and stand as a candidate to succeed
President Deschanel.
M. Millerand was born in aPris. Beb-
rLary TO- 1859, ana was educated for
the bar. His first ministerial post was
as minister of commerce. but he has
lions, notably as minister of public
works in the BRAND ministry of 1909.
minister Of war in the Poincare cabinet
Of 1912, and as minister of war in the
Viviani ministry, to which post he was
appointed in August, 1914. shortly after
the outbreak of the world war He
held the war ministry until the Viviani
cabinet resigned, October 49, 1915.
While the peace with Germany was
being made, President Poincare In
March, 1913, appointed M. MiIlerand
governor of Alsace-Lorraine, Frances
regained provinces, and he served in
this position until, at the request OF |
NJ. Poincare in January last he accepted !
the task of forming a new cabinet in |
which he took the premiership and |
ministry Of foreign affairs. succeeding |
Clemenceau. |
When President Deschanel assumed |
office in the following month. Premier |
Millerand. as is customary on the ac- |
Tession of a new chief executive, Of |
feed the resignation of his ministry. |
This the president refused to accept and |
asked NJ Mherand to remain in office. |
The prime minister consented and has
since held the premiership.