The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-12
CLEMENCEAU WILL
 BE NEXT PRESIDENT
 OF FRANCE UNLESS = HE REFUSES OFFICE
Election In Sister Republic Across the Sea Simple Af. fair and Thrills of
 American Campaign
 Are Unknown
By Associated Press

Paris, January 1.-The election on
 the coming Saturday, January IT, ol
 the President of the French republic
 always one of the least exciting func- lions in the political life of the coun- try. will be reduced to it's simplest form in this instance unless before the date of the balloting Premier Clemenceau should decide not to be a candidate, of which there is no expectation.
 In only few minor details will the election resemble the chosing of an American President. Conforming to custom there probably will not be any party conventions. The presidential electors themselves-SO0 senators and 624 deputies-were elected independ- -ently of any presidential issue. the eventual candidates being unknown when the members of Parliament were chosen. Only occasionally the party groups in Parliament meet to decide on candidates in advance of the converting of the national assembly" or. the "Con- gress of Versailles as the electoral body is called the latter term being applied because the electors held their sessions in the old chamber of Yer sailles during the commune in 1871
 SOCIAL AND ASTRONOMICAL
 A mere assurance by Premier Clem- enceau that he will accept the presi- dency will render preliminary meet ing unnecessary, in which even the oc casion will be chiefly social and gas tronomical.
 The days programme will begin with luncehons in the spacious halls of the ancient palace of the kings of France and in the hotels of Versailles, and members of the cabinet. presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Depu- ties will be guests at special banquets. It is at the luncheons and banquets generally that the first straw votes" regarding presidential possibilities are taken and the dining rooms are as ami mated as those of the leading hotels in an American city during the national convention of the great parties.
 The proceedings of the Congress itself are very simple. Antonin Dubost, presi- dent of the Senate. will call the assem- Ely to order at o'clock in4the afternoon. After the senators and deputies have taken their seats, he will read the ar- ticfes of the constitution fixing the mode of electng the president, and then will declare ''the national assembly is duly constituted and the vote for president will take place at the speakers staN on nomination and roll call.
 Excuses from absent senators or dep Gtes will be read, and organization of the body will be completed with the se- lection by lot of 3S electors. One addi- .tiCnal name then will be drawn from the hat to decide whera the alphabetical roll call shall begin.
 Nominating speeches are omitted al- though, contrary to the rules of Parla- ment cheering is allowed in the galleries as weh as on the floor The enthusiasm generally comes in single burst of ap- pause when the presiding officer de clares the name of the candidate who has been duly elected president of the French republic The president of the congress thereupon declares the national assen- bly, dissolved.
 Formerly the royalists manifested their contempt for the proceedings. but with the sacred union born of the war that factional note likely will be ab- sent on the occasion of Premier Clemen- ceau's elevation to the chief magistracy of the republic.