The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-24
Why France Preferred Des-
chanel to Clemenceau

IL Is so easy to explain the vote Of
the national assembly by the ingrati-
tude Of democracies that we expect to
find it thus explained In many for
eign papers. Indeed. the fear Of such
an Interpretation Influenced a large
snare OF the members who supported
M. Clemenceau at the caucus They
reared that our allies on one side and
our recent enemies on the other might
see In the election Of M. Deschanel
an indication Of change OF national
But the new members, precisely be-
cause they took their politics seriously,
quickly perceived that to preserve
France from Bolshevism, as they had
promised, something more was required
than mere ability to say no" The
more they penetrated the secrets of
the situation the more they were
den, due not so mucha to the retiring
parliament as to the cabinet, because
the old chamber had had little to do
but obey. Their establishment increased
when they found that the first year
Of peace had cost more than year
OF war, and when they heard the min
lister OF finances tell how the treaty
had made France Germany's banker
Moreover, did they not learn on the
very eve of election that after all the
anathemas against the Russian people,
the blockade that had been organized
with such a prodigality of "barbed
wire was ending in negotiations with
"co- operatives?" How could they help
concluding that between the old poll
tics Of perpetual hesitations and the
newer style of successive spasms there
was hardly a greater difference than
between nothingness and chaos?
NJ Clemenceau's greatness in the war
was not fsssened by these mournful
conclusions. The nation and the par
lament did not forget their gratitude.
Defeat can be cured only by another
war but an elusive peace must be
captured by methodical work.
The name Of Cemenceau Is identified
forever with victory. Did not he him
self limit his role to that of con-
queror? When he was asked in 1918
to look ahead" he declined magnifi-
Gently: II am making war!"-a cry
which combines the heroism and the
heedlessness of a race that always i'm
provises.
But France is tired of trailing her
competitors. of being compelled at every
and lost ground by limitleS sacrifices
She seeks a serener continuity In her
national effort henceforth. For COM
mercial prosperity and for the rehabil-
tation Of her finances and exchange she
has no further need to be sublime. :"
She needs today to solve problems, not
to look at pictures! Is
The lesson of the times in science
and in industry is that man is good
for one job--no man is master of them
all. NJ. Deschanel seemed ito. the new
members as well as to the old poll
ticians the better fitted for the office
Of president. While fate gave NJ
Clemenceau a life of ups. and downs,
Paul Deschanel, born IN exile and rising
from honor to honor up to the first
magistracy exhibits the perfect plan
of a fine career.
NJ. Millerand voted for NJ. Clemen-
ceau for president. But this did not
prevent NJ Deschanel from designating
NJ. Millerand as prime minister.
capable of similar broad -mindedness.
This little example NAV explain why
the national assembly-to use an ex-
preston which the Matin coined some
months ago" preferred France to
Clemenceau." lie Matin, Paris.
Lazy Strikes in Japan.
japan is having good deal of labor
trouble at this time, and as might be
expected, she has developed something
new in the way of strikes They are
referred to as "lazy strikes" but as
a matter of fact. they are not strikes
at all in the sense that the men do not
walk out of shop or give up their en-
ployment. They simply loaf on the
job.
In one great factory all the EMPLOYEES
showed up on Monday morning. They
took their respective places at the
bepches, and pretended to be pursuing
their usual duties. But at night prac-
tically nothing had been accomplished
The proprietor came in the next day
and made a speech to the men. They
declared their loyalty to the institu-
ton. Sure, they were not going to
strike. They were goinr to continue
their employment. But they produced
nothing during the day, or at least