New Britain herald., 1920-01-14
Paul DesChanel, Socialist Leader,
 May Race Against ClemenCeau
:. HAS SUPPORT OF MANY
 INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS
Acceptance of Candidacy By New Nominee May Force CIcmcnccau's Hand-Action By Premier Expected in Parliament Meeting at Versailles January 17.

Paris Jan. 14.-Encouraged by their success in electing Paul Des- chanel president of the chamber of deputies yesterday the adherents of M. Deschanel are preparing to an nounce his candidacy for the presi- 7 dent of the French republic the pre- liminary meeting of parliament to be held at Versailles on Jan. 17. M. Des- chanel when urged yesterday to de clare himself a candidate refused to make any definite statement but did not decline to entertain the propo- sition.
 Premier Clemenceau's friends as- sert he will not declare his candidacy but will accept the presidency if the .; vote is favorable at Versailles oH Sat urday.
 Radica. Socialists Candidate.
 Paul Deschanel was suddenly thrust forward as a candidate for the presi- dency of the republic in the chamber of deputies. seemingly by spontaneous impulse on the part of members of . the radical socialist groups. The can didacy of M. Deschanel promises 10 Iiven up the congress of Versailles which will meet Saturday to elect . president, and the expected walkover for Premier Clemenceau,' which was
 
 conclusion, may not materialize.
 Imm mediately after M Deschanel Twas reelected president of the cha nl (ber by 445 votes out of the 455 ballots cast. some 15O to 200 deputies led ~bv former Premier Briand, Edouurd Herriot, Camille Lenoir and Andre Lefeyre. shouted: -~f->
 'tNOw to NCrsaillcS: -. Now tossNeF Fgatfgfesf stEasl others crowdedS around laT. sI5sse ialnel.. urging him to stand as, a candidate: After conference last nightswith his friends, Deschanel said he would ac- ' cept the candidacy if designated by X the caucus of republican and socialist groups of both houses, which is called for Thursday. The left groups of the chamber will meet in plenary session tomorrow and will formally choose M. .Deschanel as their candidate, and in form him of their choice the same evening.
 X Acceptance to Force ClcmencCau.
 M Deschaners acceptance is ex- pected to force Premier Clemenceau to announce whether he is d candi- date.
 The significance of the movement in favor of M. Deschanel for president lies in the names of the men behind him. M. Briand. although for the .,moment somewhat effaced, is still re- garded exercising great influence not only on the old party republican socialists but all the republican, groups M. Herriot is the new presi- dent of the radical party and is may of Lyons. M. Lefevre is vice-presi- dent of the chamber and is one of the leading authorities of parliament on financial uueStiOnS.
 Has Socialist Vote.
 The socialist party, as indicated this morning by leading article in Hu- mantle, the socialist organ, Will vote solidly for Deschanel. The radicals under the leadership Of M. Herriot arc expected to bring him suDstantial SUD- port and the republican socialists will x also support h:m.
 The candidacy of NJ. Deschanel has brought out other aspirants for the presidency, in Leon BourgeOise and Rene Viviani, both former premiers, and Jules Pans, the present minister of the interior.