The New York herald., 1920-01-14
PO|NCARE MAY
CHANGE PLACES
WITH PREMIER
When Clemenceau Becomes
French President He May
Head the Cabinet.

1AR1S. Tuesday.-Approach OF the Pres
idential election in France, January IT,
recalls the fact that of the nine Presidents
who have occupied the Elys6e Palace since
the advent of the Third Republic. in 1870,
only three-Enlll Loubet. Armand Fallieres
and Raymond Poincare-have completed
their terms of office.
/. President Adolphe Thiers, the first chief
executive after the Franco-P Prussian war,
resigned after a little more than two
years of his seven in office because Of
hostility on the part of the majority to
his conservative policy, which he believed
I, necessary to prevent friction and dissolu-
tion of the young republic
Marshal MacMahon, the choice of the
MonarchiSl majority as successor to NJ
Theirs and a hero of the wars of the
Second Empire served five years and seven
months. He then quit his post, forced out
by the Republicans, who, meanwhile, had
been able to wrest the majority from the
NQnarchists.
!. Nles Grevy followed Marshal Mac
Mahon, acquiring power by his energetic
fight against The latter's administration.
He alone of all the nine presidents was
reelected. After serving two years of
his second term, however, he was COM
- PEELED to retire because he refused to
abandon his son-in-law, Daniel Wilson, q
prominent Deputy, who was accused of
Honor and using the Elysee Palace as an
agency for his corrupt practices.
Assassin Cuts Term short.
An assassln's poinard took off the next
OF the presidents of France after he had
come near TO the end OF his term. NJ. Sadi
Carnot, while attending the exposition at
Lyons in 1894. was struck down by the
Italian anarchist Santo Caserio, because
of vague reference TO Parliamentary op-
fnr, TO 1ino ict, do tn,
sent by him to the Parliamentary body
Shortly before.
Three days after the tragic death OF
President Carnot Casimr Perer was
elected to fill the vacancy. After three
months he resigned. charging the Re-
publicans in Parliament with lack of sup
port against the defamatory attacks of
the Socialists.
Felix Faure died at the Elysee of cere-
bral hemorrhage in the fifth year of his
administration.
Precedent Broken.
The fact that Presidents Greyy, Carnot
Perier. and Faure served as president of
the Chamber of Deputies and that Presi-
dents Loubet and Fallieres were presi-
dents of the Senate has crested
precedent favoring the elevation OF the
presiding officers of the two bodies
to the Chief Magistracy. President
Poincare. the incumbent, broke this prec-
edent seven years ago but established
another which would favor taking the
President from the Cabinet. of which he
was member and would rebound to
the profit Of Premier .Clemenceau. who
was one of the strongest opponents of
Mr.. Poincare's candidacy.
OF the nine French Presidents. Theirs
alone returned to public life. having been
elected Senator from Belfort after his res
ignation. This example will be followed
by President Poincare. who on Sunday
last was elected Senator for the Depart
nnent of the, Meuse.
Not one of the ex-President has be-
come affiliated with the government In
the Ministry after leaving the executive
chair. but according to current specula-
lion, this precedent also is likely to be
dlsregarded by Mr.. Poincare. 1t is gen.
orally believed his return to public life
will bring him back into power as Min
ister and perhaps as Premier.