New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
CIe1nenceau
Out of Battle
For Presidency
Premier Witlldraws i'm Favor
of Poincare Alter He
Loses to Deschanel in
Caucus by 389 to 4O8

PARIS, Jan. 16 BY The Associated
Press) ).-Premicr Georges Clemeoceau
went down to defea, at the hands Of
ms countrymen to-day IN a "aucus Of
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies
to choose candidate for the Presi-
dency of the Republic NJ. Clemen-
ceau thereupon announced his with
drawal from the contest and asked his
supporters to cast their votes for the
reelection Of President Poncare.
Senator'S and Deputies after the
caucus, in which Paul Deschanel. pres
dent o the Chamber. led the Premier
by 19 votes, generally expressed the
opinion that the vote means the elm
I ination from public life Of "The Father
OF Victory" Premier ClcmenceaH-be
mo neither . Senator nor Deputy.
This conclusion was forced on most
OF the Cabinet members, who, VIII i
they left the chamber, went to Pre-
micr Clemenceau and asked him to re-
main candidate. The Premier replied
that he could not in any circum sta noes
consent to do this. He said he would
send a letter to this effect to Leon
Bourgeois. who will be president Of
the National Assembly to meet at Ver-
saillcs tomorrow for the election.
Prcmier's Withdrawal Final
The Premier said:
my resolution is definitely made. and
nothing can change it. ! declared from
the first that l did not wish to be a
candidate, but could not resist the
pressure of my friends. Besides, 1
dreamed that if elected would be a
link between the government Of yester-
day and that of tomorrow. and for
that task general consent is necessary
II submitted to NJ. Millerand Alex
andre Millerand, former Cabinet mem
ber, prominently mentioned as success
sor TO Premier Clemenceau the names
of three of you--you will permit me
not to say which three. 1t was under
stood that it was not question of i'm
posing a choice on him. In fact.
warned him that | did not wish to
leaving him entirely lree. Now ray
role is finished. | am going to write
M. Bourgeois letter to let him know
| am not candidate"
The letter to NJ. Bourgeois. which
later was made public, follows:
81 take the liberty OF informing YOU
that | withdraw from NY friends au-
thority to offer my candidacy for the
Presidency of the republic and that
if they disregard my withdrawal and
obtain for me majority of votes |
will refuse the mandate so conferred" :"
Deschanel Leads in Ballot
The caucus ballot, which was secret
resulted as follows: Paul Deschanel.
President Of the Chamber of Deputies $.
:08; Premier Clemencesu, 3S9; Charles
c. A. Jonnart, recently elected Sen
ator, A; Leon Bourgeois. 3; Marshal
Foch, !: President Poincare 16.
NJ. Clemenc"au's friends already are
searching for another candidate as
President Poincare is reported to have
deputation OF Senators and Deputies
that he be candidate for reelection,
renewing emphatically similar expires
sions in the recent past.
Never before in the history of Pres
idential elections in France has a
plenary caucus been attended by such
large number of Deputies and Sem
ators, 821 out of 924 being present.
Heretofore it has been the custom to
call caucus only Of the parties OF
the Left, but to-day M. Deschanel
stands as the chosen candidate both OF
the Chamber and Senate all the
parties.
One Of the Senators who was op-
posed to the Premier remarked:
IN. ~Ciemenceau has been victorious
against many attacks in the Chamber
and the Senate in the last two yeas.
This was because he was fighting fol
France. When he seeks personal
honors. however. he goes down to
Aofa