Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-08
SOCIALISTS GO
DOWN IN VOTE
French Ballot Shows Heavy
Falling Off in Power of
of Radicals.

PARIS, Jan. 5-As soon as the re-
suits of the French elections were known,
1t was apparent that order, so often
threatened, had again triumphed in
France This impression was still fur
Their confirmed by the result of the vote
of Nov. 16. France had pronounced her.
self, and resolutely barred the path Of
parliament to bolshevism, by excluding
the apologtsts of social upheavals and
6.vIl war, and by affirming its resolution
60 accomplish the great task of national
reconstruction with method and or
ganization.
The rout Of the socialists is of capital
Importance, as they have lost no less
than fifty seats. Numbering 104 IN the
former chamber, there will be only fifty
five in the coming parliament, and it
must be noted that in this number are
included those dissident socialists who
were blamed by their more violent col
leagues for having manifested an interest
In questions of national defense. All the
leaders of the unified socialists, such as
Mr.. Renaudel, MIR. Sixte-Quentin, MIR.
Longuet, Mr.. Sadoul, and Mr.. Mayeras,
and those most deeply involved in in
ternstionalism, such as Mr.. Brlzon, were
beaten. The defeat Of the whole of Jean
Longuet's list in the Paris sector, is
particularly significant, and will, so some
say, cause a great disappointment to
Germany, If the latter country counted
Nupon the successful dissemination of
revolutionary ideas throughout France.
That country, on the contrary, has
proved that It had not struggled for five
years in order to succumb at last by
voluntarily hurting itself towards moral
and social ruin.
VOTE REJECTS
RADICAL VIEWS.
The almost unanimous vote of the
French nation proves that 1t absolutely
rejects all idea OF revolution, and that
1t expects It's representatives to follow
reasonable, yet realistic policy and to
govern it both wisely and well.
The radicals have on their side lost
many members who have played a con
siderable role in French politics during
the last ten years, whilst the representa-
Hves Of the Alliance RepublicaNe will be
much more numerous. Thus, it will be
seen that the recent elections mark no
tendency toward a narrow conservatism
as some are liable to affirm out Of the
bitterness Of their hearts, but have been
on the contrary, characterized by
frankly republican spirit.
Many DEPUTIES belonging to the former
chamber have been reelected, while. on
the other hand many new personalities
are entering the chamber and will no
doubt render considerable services-such
as Mr.. Isaac former president of the
chamber of commerce of Lyons; Mr. Ar
taud. president Of the Chamber Of Com
merce of Marseilles; Mr.. De Wendell
elected in Meurthe and Moselle; Mr.
Maurice Colrat, director of the Opinion
IT can. therefore, be said that the re-
suit of the French elections allows one
to form the greatest hopes for the fu-
ture. Nevertheless, 1t is an undeniable
fact that the good will of the nation is
superior to its political conceptions.
France, which has always been consid'
cred the crucible in which new ideas
were elaborated before taking their lu-
minous fight throughout the world
seens for the moment to be suffering
from a regular paucity OF new ideas
Certain persons strive to explain this
inocmprehensible fact by declaring that
the fault lies with the political men OF
the day. They affirm that the political
programs would be less simple did
France possess Gambetta.
COUNTRY MUST
BIZ ON ALERT.
Yet it remains to be seen II the task
of renewing the theory Of government
depends upon political men. 1t would
seem, in general, as II the latter were
far too absorbed in meeting immediate
difficulties to mediate upon the difficul-
ties Of the morrow. Thought does not
seem to form a part Of their political
baggage. The true cause Of the actual
political indigency of France resides
rather in the repression of French po-
ntical reflection for the last forty years
II the political men of the revolution
were able to accomplish so much, 1t was
because Of the elaboration OF ideas &C
complished during the eighteenth GEN.
fury.
But such an elaboration unfortunately
has not taken place during the last
forty years. although, strange to say
during this period French thought pro-
duced a philosophical doctrine, that OF
BergsOn, and a military doctrine. With
out "ths principles Of war; Of Marshal
Foch, the French chiefs of 1914 would
no doubt have Unanswered as in 1870.
Therefore, it can be said that France
lacked governmental ideas because il
has not been taught the fundamentals
of policy But the new members of the
chamber may change this state Of things