The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-16

the French people, but the minority. consisting Of clericals and royalists, conducted q violent opposition to the measure. and continued their propa- ganda long after the law was passed. Thus. the religious iss&s perpetrated itself, and the French electorate kept the radicals in power pretty con stantly for 14 years, as & guarantee against a return to church domina- ton.
 Political situation Changes
 French parliamentary elections are held every five years (for the lower chamber) and the last elections were on November 16, 1919-just a year after the armistice. During the war, the political situation had changed. There had been move toward "sa- cred union" at the outbreak of the war, the parties ostensibly sinking their old differences in general coalition. As the war dragged on and the people wearied, socialist strength developed. largely a manifestation of pacificism. But 1t worried the anti socialist elements, and means were sought to prevent what looked Ike an overwhelming socialist victory in the 1919 elections.
 The result was an anti-socialist coalition, or bloc national" with all the anti-sociallst parties pooling i their interests wherever a socialist victory seemed likely. To effect this, 1t was impossible to assist the old time politicians, the veterans of re- 1 ligious war, as candidates. It would have been impossible to get a cleri- cal, for instance, to vote for a "radi . cal" candidate in many cases. or vice versa, even if the object was to keep the reds" out of office.
 Therefore, there was a quest for "new men," men whose politics were unknown, or who at least had not figured prominently in the old quar- rels. In many cases. this demand was combined with the new cry after 'business men for a business govern ment," and so a rather miscellaneous collection of manufacturers and mer- chants were placed on the ballots. The plan worked, and after the voters were persuaded that their only choice was between the coalition, or bloc" candidate and bolshevism. the issue was not in doubt. The method of counting votes helped also and skill ful juggling prevented the socialists from getting even their proportionate share of the votes.
 But the Parliament is now paying the penalty of the patchy haste in which it was assembled. The mem- bers are without political experience and without party backing. They represent a vague reaction against extremism, but they put their fin gers on their popular support and draw inspiration and courage for their parliamentary actions, they can't find 1t. They do not know just what fraction of their constituencies they represent, nor have they any clear mandate from their electors as to just what they should do beside combat bolshevism.
 The consequence is that they are timid and groping. They do not like Briand, but are not sure they would like. anybody else better. Briand is one of the cleverest politicians in the world, an he knows how to make the most of the hesitations and uncer- tainties in the minds of his Parlia- ment.
 It is just one more example of the practical impossibility of trying to conduct a truly democratic govern ment without parties; 1. c.. without any organization or lineup of the popular will.