The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-04-28
EX-PRESIDENT
DESCHANEL, OF
FRANCE, DIES
Former Executive Dies of
Pneumonia Was Thought
To Be Recovering Health
Brilliant Statesman.
LONG IN PUBLIC LIFE
CBy Associated Press)


afternoon.
NJ. Deschanels was taken Ill with
influenza a few days ago and Oh We'd
nesday it was announced that compn-
cations had developed and his condi-
tion was serious
After his resignation from the
French presidency in September, 1920,
NJ Deschanels lived in retirement for
several years. His condition improved
steadily and late that year 1t was an
nounced he had completely recovered
his health
In January of last year he became a
candidate in the senatorial election,
being returned for Eure-et-Loire on
Jan. g. He began attending the senate
? sessions the following May and in
January OF this year was appointed as
a member of the senate foreign affairs
committee to replace M. Poincare,
when the latter resumed the premier
ship
Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel, tenth
president of France, entered upon
seven-year term in that office on Feb.
1S, 1920, after having been chosen by
the National Assembly the preceding
January by the biggest majority since
the election of Theirs, the first proIi-
dent of the present republic States
man and author and one of the most
brilliant public speakers in France, M.
DeschaneFs political triumph marked
the retirement from public life of For
mer Premier Georges Clemenceau.
The campaign had been most sensa-
tional and bitter M Clemenceau,
NJ 1f !, ,;- ~
French war premier and one of the
many, was, up until few days before
the election. believed to be the only
candidate who had a chance for the of
flee. Catholic and Socialist votes in
the French parliament, however, COM
bined with those of the political enc
mics of the Tiger" and elected Des-
chanel A few months later, when
Deschanel had been forced by Illness
TO resign, THE Tiger" was asked if he
again would permit his name to be
used as candidate for the presidency.
81 was too old to be elected last
January" he replied ironically, "and
feel too young to accept now, in case
| was chosen, | am going into India's
iungles to hunt tigers, which is much
less dangerous than French politics. .
Fell From Train.
On May "a, 1920, few months after
taking up his residence at the Elysee
RPalace as the successor of Poincale,
DPresident Deschanel when on his way
at night from Paris to Montbrison to
dedicate monument, fell from NOV
ing train while attempting to raise a
window in his sleeping compartment
He was supposed to have been only
Iii ;,,., u,
the press of France expressed almost
daily solicitude for his health. After
passing weeks of convalescence in
Normandy. he returned to Paris in
June to preside at the council of min
listers. Later it was announced that he
had suffered a complete breakdown
and that his resignation was newt
able. The following September, the
president sent letter of resignation
10 Premier Millerand together with {
message to the senate and chamber Of
deputies which were soon followed by
the election of his successor
Long in Public Life
For nearly As years NJ Deschane
bad been in French public life He
was president of the chamber OF
deputies when elected to the highest
post as first citizen of France. Pre-
viously he had been head of the
French parliamentary commission or
foreign and colonial affairs In {
speech at Paris the first year of the
war he declared there could be "nC
neutrals when civilization itself is a
stake" Among his first acts upor
assuming the presidency were his
signing of a decree naming commits
sioners to study French living costs
and another barring alcoholic drinks
from Elysee Palace.
NJ. Deschanel was born in 1857 il
Brussels, to which city his father wen
after being exiles from France in 1856
Dor having published a pamphlet en-
titled Catholicism and Socialism
When he was two years old, the bo!
returned to France with his father
who was pardoned by an act of am
nesty, following a recantation of hi
views.
Held Many Positions
The young man was educated il
Paris and when only 90 years old h
entered the public service, becoming
secretary to NJ de Marcere, then min
lister of the interior. He became sec
retary TO Jules Simon, president of tn
council, the following year, and serve
until 1885 when he was elected men
Der of the chamber of deputies fror
the department OF Eure- -et-Loire
1896 he was named vice president c
that body and two years later wa
elected president, a position he hel
until 1902 when he was defeated fo
reelection.
NJ. Deschanel was later appointe
president of the parliamentary con
mission on foreign affairs and colonie
his work in that body continuing unit
1909. In April 1910 NJ. Deschanel r,
turned to the chamber, becoming ii
president in 1912. He remained in tn
chair continuously until his election
the presidency. In 1913 he was urge
to become a candidate for presider
against Raymond Poincare. but pole
only IS votes at the election. In tn
midst of his political and public labor
NJ. Deschanel found time to write
number of works on political an
Apcial problems.
" Madame Deschanel was formerl
Mile. Germaine Brice, daughter {
Rene Brice, member of the chamber {
deputies for Ille-et-Vilaine.