Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-11
French President
Continued from Page One)

ment at the beginning Of their ses
sions at 8 o'clock tomorrow after
noon. His successor will be named
at the joint meeting of the tive
houses at Versailles on Friday in
accordance with French law which
within 4S hours.
Success of the movement Of the
Radical Party to force his resigna-
ton would be violation of the
spirit of the French constitution and
would make the presidency of the
republic mo more than a toy in the
parties hands," President Millerand
declared today in his message TO
both houses Of parliament.
Gentlemen OF the senate. gentle
men Of the chamber" MIR. Millerand's
message stated, when the national
assembly did me the honor to call
me by 6SJ votes to the supreme mag
istrature, 1t knew by my public state
ments that l would only consent to
20 to the Elysee Palace to defend a
national policy Of social progresss
ordered labor and union By
STIMULATING that the president of the
republic is responsible to tie parlia-
ment only in the case of high trea-
son, the constitution willed that for
the national interest Of stability and
continuity. the presidential power
should be kept sheltered from politi-
cal fluctuations.
"You will respect the constitution.
If you misinterpret 1t, II 1t were to be
henceforth understood that the arbitra-
ry action of the majority could oblige
the president of the republic to retire
for political motives, the president
would be nos more than a toy in the
parties hands.
Dangerous counsellors, in partisan
interest, are trying to see that the new
legislature begin with revolutionary
act by the chamber. I will refuse to
follow them -"
Premier Francois Marsal in present
ing the message to the chamber said:
You have just heard the message
from the president Of the republic. The
government now before you has been
constituted solely to permit both
houses Of parliament to act as Judges
in the conflict Of constitutional order
which has been open for days outside
Of parliament, but of which parliament
Is the sole judge"
The presidents decision was caused
by the defeat of the Francois-Marsal
ministry by a vote of 800 to 214 on the
adoption of a motion offered by Ma
jority Leader Edouard Herriot not to
open a discussion with q government
not in conformity with the sentiment
of the country. Tho defeated ministry
will meet with the president at the
Elysee tomorrow morning, when the
resignation will be drawn up for pre-
sentation to parliament.
la A.
sign in the face OF these adverse votes
+ leaves the victorious Left majority
in somewhat Of a quandary, with two
outstanding candidates-M. Doumer-
que, president Of tie senate. and M.
Painleve, president of the chamber
rivals for the presidential nomination
by the ma jority at a caucus to be heio
not later than Thursday.
The Left majority in Tho chamber,
s29, is larger than the senate's entire
membership of 314. which would seem
TO bespeak certain victory for M. Pain
leve in the caucus and his election:
But presidents favor the president. OF
the senate, who is the second officer OF
state, being promoted in the regular
line.
NJ poumergue, however, IL q bach
elor, and tradition insists that the
Elysee must have q hostess. Other
reasons are advanced for the elcva-
ton of NJ. Painleve. and the general
belief is that he will be named as pres
ident OF the republic unless deadlock
between the Left forces Of the two
houses occurs.
VI. Millerand will soon be playing an
important political role. probably in
the chamber as leader Of the minority.
The present plan is to offer him q va
cant seat from the department Of
Meurthe-et-Moselle- Nancy region
One Of the sitting deputies for the de-
partment resigning in order to force
a bye-election. In such an event n.
MillArand would surely bA elected.