Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-22
Frances RecOnstructiOnist
Stabilized the Franc and Brought order Out
! Anarchy

a Caesar, even a dictatorship of bust
ness men. who would control the coun-
try as the directors of firm. None OF
these suggestions was really serious.
Poincare was wise enough to understand
and courageous enough to declare that
France should be saved from the chaos
without rejecting and denying the re-
publican regime which had been Its
choice for the last half century.
Such a program appeared to be I'M
possible for the very reasons which we
have given and which threw some OIL
the most fervent republicans into de-
SPAR. And yet the experience OF Two
wears and the financial recovery OF the
country have shown that 1t was within
the limits of possibility. But two condi-
tions we're necessary and were existing
first. it was necessary that the immi-
hence of the danger--for example, the
dollar at so francs--should impose it
self uuon the. minds of the politicians;
and second, that the prime minister.
although imposing policy of financial
courage against any sort OF demagogy,
should be and remain man OIL the
Left. whose presence at the head OF the
government could not be interpreted as
a condemnation of the republican spirit.
POincare's Characteristics.
Poincare is exactly that sort of man
For. although a strict and severe ad-
ministrator of public money and even a
conservative In financial matters, ne Is
also at the same time mystic OF the
theology of the Left: this rather hard
and stiff opponent of any sort OF ex-
tremism Is a devoted parliamentarian
and at bottom an anti-clerical.
Very tactfully he has understood that
the country wanted to be governed In
rather conservative way, while keeping
untouched It's devotion to democracy
The symbol of that conception of gov
eminent was expressed In the choice OF
ministers who compose the Poincare
cabinet: the political departments are
held by members of the Left, and the
business departments by members OF the
Center 1t was the wisdom OF the prime
minister to understand that at the time
when he was orienting the financial
policy toward conservative principles oil
soundness and prudence, there was an
urgent necessity to keep at the ministry
of foreign affairs BRAND. the leader oil
Locarno, and at the ministry OF pubic
instruction M. Herriot, chief OF the radl-
Gals. Had he missed one of them the
whole character OF the cOmpuaVloLl
would have been changed.
Satisfactory Results.
The satisfactory results of that policy
are we'll known and the best proof rests
in the recovery OF the franc. The gen.
erai elections of last April showed thai
M Poincare has won the complete APP
proval of public opinion. One might as
sumo that the prime minister thus has
secured a new lease of power. shoulc
not venture to conclude In that way
since the conditions which have brought
him to power were, in a certain way. ex'
ceptional and may not last forever. TINT
politicians might forget the danger ant
believe that they no longer need the
somewhat stiff leader of hard times
also the equilibrium of the cabinet
might be modified In favor OF either tnt
Right or the Left. and in either case tn
wide basis of the former ma iority woule
be lost. Whatever may be the end OF It
what has been called the 'Poincare ex'
perience" will have been deeply uSefu
for France, since 1t has restored ordel
and prosperity. and also since 1t ha'
shown clearly the conditions OF stable
French government--that is to say. seri
BUSINESS In business affairs and at TIT
same time completely respectful OF dem
ocratic institutions.