The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-25
Elections in France
Rouse u. S. Interest
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER

XXTASHlNGION, April 25.-Because democracies,
w for the moment at least seem to have hard
going in contrast TO the thriving relationships of
Europe, there is exceptional interest here in the
French general elections to be held tomorrow and
the following Sunday when rur-offs for those
seats in the Chamber of Deputies for which
didaes receive clear majorites in the first election
France too. is wrestling with depression and with
the parliamentary ineffectiveness which caused
Italy to turn to Mussolini and which for time
let to give unusual power to the president. In
a broad way French voters will determine whether
they wish to continue to place their hope in par
liamentary government whether they favor great
subordination of it and increased executive power
-fascisn1.
French politics is so complicated that it is
hopeless for American to attempt to do more
than relay few high spots from persons here who
are somewhat familiar with French affairs.
TINE French chamber is made up of some 10 po-
i litical parties and groups segregated roughly
into three broad divisons--rght, center and left
Party bocs shift back and forth from one group to
another until the whole game becomes as intricate
as chess. The right group has some 20 seats, the
center about $50 and the left $50. General
forecasts for left victory-which be widely re-
garded as rebuke to growing Fascism in France.
The right group includes the big industrialists
and scoffers at parliament and what in this country
we would call Liberty Leagues. Hitherto they have
been extremely natonastic and for strong policy
against Germany But they are sympathetic to
many Nazi ideas and are oppoed violently to Soviet
Russia with whom the french recently concluded a
military alliance.
The center is a coalition of middle bracket COM
nerce and industry and what we would call liberal
JeEsrsonian Democrats. They stand for moderate
policy toward Germany
The left includes a wide variety of blocs. So
cialists, Communists, small shopkeepers, peasants
and workmen. Generally speaking they have been
quite radical in speech. quite moderate when in
power, standing for strong national defense, the
League OF Nations modified capitalism friendly to
Soviet Russia bitter toward the Nazis although once
favoring conciliatory policy toward Germany
French Fascists, led by Col. De La ROGUE and the
Croix de Ecu and peasant organization of green
shirts, have grown rapidly in the last year or two
although still apparently far from constituting a
real threat. Against this tendency the left groups
have formed popular front" Principally. the issue
in this election Is whether this group will become
stronger will weaken Strengthening of it appar-
rently would check the growth of French Fascism
and also stiffen French resistance to Hitler.
NEARLY 100000 American wives soon will be
i wearing "Mussolini' steel wedding rings re-
wards Of II Duce for aid in the Ethiopian war This
Is only slight token of what would be going on II
We we're In the League of Nations and an active
party TO the sanctions dispute. Then Mussolini
would be trying to put nose rings on his sympa-
thizers in this country.