"Third President"

The gradual, persistent tendency of French politics toward the left was shown again last week, when, for the first time, a Socialist was elected to the third highest* political post in the Republic: the Presidency of the Chamber.

The new "Third President," M. Ferdinand Buisson; won his election last week by the clean cut vote of 284 to 186. He represents the "Locarnoist" policy of Foreign Minister Briand, and defeated for his new post the onetime "Ruhrist" War Minister of Premier Poincare, M. Andre Maginot. Frenchmen were pleased by the elevation of M Buisson last week, for he has held the thankless Vice-Presidency of the Chamber for the past two years with tact, polish, souplesse.

The Senate later unanimously elected as its President whitebearded Paul Doumer, lifelong friend of Aristide Briand, and Finance Minister in a recent Briand Cabinet (TIME, March 15). Both men were extremists in their youth, long since turned safer, saner.

*The first and second are of course the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers ("Premiership").