Flix After Philibert

To succeed that fabulous Deputy M. Philibert Besson, who for years spent most of his time annoying French policemen and escaping arrest on his motorcycle (TIME, Dec. 23), Philibert's old constituency of Le Puy has sent to the Chamber astounding Deputy Felix Archer.

M. Archer not only advocates the creation of an international money to be called "europa," but has had some of it printed and spends it successfully in Le Puy, where shopkeeper constituents have faith in Felix. In some respects a highly skilled and intellectual man of "Brain Trust" calibre, Deputy Archer has to his credit the invention of several models of quick-firing French cannon esteemed by the Army.

Up in the Chamber popped Felix last week and thundered demands that a committee be named to investigate Chamber procedure and vote-counting. Afloat for some weeks has been the ugly rumor that sometimes the official tellers rig the count just a little bit, say five or six votes. Nobody else in the Chamber last week liked Felix's suggestion in the least. The frock-coated presiding officer, Monsieur le President Fernand Bouisson, refused to recognize him. When Felix made a dash for the tribune with a briefcase in his hand, President Bouisson, who had adjourned the Chamber for the day, scurried for the door, calling back over his shoulder, "You are out of order, the session stands adjourned!"

As the official stenographers also walked out, Felix began his speech, was silenced only when Chamber functionaries switched out all the lights. Next day Felix, after repeatedly failing to catch the President's eye, turned upon a Cabinet member and snarled, "Monsieur le Ministre, either you understand me and name a committee to investigate, or you do not understand me and have no right to occupy your post!"

Again adjournment was necessary to shut Felix up, but more effective measures to discredit him followed. France's so-called grande presse d'information, the big newsorgans controlled by substantial interests, undertook to slay him with ridicule and such "information" as that last year on Bastille Day he posted stickers in Paris lavatories inviting all Frenchmen of courage to meet him on a designated street corner the following day for the purpose of attacking the Bank of France.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.