THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN FRANCE 121
servative party; also a number of papers, of rather small circula- tion, but of considerable influence in their respective regions. Most of these dailies are Progressist Republican. Sometimes, however, they show tendencies toward a more advanced position.
The organs of Radicalism in the provinces are many and diffi- cult to enumerate. They include one or two monthly and weekly reviews, but have much difficulty in maintaining themselves, as their circulation is limited. Radicalism has also smaller organs of propaganda, such as Les Annales de le Jeunesse la'ique, with a circulation of nearly 10,000 a small monthly review appealing especially to a public of school-teachers; Pages libres, edited by Charles Guieysse, whose Socialistic and even Anarchistic tend- encies are much marked; and Les Cahiers de la Quinzaine, which, like the preceding, is more Socialistic than Radical, and is edited by M. Peguy.
Every year the Radical and Socialist Radical parties hold a general congress, where all the delegates of the groups that follow Radicalism meet. Frequently these groups are electoral com- mittees which live only during the period of the election. They have but a small number of members, and sometimes the delegate appoints himself. The Radical party has no such organization as the Socialist party. The Radical and Socialist Radical congress appoints from among its members an executive committee. Recently the president of this committee was M. Berteaux, a deputy who served as minister of war in the Combes cabinet. Its president is now Jean Bourrat, a deputy. The difference between the Socialist Radicals and the Radicals lies in the varying degree of emphasis which they place upon democratic reform.
As we have already seen, French conservatism has a live organ in the "Third Order." Radicalism possesses a similar organ in Freemasonry, represented especially by the "Grand Orient of France." It is difficult to ascertain the numbers in this secret association. It is known that they are divided into lodges, each of which has a president, who is styled "Venerable," and several other officers. There may be several lodges in the same town, according to its importance. The Freemasons of the Grand Orient of France hold an annual convention. Though secret, this
