Mr. SIMON REYNAUD
Deputy for the Loire

Whenever the session in the Chamber gets a little heated and the Right demonstrates a little too loudly, one can be sure that Mr. Simon Reynaud will intervene.
It doesn't take long. His robust silhouette suddenly emerges from a far-left row. His Gallic mustache is raised in a wild manner. Leaning forward over his desk to the full height of his chest, his arm twitching, his index finger pointing towards the National Bloc benches, Mr. Simon Reynaud hurls sharp invectives. To say that he thus restores calm would undoubtedly be an exaggeration. But one senses that shouting in the faces of Mr. Balanant or General de Saint-Just what he thinks of them is a real relief for the deputy for the Loire...
Mr. Simon Reynaud's parliamentary activities are not limited to this. While he didn't always show absolute deference to the great, decorated leaders, he was, however, often concerned about the fate of soldiers.
It was thanks to his initiative that the deferred service of the classes of 1920, 1921, and 1922 saw their situation regularized. It was also thanks to him that the 28-day periods were abolished in 1924.
Mr. Simon Reynaud also submitted bills in favor of one-year service, increased pay, etc. Since the May 3rd election, he has combined his mandate as a Member of Parliament with that of municipal councilor and deputy mayor of Rive-de-Gier, his native town. This is not the position of which he is the least proud. There's a kind of family tradition in him: his father had held the same position since 1868. Having entered the political fray at a young age, Mr. Simon Reynaud is a democrat of the old school. He would readily reason like the Radical Socialist deputy from one of the most beautiful departments in the Midi who once confided to me: "When I'm embarrassed, I look at what the Right is doing and do the opposite; I'm sure I'm not wrong." The argument may seem simplistic; it is rarely inaccurate.

Charles LUSSY.