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Lucien Daumec was one of the young journalists of "La Ruche" who organized the strike of January 7, 1946, which led to the fall of Mr. Élie Lescot's controversial regime and shook the bases of the archaic structure ofHaitian society

At the beginning of 1941, Mr. Élie Lescot was chosen by President Vincent to be his successor and, as a simple matter of formality, this choice was ratified by the National Assembly on April 14, 1941.

Sectarian autocrat who asserted that the country was not ready for democracy, which was itself incompatible with the customs and habits of the Haitian people. Mr. Lescot did not waste any time, once appointed, to bring all the executive powers under his control and to declare a state of siege. The Armed Forces, the Justice Department, and the Legislative Corps would function under the strict supervision of the self-proclaimed Commander in Chief of the Army, Mr. Lescot himself.

He was not the first to bring about the question of skin color in the Haitian societal fabric; this issue was well rooted in our history. But under his government, this issue was retrofitted and carried out to its paroxysm. By underscoring the superiority of the mulatto over the darker Haitian people, he made skin color the primary criterion for becoming a public servant or holding public office. And the consequences of such practice on the black bourgeois who saw themselves driven out of public posts and even private companies were catastrophic.

The economic policies of Lescot were as catastrophic and resulted in a general impove-rishment of the population. He sequestered resources of the country for the benefit of his entourage and friends and, under the pretext of war, he confiscated enormous acreages of land from the peasants to give them to Foreign companies such as Shada for the production of hévéa.

In Foreign affairs, his policies were designed, in his own words, as faithful images of the American policies, which explains his solidarity upon declaring war to Germany, Italy and Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese in December 1941. The goods of the citizens of these countries who resided in Haiti were sequestered and then given away to the friends of the regime.

Despotism, total submission in favor of foreign interests thereby sacrifizing those of the country, such were the characteristics of this government, which resulted into a general dissatisfaction. And it is in this context that "La Ruche" was conceived.

On January 7, 1946, the newspaper launched its call for a general strike and on January 11, the game was over. Lescot left for exile.

On that same day Franck Lavaud, chairman Military Executive Committee assumed the power until the election of Dumarsais Estimé by the National Assembly in August 16, 1946.