The evening times., 1896-10-13
NOT FOR BISHOP KEANE
denomination Would Be an
AffrOnt to the Pope.
TALK WITH FATHER LEE
He Says That Publicity Has Placed
the New Arch bishop in an Unfortu-
nate POsitiOn-The Composition of
the Board of Directors who VIII
Decide the Matter.

The announcement by Cardinal Gibbons
that the directors OF the Catholic Univers-
ity will consider at length the question of
successor to Bishop Keane as rector is I'M
dcrstood 10 mean a contest for the position
that viii not be settled withou L considerab Bile
WORK. This does not, however, ,foreshadow
any animosities OF unchristlan feeling.
Archbishop Ireland said ON the day that
Bishop keane's removal was made public
that failure to rcnominate him would
practically be a death blow to the uni
versty. If his views were shared here, Il
practically unanimous effort to secure a
reinstatement would BE- made. But there
are many who admire andluve Bishop keanc
who yet believe he was sincere when he
said he desired rest and recuperation, and
wish for him place equally honorable and
less burtlened with arduoIls duties
The choice of names for recommendation
to the pope VIII devolvc upon the directors,
aided by the thirteen archbishops OF the
country. There is one vacancy on the board
of directors, occasioned by the death OF
Bishop Martin Marty, OF st. Cloud. MINI.
II is probable this Will be filled before the
voting. In that case a priest rather than
a bishop is likely To he chosen to fill it, as
shown below.
THE MEN WHO WILL NOMINATE.
Tile board as it now stands consists of
Cardln ii Gibbons, of Baltimore; Arch
bishops John Joseph Williams, of Boston;
Patrick John Ryan, OF Philadelphia: Michael
Augustine Corrigan, of New York, John
Ireland, OF ST. Paul; Placide Louis Chapeile.
OF Santa Fe. Bishops John Lancaster Spaul-
I,t,,, L
A Ajasso tttular); Camillus Paul Macs, of
CovingtCn; John $. Foley, of Ietroit; Igna-
uatius F. Horstman,. of Cleveland; J. N.
Farley, of New York (co-ordinatei; Rev.
Thomas S Lee, OF st. Matthew'S, in this
city: Mcssrs Thomas E. Waggaman, OF
Washington; Joseph Banigan, of Providence,
R. l., and Michael jenkins, OF Baltimore.
1t is a question whether the last three
being lay directors, will vote. This would
leave the choice OF names to the thirteen
clergymeD and the successor they may
choose for Bishop Marty's place.
The constitution of the university, it is
said, is fixed under the charter for the
school obtained from Congress Legal
reasons exist for not changing the diTcc
tory or the form of its election.
A few years ago it was desired to add
the thirteen archhishops to the body. Lee
gal advice was taken, and it was con-
Guided this could not be wen done, be.
cause to be entirely safe in the holding
of the property, the whole constitution
would need to 20 again through Congress.
Accordingly 1t was determined simply
to make the archbishops an advisory board,
and this was done. The archbishops other
than those named abpve have NO direct
vote upon the nomination for a ne W rector.
They will probably meet prior to the sit
ting OF the directors and pass resolu-
ton of advice as to filling the vacancy at
the university. This gives Cardinal Glib
bopS and the arChbishops in the directory
a vote twice in the matter.
KEANE NOT LIKELY TO BE NAMED.
In filling the place OF Bishop Marty a
rule laid down for themselves by the di-
rectors will probably be observed. This is
that vacancy shall be filled by m an OF
the same rank as that of the previous
holder. There We're originally three priests,
Fathers Lee, Chapelle and Farley. The
raising of two of these to be bishops left
onyl one priest. The other two places may
be treated as vacant and that would neces-
state the election of two more priests, one
to fill Bishop Martyrs place, the other to
fill the Xt vacancy that occurs.
Father Thomas Lee, the only clerical
director now here, said to Times reporter:
~ Consider it quite unlikely that Bishop
Keane will be renominated. This, it seems
to me, would practically be saying to the
pope that he had acted inadvisedly; that we
know better than he what should be done
here. should not like to make such
suggestion. 1t would argue a confused un-
derstanding of Pope Leo's authority as the
head of the church and his special pre-
rogativesincontrolof of the papal universities.
'No man can question my entire friendli-
ness to Bi hop keane. Iregret that this mat
ter became public as 1t did. That was the
sole cause of the unfortunate position in
which he has been placed. Other wise he
could have retired with dignity.
II know he has wished for at least a
year past to get relief from the heavy
strain of his duties as rector. Except for
the premature announcement made he
would have quietly rendered bis resigna-
ton at the opening of the university, and
would have taken position of rest with
honor and without particular attention from
the public.
The discussion now generalin the news
papers is to be regretted. Its only effect,
SO far as I can see, must he to injure
Bishop Keane. All of us desire to avoid
that result, am sure"