The Portland daily press., 1897-11-30
PoPELEo's SUCCESSOR.
All Rome Talking About Cardinal Van
nutelli's Open Campaign.

(Cablegram to the Globe Demoorat.)
Rome. Nov. 24.-At Rome the all alb
sorbing topic of the hour is the particu-
larry fragrant manner in which Cardinal
Serafio Vannutelli is canvassing votes for
the next conolave, with the object of Sc
curing the successor to Leo XIII. Never
before has csnvassing of this kind been
carried ON in SO open and unplushing
manner during the lifetime of any pom
tiff. and the Holy Father is greatly
offended by the behavior Of his Eminence.
Thoroughly aware that the majority
of the italian Cardinals are bitterly op-
nosed to him, Vannutelli is endeavoring
by every means in his power to win the
SURFACES Of those of the foreign mem
bers of the sacred college who may hap
pen to visit the Eternal City. Not one of
them is permitted to leave the city with
out having bsen entertained on most
lavish scale at bang uets and dinners
given, not. by himself, for he is some
what close in money matters, but by
ecclesiastical friends, who, 1 need
scarcely say, are aliens, one OF them in
particular being an American. His
name is Mgr. O'Connell, and he was
formerly rector of the American College
in Rome. In spite of his having been
brought up at the expense of the church,
ne is now apparently very wealthy, and
his elaborate entertainments constitute
very important feature in the Vannu-
iii canvas. In any case, the Cardinal
al the American prelate are on the
ost intimate terms, have recently been
Geographical together, with the Cardinal
ated on a sort of throne, and his Amer
an friend standing beside, leaning
err to him, as if whispering words Of
0unsel in his ear.
In this connection a story is current of
n incident which took place at ban
luet given the other day by Mgr -O'Con-
!ell in honor of Cardinal Vanutelli for
Gae purpose of enabling the latter to meet
some foreign Cardinal. After the latter
lad left the remainder of the guests set
aside some of their fornality and re-
straint, and the American prelate sud-
den Y put out his hand, removed the scar
let cap from the head of Cardinal Van
utelI, who was seated on his left hand,
and then replaced it, having turned it
inside out, SO that one saw nothing but
the white satin lining, and none of the
red. The meaning of this will be readily
understood when it is stated that the Pope
alone of all the members of the Roman
Catholic Church wears white skull Gap.
The Cardinal smiled in q sort of pleased
way, and then, without saying a word,
dotted his cap, turned it back with the
the head of Mgr. O'Connell, thus practi-
cally promising by gesture, and without
making any utterance. that if he ever be-
came Pope he would make Mgr. O'Con-
nell Cardinal
There is, however, but little likelihood
of Vanuteili ever being elected to the
chair of st. Peter. For, in the first place,
he has the disadvantage in having broth-
err in the sacred college, namely, Cardinal
Vincent, and secondly, he is burdened
With such perfect army of more or less
reputable relatives, some Of them en-
ployed by the papacy, and Others looking
for employment, that the opinion is ex-
pressed that if he ever were to become
Pope the very worst and most unSavory
features of papal nepotisn would be re-
viVed. The best known of All the Cardi-
nal 9 relatives, and probably one of the
most influential, is Gen. Kanier, Swiss
by birth, who is COM mander-in- chief Of
he papal army. His wife is the sister Of
the two Cardinals.
am assured here that Mgr. O'Connell
has secured the promise of Cardinal Glib
bons's vote for the election OF Cardinal
Serafno Vanutelli at the next conclave.
Vanutelli is Ii kelly to enjoy the support
of the triple alliance, as the champion of
which he poses in the sacred college. He
was formerly nuncio at Vienna, and has
spent some time in America.
l cable this because it is the first time
that American prelates are taking part in
a campaign which has as its object the
election of Pope.