The Minneapolis journal., 1901-08-02

20 ~ tne ulgnlIy OF a formal caucus. 1t
WIZ De informal, for purposes Of con-
sultation only, and its DEGREES will not
De Dlndlng, Indeed, it is entirely possible
tnat no votes will be taken. The impress
SION mere is that the president is anxious
TO nave the question settled before the
Work OF the session begins. He does not
want war between republican factions.
the only result OF which would be to ad-
vance the interests of the democrats.
Should the conference fail to materialize
II is SAID that he will favor a meeting of
republican house and senate leaders with
view TO having them try to reach some
common ground of action. There will not
| De a split in republican ranks if he can
prevent It. The danger of a split will
probably control him in the matter Of
recommendations in his message If he
sees that reciprocity recommendations and
the mention of the desirability of tariff
revision are likely to stir up trouble. he
may preserve a discreet silence He wants
10 avoid struggle over questions of do
mestlc policy, and consequent waste of
time and energy, while there are uues-
lions or much greater Importance than
THESE awaiting settlement in the foreign
field.
In view of what is believed to be the
presidents opinion, it is safe to saw that
an effort will be made, before the work of
congress gets under way to reach some
compromise basis as to reciprocity and the
BaDcock theory or at least to POSTPONE
consideration of them for the present.
whether this effort at harmonizing the
dlnerent factions will be successful no.
body can tell at this distance. A good
deal will depend upon Mr.. Babcock's at
titude when he shall have returned from
Europe, good deal upon the attitude of
the high protectionists of New England
CARDINALATE Archbishop Ireland.
now in Washington,
FOR IRELAND. takes no stock in ca
bic interview with
Cardinal Gibbons, which states that Ire
land and Archbishop Corrigan are to be
raised to the cardinalate To several
Washington friends Mgr. Ireland has said
that he doubted whether Cardinal Gibbons
was correctly quoted. At any rate he be-
lleved there was no substantial basis for
any talk of new American cardinals at
this time.
With due respect to Mgr. Ireland. who
IS Well known and as popular in the east
as in the northwest, it is affirmed bv his
friends here that he knows no more about
the Gibbons interview than they do. and
is in no better position to Judge of its
authenticity. Everybody knows that pres
sure has been unremitting upon the hoIv
see Tor years to make Ireland a cardinal
and that 1t would have been done long
the American church regarding certain OF
the archbishop's opinions, the conserva-
tive churchmen saying they were too lib
eral. Leo Kill is great admirer of
both Gibbons and Ireland and it is said
that he rejoiced when word came to Rome
that they were about to propose a plan for
the settlement of the friar question in the
Philippines which would meet the ap-
prevail of the American government and
at the same time preserve the dignity and
prestige of the church Gibbons went
to Rome to outline his plan, and word has
come that the pope approved it without
amendment.
This was perhaps as delicate and diff
cult negotiation as has been conducted
by the church on this continent since the
civil disabilities of Catholics were re-
moved away back in colonial and revolu-
tionary times. 1t was of the utmost i'm
portance that right solution be reached
and ability of a very high order was
required on the part Of the negotiators. AS
| already said, the work seems to have
been crowned with success, although it's
details have not been made public. Car
dinal Gibbons, who made the announce
ment of that fact in a cable interview,
now announces in another interview of
the same kind that Archbishop Ireland,
who co-operated with him, is soon to be
made a cardinal. Undoubtedly this honor,
| If it Is to come will come because of the
part Ireland has taken in the solution of
the friar problem. It is only natural
that Mgr. Ireland should modestly seek to
discredit the cablegram by suggesting that
Cardinal Gibbons was not correctly quoted.
1t is not known how Archbishop Corri-
gan's name has got into the story, unless
he also had part in originating the plan
of settling the friar question.
Leading churchmen in this city tell me
to-day that while they have had no advices
from Rome and in the very nature of the
case would not have any, they are pre-
pared to believe that the Gibbons inter-
view is authentic. With one accord they
say that Archbishop Ireland has more than
done enough to merit red hat, if, as
they believe, the friar question is to be
settled as the result in part of his Iabors.
Perhaps no definite light will be thrown
upon the question until Mgr. Gibbons re-
turn to America, late this month.
Archbishop Ireland starts west tonight
and will arrive in st. Paul about the mid