The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-21
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
TO Be STRICTLY NEUTRAL
1t Is Expected That Election viii Re-
qulre Much More Time Than Wnen
Leo Was Chosen BY the
Sacred College.

Rome, July H.-The greatest interest is
conclave which is to select the successor
to Leo XIII. Speculations, prophesies and
predictions come from every direction in
favor of the various candidates The
comparatively long Illness of Leo has had
the effect of narrowing the chances Of
some who entered the contest with what
was thought to be the brightest pros
poets, while it has brought forward the
prominence of others who at first were
hahrdly considered The result is that
they are all on about the same level. It
is said there has never been a conclave
in which there are SO many candidates
who have a fair chance of winning.
The situation might lead to struggle
of much longer duration than that Of 1873
when Leo was elected That conclave
lasted scarcely three days.
May Be Prolonged.
The contest would be prolonged espe-
cially If, after the early ballots, the diff
ferent parties whose exact strength could
only then be established, persist In re-
naming faithful to their favorite instead
of joining forces with those of cand-
dates having better chances. In 1879,
when Plus TX. died. it was evident to all
that the cardinals who had the best
chances of success were Cardinals Pilio
and Pecci. The former certainly would
have been elected IL he had not made in
the conclave a written statement declar-
ing thai he would not accept the tiara,
as, having compiled the syllabus, he
would be open to an attack which would
have been detrimental to the church.
Therefore the nomination of Cardinal
Pecci followed without obstacle.
Now there are a half-dozen at least
who are entering the conclave with equal
chances of success. 1t is believed that
the foreign cardinals will ultimately give
the casting votes, as, living far away
from Rome, where different factions
form and flourish they will be more i'm
partial, especially as it is admitted by
all that the new pope will be chosen from
among the Italian candidates. For this
latter reason there cannot be national
rivalry among the foreigners.
AS to Foreign Powers.
From a most trustworthy source the
Associated Press representative learns
that the considerable talk which is going
the rounds to the effect that certain for
eign powers might exercise the right Of
veto in the conclave is unfounded. What
the powers desire is not that the new
pope should be friendly to any particular
power, but that he should conduct the
affairs Of papacy In a peaceful, equitable,
religious manner, without stirring up in
ternational strife. Indeed it is supposed
that the rumor that Austria might at
tempt to exercise the right of exclusion
against Cardinal Rampolla which was
started by friends of the latter in order
to have him appear as a prosecuted
martyr.
The most prominent candidates for the
succession are Cardinals Gotti, Oreglia,
Aglederi, Serafino, yannutteln, Capela
tro, Sarto, Rampolla Dipietro, Svampa
Ferrar, Satolli and Richelmi
Germany VIII Not Interfere.
Berlin, July 2O.-The news of the death
of the pope caused no excitement here
having been hourly expected for some
time. Emperor William during his trim
10 Norway had been getting frequent bull
letins about the pontiff's condition. Off
cials who are familiar with his majesty's
views say he entertained a reverential
respect for Pope Leo XIII. While no
pope could possibly have been more ac-
ceptable to Germany than the deceased
pont1m, government circles expect no
changes In the relations with the vati-
can. Germany has no candidate for the
holy chair and will not even indicate a
preference. Bismarck regarded Pope
Ieo's election as justifying Germany's
complete non-interference and the Off
cials say there is less occasion now than
then for trying to influence conclaves