The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-01
Sixty.tWo Cardinals Prisoners
in the Vatican.
BALLOTING BEGINS TODAY
REPRESENTATION as to Who Will Wear
the Tiara Have No Value--lmpres-
sion Prevails that a Selection
Will Be Made Shortly.
(By Associated Press.)

ROMD, July 31-9 p. M.-The largest
conclave In the history of the Cathollc
Church has now assembled In the SIS
tine Chapel for the purpose of electlng
a successor to Leo XIII. Sixty-two car
dinas, with over two hundred clerical
and lay attendants, are to all intents
and purposes, prisoners in the vatican.
one of them, Cardinal Herraro Espi-
nosa, archbishop of Valencia, was pros
trated Immediately after entering the
conclave, and lies Ill In his cell. To-
morrow morning tho cardinals Will enter
,,non the solemn duty of choosing the
new Pope by ballot. The general impress
sion exists that within two or three days,
possibly, though not probably tomorrow,
a new Pope will have been chosen.
Demonstrations as TO who VIII wear
the tiara as Leo's successor have niue
value, as even the cardinals. VINO TINS
evening entered their cells, seemed to
he without definite ideas as to the issue.
Cardinals Rampolla, Serafino. Vannu-
telli. Diopietro, Gotti and Oreglia con-
tinue to be most frequently mentioned as
the likeliest candidates. but the moment
The name Of ono of them Is mentioned
hundred reasons are supplied 10 silo"
that he could not possibly be elected
The rival claims of the leading ltaiian
oordinaIs so freely ventilated in the
local press are matters which are all
,nnnortant in connection with the decision
~ the conclave, because 1t Is assumed
as n foregone conclusion that tho next
occupant OF the Holy See Will be- an
Italian.
More interesting, perhaps, IN certain y,
way Is the impression when prena.ts w ~,
certain sections that. no matter what the
vardict of the ccnclave may be-; great
changes are impending In the policy OF
+ha Vatican. and that within year or
two the new Pope will no longer con
| slider himself prisoner in the Val.caI,
hut will. unlike Leo. leave us prec'llc.s
whenever necessary.
BY o'clock this afternoon an .ne ca IA
d,nals had arrived at the Vatican ana
had gone to their cells Tho concihye
has heen duly formed. and Its members
arc now shut from the outer world
EVERYTHING is prepared for to-mor TOW
Voting. At the Vatican doors the SWISS
| guards kept back the curious crowd
among whom were many priests.
Previous to 1870 the ceremony Oh ..o
cardinals entering in conclave was muc ~
"a 49, r innnosing than that of to-day, as 1t
was held in the Quirinal Palace.
| Inst before going into his cell To-Day
nrominent cardinal threw an Interesting
sIdelight upon the chances OF Rahpolla-
eos secretary Of state has been per-
s,stently abused recently by the govern
| ment papers for ms te'4pota' 49,
l icy.
IT am not sure" said the cardinal te
! N. representative Of the Assocliteo
| press. "that the public attacks upon, Car
| d,na1 Rampolla by the government are
! MT Inspired with a view to working up
among Catholics and cardinals a spirit
! If enthusiasm for him which might great
| ly increase his chances of election. IN
| deed, am pretty certain that the Italian
government would not be at all sorry
tn sec Cardinal Rampolla wear the tiara,
| as, at heart, I do not believe the govern
/ ment has any serious disposition % aver
| the existing relations between the Vatl'
can and the Quirinal.
There is no doubt that Cardinal ram
nolia. who Is so we'll known to all the
/, ca rdinals because OF the position he helc
under the late Pope, has strong follow
ing.
nal Gibbons requested the Associated
\ Press to deny all interviews alleged Z
i have been given out by him while II
\ Rome and also all published accounts o.
conversations he is alleged to have hac
i with private Individuals, referring espe
clally to the statements Of The ltalia
/ Yesterday to the effect that he had crltl
cised the policy of Rampolla.
/ Midnlght-News from the precincts o.
the conclave Is to the effect that aftei
nrayers, the cardinals took supper at q
common table with the exception OF nine
of them, who had their meals served In
cells