The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-10
Advices to Papal Legation.
CHURCH in THE WEST. =
Death Of Leo May Cause Highly I'm.
portant Changes in This Section.

Z Washington, July 9.-The announce
ment Of the death of Leo XIII, which
is expected In high ecclesiastical CIR
cles in this city, means much for Cath
olics of the United States. It will af-
feet the interests of the church west Of
the mississippi rier in manner. wholly
undreamed of. When Archbishop Keane
of the archepiscopal see Of Dubuque,
Ia, left New York last week for Neu-
helm, Germany, where he goes to take
the baths, he stated before he left the
states that he hoped to see his prov
ince divided into two parts with met
ropoltan located at Omaha. For a
great many years Omaha has had
hopes Of having erected within Its do
ntnions an archepiscopal see that
would relieve the archbishop to the
east of that city. When it 8 considered
that Archbishop Keane controls and
has spiritual Jurisdiction over $4,000
square miles Of territory, including the
states of Nebraska, Iowa, Montana,
Wyoming and the Dakotas, with the
hundreds of priests necessary thereto,
the vastness Of the archepiscopal see
Of Dubuque Is astounding when one re-
calls how closely the Catholic church
looks after Its people. Archbishop
Keane, who sailed last week for Neu-
helm. stands pledged to urge the d.
vision Of his province, In view OF his
inability to completely cover the same,
and he hopes in the near future to
present to Bishop Scannell the palliuIn,
of an archbishop, with Omaha as his
see. Before leaving New York the,
archbishop, who is recognized as one of
the very ablest men in the Catholic
church. his years of service at the
Catholic university in this city and his
mastery conduct Of affairs Of that uni
yersity giving him broad insight into
the affairs Of men, said in speaking Of
his desire to divide the province of Du-
buque:
Wishes Division.
''Far from being Jealous OF a division or
my province, believe that this is what
should be done and shall use my in
1uence to this end. hope to see the
province Of Dubuque divided in a short
time. Dubuque Is the center of the PROV
ince west Of the Mississippi and I hope
the day Is not far distant when Omaha
will be similar province west Of the
Missouri"
The archbishop is on the ocean. AS con-
ditions now appear he will learn of the
death of the pontif whose work and
whose influence extended through two
centuries, when he lands at Liverpool,
unless Leo's condition should very vitality
change within the next few hours Should
Archbishop Keane learn of the death of
the pontif, it is expected he will hasten
to Rome at once, and at least be a wit
ness at the making of the new pope.
Mgr. Falconio, papal ablesate, who is
remaining in Washington pending ad-
vices from Rome as to the death Of the
pontiff, said that he knew nothing about
Archbishop Keanes intention relative to
the division Of his archepiscopal see He
stated further that he was new to the
interests OF the church in the United
States, and that while thoroughly in SYM
pathy with every movement that looked
to the advancement of the church, he
knew nothing of the interests which
might or would obtain In bringing about
divisions of provinces or the creation OF
new metropolitans.
The New Bishoprics.
With the creation Of new bishoprics
| such as the bishopric of Sioux City anG
others included in the archepiscopal SEE
of Dubuque, there has gone out to high
ecclesiastic circles of the church petitions
for new metropolitan for part Of the
| territory which is now represented b,
Archbishop Keane of Dubuque.
| Rome last year learned of the sugges
ton that a new metropolitan province bt
erected west of the Missouri river witt
Omaha as his headquarters, but for som,
reason the suggestion was not adopted
although it was favorably considered b,
the college Of cardinals. However, il
view of Leo's death, it may be some tim,
| before any definite action Is taken look
ing to the division of the Dubuque prov
ince. It may be set down as a fact tha
| just as soon as the new pontin is clothed
with his high Office the recommendation
| to create a new archepiscopal see west o
the Missouri river. with headquarters a
| Omaha, will be an accomplished fact.