The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-01
k Largest Assembly in History of the Church and is POf-
 tsntOus of Many Things
NO ONE KNOWS WHO WILL
 NEXT WEAR THE TIARA
Cardinals Display Whimsical Ignorance of Rules Governing Election and
 Are Uncertain of the Result. Gibbons Denies Reports.

Rome, July s1.-CIidnight .)-Tme larg- est conclave in the history of the Cath olIc church has assembled in the Sistine chapel for the purpose of electing a suc- cessor to Leo XIII. SIxty-two cardinals. with over 200 clerical and lay attendants. are, to all intents and purposes, prisoners within the vatican.
 pr. Lapponi's duties began immediately after the opening of the conclave, much fear being expressed concerning the health of Cardinals Mocenni, Cretoni and Lagenieux, who are already i'll. The first cardinal to be taken to his bed was Car dinal Herrera y. Espinosa, archbishop of 5. Valencia. who Is S1 years of age. and was appointed cardinal at the consistory held in June last. He Is prostrated by over fatigue. Doctors have ordered him to take absolute rest.
 Although Cardinal Herrera is confined to his 'cell by his illness, he will be allowed to take part in the conclave by voting. if he Is not able to get up.
 News from within the precincts of the conclave at midnight is to the effect that after prayers the cardinals took sup per at common table with the exception of nine of them, who had their meals served in their cells. Cardinal Herrera y. Espinosa with the assistance of a cor dial administered by Dr. Lapponi Is re- ported to have gone quietly to sleep.
 Tomorrow morning the cardinals will enter upon the solemn duty of choosing the new pope by ballot. The general im- pression exists that within two or three days. possibly, though probably not to- morrow, a new pope will be chosen. But no matter how long a time may be re- quired the absolute seelusion of the prln- CTS of the church from the outside world, must, according to church law, continue until a choice is made.
 Speculation Is Uncertain.
 Approximations as to who will wear the tiara as Leo's successor have little value, as even the cardinals, who this afternoon entered their cells, seemed to be without definite ideas as to the issue. Cardinals Rampola, Seraflno, Vannuttelli and Di Pietro, Gotti and Oreglia con tinue to be most frequently mentioned as the likely candidates but the moment the name of one of them is mentioned hum dred reasons are supplied to show that he could not possibly be elected.
 So seldom have the cardinals met each other, and so widely do they differ in na- tionality and personality that no organ ized movement in support of any one car dinal has thus far been practicable.
 The rival claims of the leading Italian cardinals, so freely ventilated fin the local press are matters which are all-important In connection with the decision of the conclave.
 More interesting, perhaps in certain way is the impression which prevails in certain sections that no matter what the verdict of the conclave may be, great a.. 4I0 1f the vatican, and within a year or two the new pope will no longer consider him self prisoner in the vatican, but will. unlsl Leo, leave its precincts when nese sary.
 Cardinals Enter Cells.
 By o'clock this afternoon all the the cardinals had arrived at the vatican and had gone to their cells. The conclave has been duly formed, and it's members are now shut from the outer walls. Everything is prepared for tomorrow's voting. Shortly after o'clock the car dlnals began to appear on St. Peters piazza where small crowd watched in- terestedly and raised their hats as the princes of the church passed into the rear entrance of the vatican. With each car dnal were the servants who will attend his wants during the conclave.
 Some had bags in the carriages with them though most of the baggage had been sent on beforehand. The majority of the cardinals contented themselves with taking portemanteaus and hand bags At the vatican doors the Swiss guards kept back the curious crowd, among whom were many priests. Pho- tographers vigorously snapped the occu- pants of the black carriages prior to their entrance to what one cardinal called prison.
 Just before going into his cell today a prominent cardinal threw an interesting side light on the chances of Rampolia- Leo's secretary of state has been persist ently abused recently by the government papers for his temporal power policy.
 A Cardinal Talks.
 q am not sure" said the cardinal to the representative of the Associated Press, that the public attacks on Cardi- nal Rampolla by the government are not inspired with view to working up VI mong Catholics and cardinals a spirit of $ athusiasm for him which might greatly increase his chances of election. Indeed, 1t is perfectly certain that the Italian government would not be at all sorry to see Cardinal Rampolla wear the tiara, as, at heart, I do not believe the government has any serious disposition to alter the existing relations between the vatican and the quirinal.''
 There is no doubt that Cardinal Ram polla, who Is so well known to all the cardinals because of the position he held under the late pope. has a strong follow ing, but whether It Is approximately strong enough to bring him within meas urable distance of the papal throne will only be revealed when the first ballot is taken tomorrow. Cardinal Serafino yannuttelli was certain. according to statement of one of those who entered the conclave tonight. to secure ten votes at the first ballot He is regarded as particularly friendly to Ireland. and 1t is understood he has the support of Cardinal Logue. archbishop of Armagah. and, it is said, also of Cardinal Gibbons
 Cardinals Are Ignorant.
 One of the features of today's prepara- tions was the comparative ignorance dis