Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-10
Probable Successors to Throne Under Con-
troll Of the German Kaiser.
SUDOUED TALK OF DIVORCE is HEARI
Law Permits Queen to Put Away conSOrt
Undsr Circumstances.
PEOPLE TAKE LITTLE INTEREST IN AFFAIR
Talk OF Ruler with disappointment
and Sorrow, but People Prefer
60 Await Her Death to
Name Successor.


THE HAGUE, Dec. 9.-CSpecial Cable
gram to The Bee)-The belief, everywhere
growing. that the German kaiser has cast
longing eyes towards the sea ports of
Holland and that he has inaugurated a
commercial and economic, II not the poll
teal conquest OF the nation has given rise
TO ell sorts OF speculation regarding the
future Of the country.
II Ia only a few years ago that the
hopes of the people of Holland were pinned
on their queen. Much was expected from
her marriage. 1t was supposed TO be a
genuine love match, and while not popular
with those in high authority at the court
the mere fact that the ''Wilheimintje" had
married the man of her choice If anything
only served to draw the hearts of the
people more closely to her.
To those who have followed the young
queen from her childhood to the present
day the change in the child of the
Dutch people" is painful in the extreme.
The bright winsome charm has faded and
there fingers about her mouth and over
her brow an unmistakable expression of
p disappointed woman. The enthusiasm
with which the Hollanders once spoke of
her has died away and she is now seldom
referred to except with a sigh. II seems
but few years ago that the walls of the
gloomy palace rang with the laughter of
little children, who came to play with
"Wilhelmintje." Now all is changed and
the queen hides the sorrow of her unhappy
marriage. as many months of the year as
she can at Loo.
Meanwhile a strange story is being cir
culated to the effect that there r. n clause
in the Dutch constitution providing that II
the queen has no issues within hve years
OF her marriage-that is before February
Z of next year-the Dutch Parliament las
the power TO dissolve the union. A
further rumor has gained ground that there
is a clause in the marriage contract rer-
mitting this to be done.
Had Her own Way.
So little does the Dutch constitution in
terfere with choice OF . prince or queen
uobsotts.fhata h Queen W ilhelnlipa s. knawn
10 have married quite contrary 10 the
opinions of her government and she also
hnd her own way in all Of the details
connected with this momentous affair for
Holland. Holland is a profoundly christian
country and the mere suggestion of such
a possibility a change In a prince
oonsort or a queen consort is revolving
same time the marriage relation is said
10 be considered by Queen Wilhelmna her
self as far too binding TO allow Of any
such a solution of the question of sue
cession. 1t is this very question Of sue
cession that is understood to be absorbing
the attention of her government which
is now busying itself with a revision OF
the constitution. Under present conditions
the matter is by no means clear, but al
the monarchy is constitutional aLc
hereditary one it is TO be presumed tha
apart from any special enactment on tn,
part of the Dutch people the succession
would follow the same law Of inherttanc,
as that Of Great Britain.
In this case the merest agnate line o.
the House of Orange is now represented
by the Grand Duke of Sake weimar, grand
son Of the princess Sophie of the Neither
lands. sister of the late King William IL
and second cousin to the present queen
The grand duke might choose between tn
crowns of Saxe-Weimar and Holland, bu
by the constitution of the German empir
he could not carry both. 1t is therefor
10 be assumed that he would remain con
tent with his present sovereign position
People Apathetic.
His rights of succession would nex
devolve on his sister or on the childre
of his aunt who became a Princess o
Reuss. OF this family there are severa
princes, who might legitimately be calle
N the Orange throne
More remote still from them is anothe
line Of agnates descended from an uncle O
the late King William III-Prince Fred
orick Of Orange. who married Princes
Louise of Prussia and whose daughte
married the Prince of Weld.
Throughout Holland there exists today a
antipathy of all discussion of possible sue
cession to Wilhemina. OF course tn
question OF succession must come u
when Queen Wilhclmina dies, but just a
present the proposition IL discussed woul
probably be discussed with disappointmer
and bitterness. II will he remembered tina
az tho time tho queens wedding the wor
"Gspuhlic" WIS echoed ON every han
when the question who shall reign
there h. no heir" was raised DR. KH
lcr, the ex-primc minister once said ths
holland would resort to arms rather tina
sink 10 German rule.
rhc succession Co the throne is regI
lated by Articles 10 TO % Of the conA
luton, but iuasmuch as the constitute
is now helms revised it apears to be MOI
than likely that the present states-gcncr;
viii entirely revise these clauses an
much may yet be heard in favor of a n
public for the loyalism of the Dutc
people appears to be entirely limited
thcir "Wilhelmintje" beyond whom the
care for no one, and in fact openly ar
universally express opposition to al
possible German prince occupying Il
throLc,
Italy Has surplus.
ROME. Dec. s.-Signor Paolo Caran
minister OF the treasury, made his budg
statement before the Chamber OF Deput
lndaN. showing the cnndillon Of ItalIa