Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-12-31
MRs. sroRER BLAMED
FOR CABINET CRISIS

WASHINGTON president and
the actors themselves have given US
two very interesting chapters in the
experience of Mr.. and Mrs. Bellamy
Storer In the diplomatic service CT
the United States. and they might
give us two or three other chapters
that are very interesting, although
they are not quite SO sensational as
that which describes .he attempt to
secure the promotion Of Archbishop
Ireland. and 1t should be said right
here that that good man suffered
more than anyone else from the lii
advised activity In his behalf. He has
frequently begged the Storers to let
his Affairs alone: he has frequently ex
plained to them that their zeal in his
behalf was doing him an injury. Bui
Mrs. Storer. like good many other
intellectual and stroDg-minded women.
can no more be deferred from doing
what she considers her duiy than the
north wind can be turned from IDS
course by the shivering birds in froz-
eli forest.
The divisions in the Catholic church
In the United States have long been
such that the pope has hesitated to ap-
point n new cardinal.No one OF the
archbishops has received the united
support OF the American church, and
he has tried to avoid tho appearance
OF fHyoring one faction ever another.
If the president of the United States
could be induced to express prefer
encs among the various aspirants for
the cardinalate, it would simplify the
situation, and both President Roose-
welt and President Mckinley had sew.
eral opportunities to offer their advice
or mention their desires in the matte-.
But they steadfastly refused TO do SO,
and, for obvious reasons. carefully
avoided saying anything that might
be construed as accepting any of the
responsibility that the pope would
like to throw upon them. 1t is the Gus
tom OF Plus x. to ask almost every
American visitor who the president OF
the Uuited States would prefer for car
dinal, and he has repeatedly been ad-
yised that 1t was impossible for the
head of our government to interest
himself in such matters. 1t has also
been explained to him repeatedly that
/. would be fatal to the political as
pirations of any public man in the
United States to take part in such con
troyersies. But Mrs. Storer not only
hxd the courage to undertake an act
I've campaign at the vatican In behalf
OF ber favorite. but has assumed the
responsibility of interfering again AMI
apain In other matters in such a way
rs to embarrass the Hierarchy Of the
church in the United States and the
officials of the vatican, as well as the
administration of the government
The manner In which her zeal has
been regarded is indicated in the letter
from the cardinal secretary OF state,
which Is published by Mr.. Storer In
his pamphlet. He advises her In so
many words to mind her own business.
When she heard that Secretary
Taft was going to Rome to negotiate
with the holy see for the adjustment
of matters in the Philippines, she un-
" u
and her energy and zeal came near
breaking up the whole arrangement
Secretary Hay wrote Mr.. Storer sev
erai letters upon this subject and eau
toned him that he must keep his
wife at home and prevent her from
interfering In official matters. But
while Mr.. Storer Is very accomplish
ed and amiable gentleman, he cannot
do what is impossible. Mrs. Storer is
known all over Europe aa the Ameri
can ambassadress to the vatican.
II you will go to Madrid and talk
with politicians. newspaper men CT
the members of the diplomatic corps
YOU will hear some interesting gossip
Ghout Mrs. Storer's performances
there and will learn that the reason
why she was SO anxious to secure
transfer from Madrid 70 one OF the
other European capitals. Her name
has frequently appeared in the news
peIers OF that city, and not always IN
complimentary manner She has
several times been very severely repri-
manded for taking too sharp an In
terest in Spanish politics. and mas
even been caricatured IN the comic
papers. once saw cartoon showing
the wife OF the American minister al
Madrid striding in great haste toward
the cortes with miniature monks sticR-
ing ont OF her pockets and through her
girdle. This cartoon was provoked
by Mrs. Storer's attempts to change
the policy of the Spanish parliament
toward the religious orders. She nc
ouired an unenviable notoriety In that
connection and was credited with
causing the overthrow of the ministry
by stirring up strife among various
conflicting interests in Sbain.
The chief political issue In Spain
for many years has been the taxation
of the property owned by the monks
and nuns and the large BUSINESS enter
prises that are conducted by them for
profit. The religious orders in Spain
are very rich. 1t is estimated that
they own nearly half the taxable prop
erty In Spain, in the shape of planta-
tions, vineyards. manufactures. bus