Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-10-18
AUSTRIA EXPECTS
EMPEROR TO DIE
GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR DUAL MON
LRCH NO MATTER WIG IS
SUCCESSOR.
THRONE is FOR FERDINAND.
Young Han Not Equal to Task of Keep
ing Mixed People Like Old
Ruler, Is Belief


VIENNA. Oct. 14.-Optimistic ac-
counts Of The progress made by Emperor
Francis Joseph were received here from
Schopnbrunn castle this morning. Though
his night was repeatedly disturbed by
bad It's Of coughing. the Emperor felt
considerably easier when lie arose. some
what later than usual. and seated him
self in his chair, and his mood was no
ticeably more cheerful.
Arclldule Francis Ferdinand. tile heir
apparent is in constant touch with the
foreign minister. The imperial physi-
clans, it is added. desire to move the
Emperor to another aud more suitable
room. but he $tcldfastIy refuses to per
nit them to DO 50. The room now occu-
pied by his majesty is the one III which
ne was born. and therefore he has Il sem
}imcuI;u attachment for il.
What of Successor?
The fear with which every earnest
thinking man OF the e.apira has looked
forward to the time when Francis Joseph
shall pass away is rendered more acute
each day by the bulletins ISSUED from thc
sick room Of the aged ruler. That the
old Emperor cannot long survive is no
( longer denied in official circles. In vain
does the Austrian who loves his land, ana
WISHES to see il continue To exist i'll its
prcstn; form, sing with all his heart:
Cot crhaltt Franz den KAISER
y successor competent to rule this I'M
easy cougloInoration OF qUarreIing ma
tiunaliIies is not il sight. With Crown
Prince Rudolf's death ended the life of
Il man who although abumdantly sup
piled with the frailtes Of humanity, WAS
nevertheless loved intensely by Il large
portion of the Austrian and Hungarian
people. Had he lived, temperance might
have come with mature years. and it is
not impossible that he might have deYel-
uped hrmneSS and strength OF character,
which, aided by the love his subjects
bore him, would have enabled him to
dominate and rule them BY him, how
ever. the wages OF excess mad to he pald
carly, and the -lustro-Ii ungarian throne
was left without direct successor.
Ferdinand Weakling
Archduke Francis Ferdinand, nephew
of the Emperor, was selected as the heir
apparent, but he was frail, weakened and
alling, and only after long voyages and
extended sOjOurns in southern climates
was his physical condition such as to
warrant the hope that he would live to
rule. But Cupid, ever fond of upsetting
royal plans, played one Of his roguiSh
pranks with Francis Ferdinand. The
Sophie Chotek, who was a maid of honor
of the Grown Princess Stephanie. widow
of the unfortunate Archduke Rudolf.
When the heir to imperial hOnors was
married to the SimDle-title woman of his
choice the question as to his succession
to the throne became general. 1t was
announced at the time that the arch
duke had renowned all rights of sue
cessiOn for his children. should he be
blessed with any by his morganatic mar
riagc with the countess. The first child
of the couple was daughter, born July
II, 1901. A year later son was born
and the popular discussion in regard to
the succession was then renewed.
Reformation of Otto.
There are many people in the empire
and particularly i'll Hungary, who hold
that he could not thus divest his chill
dren of rights derived from royal birth
Sc far as the archduke himself is CON
Cerned, however, he has never given any
reason to believe that he will violate the
oath regarding his wife and his children.
which he made at the time of his mar
riage. The arrangement at the time. it
was understood was that Francis Ferdi-
nand would be succeeded on the throne
not by the male issue of his marriage
with the Countess ChOtcL. but by the
eldest boy of his brother Otto. the now
19-year-old Archduke Charles Francis.
the first of the princess of the house of
Hapsburg to be brought and educated
i'll anything like accordance with the lib
eral ideas of today.
In order that the young archduke
might succeed to the throne it would he
necessary for his father. the Archduke
Otto, to abdicate in his favor. The lat
ter, a man of fine appearance, has in re-
cent years enjoyed a certain amount of
no
ty which for many years public disgust
made impossible. Hair-raising tales are
told of the excuses INDUCED in
by him and his officer com
rades. Moderation seems to have
come years, however, and Arch
duke Otto has of late enjoyed a
little more of honorable public attention
than he did III the past. There is posi-
bility that he might assume the imperial
purple, but the belief is more general
that he would waive his rights in favor
OF his son.
Outlook Is Not Bright.
As matters now stand the succession
to the throne is provided with perfect
clearness, Francis Ferdinand. Otto and
Charles Francis coming in the order
named. But whoever of the three comes
to the throne. the outlook for the restor-
alton of peace through his rule is not
bright. Neither Francis Ferdinand nor
Otto has been educated as the successful
future ruler of Austria must need be.
and even young Charles. though some at
tempt has been made to give him a liber-
al education, has not received the broad
training necessary for the task.
Such is the outlook for the future
ruler of Austria. The venerable EN-
peror. who is now believed to be on his
deathbed. has been responsible for many
of the troubles that have overtaken his
kingdom, but his intentions have general
~ been good and his firm hand has held
the sheaf of nations together. Whether
his successor will be able to do so we'll
is a matter of such grave doubt that the
passing of Francis Joseph is feared as