Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-15
If NO ROYAL RANK, NO
MARRIAGE, SAYS ELkiNS
This Declared to be Senator'S Ultima
tunr to Duke-Denies Existence
Of Engagement. However.

United States Senator Stephen B.
Elkins gave out an interview today,
fatty declaring that no engagement ex-
listed between his daughter Katherine
and the Duke OF Abruzzi.
MY wife is quoted in published in
terviews," he said. las denying an en-
gagement" 1t is impossible to deny
something that does not exist. There
is no engagement, so how can we de-
ny one. Neither in Europe nor In
this country has any announcement OF
an engagement been n-ade. The many
reports Of one are without the least
foundation"
Coincident with this statement come
dispatches from italy showing that
there is pronounced opposition on the
part of the royal family to the Duke
Of the Abruzzi taking Miss Eikins as
bride. These dispatches also bring
absolute denials that there is an en-
gagement.
These utterances at home and
abroad have involved this interna-
tional love affair in a great deal OF
mystery, but those in the confidence
of the Elkins family have thrown a
very clear light upon the present at
| ti:ude Of Senator and Mrs. Elkins and
| upon the controversy. This is the
explanation given:
Parents Terms Accepted.
| When the Duke of the Abruzzi
first sought the hand Of Miss Elkins.
during his visit to America. the sena-
tor and Mrs. Elkins are said to have
given ready consent. provided their
daughter was willing. But the parents
made it very clear that II the duke
was successful in his courtship and
the marriage took place. the status
OF Miss Elkins in italy must be the
same as that Of any wife Of member
Of the royal family.
| The duke acquiesced in this. and
paid ardent and successful court to
Miss Elkins. There was never
question, Of a hitch in the plans for
the wedding. il is said. until the duke
returned to Italy There he found
great dificulty in inducing the king
and his ROYAL ccnsort to consent 10
the terms fixed bv the Elkins family
which amounted to the abrogation nj
. rule that for centuries had amount
ed to a law in the Italian royal fam.
;ly as well as other royal houses oil
Europe.
Opposition 10 the dukes effort to in.
troduce his American bride on equal
terms with every other memt,er Of the
ROYAL house is said 20 have been es,
peciaily marked from the Dowager
Queen Marghcrita. mother Of the king
and the Duchess Of Aos;a. Queen
Helena. the kings consort. Is said to
have remained aloof rom the discus.
sion.
Duke 10 STIR Trying.
The reports from Rome received in
this country indicate that the duks
since his return there has been max.
ing continuous effor:s TO overcome
ne opposition to his marriage with
Miss EIkins. He Is still making these
efforts. but is meeting with small!
success or none At all
Under these circumstances the In
terviews given out by tae EIkips fam
ny nav bc clearly understood. Scua-
tor EIs:ns and his family believe they
occupy as high social position in
this country as the duke OF the
Abruzzi occupies IN his.
Friends OF Senator Eikins have
learned from him his attitude. which
Is that there must be no feeling of
condescension on the part Of the duke
ror his family. In the marriage Win
Miss ElsIns. The EIkins are worth
many millions.
So the Eikins family has taken the
position tina; Miss Katherine VII! not
marry the duke until assurances are
received from the royal family os
Italy that she viii receive . warm
welcome a. Abruzzi's bride from every
member 81 i,-Elkins. W. Va, Special