Willmar tribune., 1909-12-22

The two elder processes have been
estranged from their father, but Clem-
entine remained in his affections.
There being no direct hereditary
heir, the crown passes to Prince AL.
bert, the only son of Leopold's broth
er, the late Philippe, count of Fland-
ers. The new monarch was born
April 8, 1875, and on Oct. 2, 1900, mar
ried Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria.
They have three children. Prince Leo
pold, eight years old; Prince Charles.
six years old, and Princess Marie-Jose,
who was born Aug. 4, 1906.
New King Popular.
Prince Albert is one of the most
popular members of the reigning house
OF Belgium. His wife is equally popu-
lar, their home life being such as to
attract the admiration and love of the
people. Prince Albert has travelled
extensively and is man of affairs.
In appearance he is strikingly like the
late king, but their dispositions and
temperaments have always been in
marked contrast.
Prince Albert has been great stu
dent OF politics and economies, and
has frequently lectured on these sub
jects in public. To broaden his grasp
OF the affairs of the world, he visited
the United States and other countries,
always studying and always adding to
his store of knowledge and philoso-
ply.
One of the most powerful men in
Belgium, who knows King Leopold
better than any other man, is Senator
Winer, the kings trusted friend and
confidential legal adviser. He assisted
Leopold in drawing up the Congo
project and probably will handle the
disposition of the kings fortune.
Senator Winer welcomed the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent most cor
daily last night. He insisted that
Leopold was greatly misunderstood by
the world. He pictured the kings in
tense admiration for the United States
which his majesty was anxious to Wis.
It, but was prevented by the Congo
criticism. However, the king had pre-.
vailed ON Prince Albert to go, as he
considered this a most useful prepara-
tion for the future ruler of Belgium.
Admired Roosevelt.
The king had marked respect for
Theodore Roosevelt. He never liked
photographs around, but placed Roose-
velts autograph picture in his favorite
office in the Brussels palace, beside
those of Princess Clementine and
Prince Albert. Continuing the senator
said:
"The whole truth in the Congo"
Senator Winer went on, was that the
system was bad--worse than the king
thought. The eternal cry was Rub
ber, and yet more RUBBER and it must
be remembered that the military COM
manders in the Congo had the double
capacity of soldier and merchant; they
had to get rubber. Nevertheless many
SOiru. The paper charged that Baron.
ess Vaughan was constantly at the
bedside OF the king, even being pres.
ent when extreme function was ad.
ministercd. whereas the kings daugh-
ters and his nephew were not admit
ted.
The question was put by tRe Soiru
to Mgr. Cooreman, the venerable royal
chaplain, if the king had married Bar
oness Vaughan according to the provi-
sions of the religious ceremony, ad-
| ding that all Belgium was astonished
and scandalized that the church would
sanction the presence of the woman
near the kings couch while the priest
| came on his sacred mission.
His Conscience Clear.
The chaplain intimated that the
marriage existed and said that his
conscience was clear about his visit
to the. king. The church's codes or
morals, he added, was the same for the
king as for the people and in conclu-
sion he said:
! From the standpoint of the church,
the kings situation was regular
Baroness Vaughan is the daughter
| of parents of the name of Delacroix,
| who were concierges, or janitors first
at Liege and afterwards in Paris. Her
mother is dead and her father is an
inmate of an asylum for the insane.
She is the mother of two children.
King Leopold spent great deal of his
time with the baroness and gave his
ministers much concern on this &C.
count. At one time there was talk of
his abdicating. but. as months went by
his subjects apparently became accus-
toned to his ways and abdication be.
came thing Of the past.
| King Leopold was looked upon as
one of the shrewdest and ablest men
of the time. He was essentially a
man of business, cold, reticent and
calculating. He was of particularly
independent spirit and more than once
is said to have told other sovereigns
who attempted to advise him in con-
nection with his private affairs to
mind their own business. Fer this
reason King Leopold had become es.
tranged from many of the courts of
Europe.
Mrs. H. 3. Taft @asses Away.
Baltimore.-Mrs. Horace B. Taft.
wife OF brother of President Taft.
died at John Hopkins hospital, where
she had been a patient of DR.. Harvey
Gushing.
Mrs. Taft was operated on at the