The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-10


scha, the archbishop of Vienna, and
Cardinal Moran, archbishop of sgd
ney, reduce the sacred college to Al
mem bers, almost the lowest figure in
its history. Should a recurrence of
his malady carry off Pope Plus X be-
fore he can hold consistory and
make a distribution of red hats, the
conclave electing his successor would
assuredly be at low water mark. Sew
eral members are so old and enfeebIed
that it would be impossible for them
to participate.
OF the AZ living cardinals % are
Italians, the rest are divided among
the Catholic nations. One, the dean
OF the cardinalate, Oreglia di San
Stefano, dates back to the pontificate
Of Plus TX; 80 survivors are creations
of Leo XIII; the fourteen others were
named by the present pope in four
consistories. The last of these were
created on December Is, 1907.
The Italian cardinals, even though
all should be present, virtually an i'm
possibility, and even though all should
coincide in their choice, could not elect
a pope. They would be four short of
the necessary two-thirds vote required
by the apostolic constitutions.
Next in order of numbers after Italy
comes Austria-Hungary, with five car
dInals. They are katschthaler, arch
bishop of Salzburg; Puzyna Won Kozi-
elsko, bishop of Cracow, who present
ed the veto of the election of Cardinal
Rampolla in the last conclave;
SkrbenSlxy, archbishop of Prague: Sa-
massa, archbishop of Eyer, and Vas
gary, the primate of Hungary. Spain
comes third with four cardinals: Mer-
~ del VAL Wives Tuto, Aguirre
Garcia, and Herrera Y del Iglesia
France, which once had seven cardi-
nails. has at present only three, Coullie
of Lyons, who is 50 years old and far
too feeble to make. the journey to
Rome; Lucon of Remis, and Andrieu of
Bordeaux. Germany has two votes in
the conclave, those of Kopp, the
prince-bishop of Breslau, and Fischer
Of Cologne. Attention is drawn in
european discussion by those who in
sist on seeing politics in the conclave
to the performance of the triple al
lance, with Italy's %, Austria's FIVE,
and Germany's two voices, a total of
SO, or three more than necessary to
elect. 1t is we'll to add that the best
opinion does not contemplate the di-
vision of the votes along this line.
Even though political influences should
come into play, the cleavage is likely
to be upon other issues than the bal
ance of power in which the church
can have no serious interest for the
time being at least.
England has no cardinal. but Ire
land is represented by Archbishop
Logue of Armagh. Belgium has one,
MERCER of Malines Portugal's cardi- !
nal, Netto, has resigned from the pa
tr1archate OF Lisbon, and lives in n |
Then there are our own
Cardinal Gibbons. and Arcoverde de !
Albuquerque. archbishop of Rio |
Janeiro, South Americas cardinal The |
latter Is in Europe at present and |
would be on hand to enter a conclave /
at any early day.
Twelve of the Italian cardinals are /
more than 20 years of age. Rampolla, /
the most prominent candidate for the
succession to the triple crown. Is So. |
He is said to be in poor health. He 1
Is resting at present in the Benedictine |
monastery of Notre Danes des Her
mites, in Switzerland. Among the |
younger Italian cardinals none has
made any great name for himself
When Pope Leo XIII died there
were 81 living members of the college
of the cardinals. of whom 81 entered
the conclave and took part in the cleo
ton of Plus X. There were then 25
foreign cardinals. and besides the 80
italians the triple alliance had five
A ustrian and three German votes The
election of Rampolla was defeated bv
he sole act of Austria in exercise of
The veto power vested in the great
Catholic soveretgns. This preronative
Pope Plus x has abolished bv a de-
cree, attaching the pain of the major
to any cardinal or
0ther person attempting to present
such veto or to interfere in any way
With the free exercise of the viii or
he conclave.-New York Sun.