Imperial Valley press., 1913-05-19
Z
CARDINALS PREPARING FOR
SUCCESSION TO POPE Plus
RY HENRY MOOD
Romo Correspondent Of United Press

ROME, May i7.--Though Pope Plus
has so far recovered from his recent
critical illness as to enable him to re-
ceive several cardinals In audience, in
addition to devoting a considerable
portion Of his work day to matters re-
ferred TO him by Merry del Val, the fact
is generally recognized that the aged
pODfif has lost so much ground as to
make the matter Of his death an event
to be expected at any time. This con-
dition has very naturally served to
crystalize the issues and the question
OF the candidates about which will cen
ter the selection Of the next pope.
In the situation three important mo-
tivcs will largely dictate the choice Of
the next holy father. First there will
be the strong element Of personality,
second the element Of the church's re-
the church'S future political attitude.
That the personal element will be the
strongest seems a certainty.
No secret is now made of the fact
that the recent illness of the pope has
brought to a definite focus opposition
largely among the older members OF
the sacred college to Merry del Val
and his policies. This unpopularity
dates back to the time when Merry del
Nal was created cardinal secretary of
state. position rarely if ever occupied
Ivy q foreign cardinal or by any other
than cardinal grown gray in the dip
I lomatic service of the Vatican.
The Sm0uldering antagonism burst
into open flame during The pOpc's re-
tcent illness. when Merry del Val eXer-
Cised almost dictatorial powers, refused
/ to let the other cardinals visit the Sick
chamber and took largely into his own
hands the pontifical responsibilities.
Still only as years Of age, Merry del
Val would ordinarily be barred by his
age alone from being seriously con-
sidered a papal candidate. But he is a
! shrcwd man at the height Of his pow
ers, man with unusual ability, with
genius for politics and diplomacy and
a consuming ambition to be pope. He
| will enter the consistory assured Of a
good following on the first ballot and
with q determination to either secure
| the office himself or force the choice Of
some other cardinal who will retain him
| in his present position as cardinal sec
retary of state.
| At the same time there will also
enter the conclave as an avowed can
didate for the papacy Cardinal Ram
polla. former secretary of state under
Pope Leo XIII, and who but for the
veto exercised on behalf of the en-
peror of Austria would have been the
choice of the last election. Cardinal
| RampOlla will oppose any policy of
Merry del Val and about these two
men-undoubtedly the most fOrceful
and resourceful in the sacred college
will center bitter contest.
| Without question Cardinal Merry del
Val, failing of election himself, will
strive for the selection Of Cardinal De
Lai. The latter has been entrusted for
1.-The past nine wears with carving out
all the religious reforms Of Pope Plus
X. Cardinal De Lai, Merry del Val and
Cardinal Wives Tulo, Spanish monk
and theolOgian who exercises 4 deep
influence over Pope Plus Y. are pop
ularly supposed to form a triumviratc
which is the chief influence in the for
mation Of the policies Of Pope Plus Y
No cardinal is eligible to election
who does not receive a vote on the
On this vote Merry del Val and Ram
polla will each, according to an ole
custom, receive the votes of those car
dinals created during the time he was
secretary of state. This assures these
two being opposed to each other ir
the early balloting. but should Merry
del Val be eliminated and should his
support Of Cardinal De Lai result in q
deadlock between the latter and Ram
p0lla. the most likely compromise
would probably be Cardinal Ferrata, ;
strength lies i'll the fact that he i,
credited with being highly acceptable
to Cardinal RampOlla, while at the
same time he stands high in The esti-
nation Of Pope Plus X and has dis
Iplayed no hostility to Merry del Val
Should he be elected pope, his possible
leaning toward Merry del Val or TOWARD