Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-06-29
ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND,
HEIR APPARENT TO AUSTR|A'S n
throne, and wife, ASSASSINATED

at the special wish of the emperor,
who presented her with the Hungarian
library of the late Empress Elizabeth,
Nation Looks to Emperor
The opinion has gained ground In
authoritative circles here that the fu-
ture of AustriarHungary now, more
than ever, depends on the health of
the venerable Emperor Francis Jo-
seph.
1t was pointed out in high political
circles that if the emperor is permit
ed to reign only lew years more ev-
erything may continue as usual and
Archduke Francis Ferdinand's death
will have little lasting material effect
on the foreign or domestic affairs of
the dual monarchy.
1t was argued that should youth.
full and inexperienced ruler like the
Archduke Charles Francis Joseph, son
Of the late Archduke Otto suddenly
be called on to take the reins of gov
ernment period of anarchy might
supervene.
The young archduke and his wife,
who was Princess Zita of Parma, are
both extremely popular among all
classes of society and everybody, from
the emperor down, is said to be pre-
pared to help them in every way to
rise to their responsible position so
suddenly thrust on them. The sugges-
ton put forth in some quarters that
Archduke Francis Ferdinand's death
is likely to cause political upheaval
is said to have litue real foundation,
as the old emperor mas kept the reins
of the government in his own hands,
delegating as little power as possible
to his late nephew.
Much mystery has always existed
in AustriaHungary regarding, The late
heirs real political claims. He was
credited with being an ardent Catho,
lie, and the chief supporter of the
powerful Christian-socialist or anti
semitic party in Austria.
1t was known he was not in sym
pathy with the Magyar regime in
Hungary, nor he was as pro-German
is, Austria as some of the German ma
tionalist factions desired him to be.
Favored Three-Fold System
The late arch-duke, it is believed,
really favored some form of three-fold
system for the future government OF
the Hungarian empire to take
the place of the present dual regime
of Germans in Austria and that as
Magyars in Hungary It is said he
desired to see the great Slavic popu-
lation in the two halves of the empire,
and forming very powerful proper
ton Of the inhabitants, given some
definite share in the government OF
the country. Indeed it is said he made
clear promises in that direction to
certain leaders of the Slav parties a
few months ago.
His death removes all these possi-
bilities, and WILL. it is said. prove a
serious blow of the dominant power
and to the anti-Semites. As far as
the new representative is concerned
his political opinions may almost be
said to be non-existent. In foreign pol
icy it is said to be quite certain that
the Archduke Charles Francis Joseph
be a strong supporter of Germany and
of the Triple Alliance. The influence
OF his uncles, the kings of Bavaria and
Saxony and the future king of Wurt
Itenburg, will, it is argued, certainly
keep his attached to the German EN-
:. pire.
i 1t is generally thought that If th'
young archduke be given fair chanc'
he is likely to prove second Emperel
Francis Joseph and that under his fu
ture rule affairs in Austria and Hun
gary, both foreign and domestic, viii
pursue the same course as during th'
I present reign.
President Sends Message