The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-04
CARDINAL O'CONNEII
TO SUCCEED RAMPOLLA

In store for the noted American pro-
late Is received with the expression
of warmest approval here.
Regarding the possible Gull to ST
Peters, the impression prevails in
Catholic circles that the Boston car
chooses and thus take n prominent
place among the curia or court" card
lnals. Catholic circles are also in
clined TO believe that the future holds
great honors for his eminenee.
According TO tlme-honored tradition,
the office of archpricst of the greatest
temple in Christendom is always re-
served for the papal secretary of state
On the day following tho election
OF new Pope, he leaves the states
chancery and takes his place among
the administration cardinals, and, ac-
cording 10 this theory, the office would
eventually go to Cardinal Merry Del
Val
The fact that Cardinal o'Connelrs
name has been mentioned means. very
likely, that Cardinal Merry Del Val
has declined the Offer, suggesting that
his old and intimate friend. O'Connel,
be called 10 Rome as custodian of the
great Baslica.
! Local students OF church politics also
seem Inclined to believe, whether the
oner has been accepted or declined,
that there is more behind Cardinal
Merry Del Vara action than appears
on the surface. Since the so-caIlcd
Milan social week" adjourned, both
the religious and lay press or Italy
have continued the debate opened by
Archbishop of Undine's speech on (;
possible solution of the Roman ques-
ton us applied to the Quirinal
| Some papers even declared thu cues
ton VIII have to be ultimately soivet.
! b! Pope free. from political bias
che born In country not belonging
| 10 any or the two groups of Euro
pean alliances. Now, It Is argued, tho
only cardinal possessing to the highest
/ degree the qualifications necessary to
soivo such great question is the
| Archbishop OF Boston
| Besides thorough knowledee OF
| local conditions acquired during his
I many years In Rome, both as a student
and as rector of the American College
in Rome. Cardinal oConneII is also
| regarded as a scholar and man nos
sossed Of almost unparalleled cxecu-
's'' Po'oi' - ~ tdiu that ne mas DIS
tinguished himself in all the offices he
has ever held. First as Bishop of Port
land, Me, Cardinal OConneIl attracted
the Pcpc's attention, and this resulted
in promotion at the first opportunity.
His work in Boston and tho inter
est he takes in Roman affairs earned
Tor him tho led hat at the Consistory
Of 1911. Should he return to Rome il
viii likely take him further. But will
Cardinal OConnell quit Boston?
returning to the topic of Cardinal
Rampolla, although the mystery of the
disappearance of a second will at
tributed to His Eminence has been dis
Sipated, Monslgnor Debisogne, treasurer.
Of the fabrics of St Peter and other
rrelatcs who were intimate with tho
dead cardinal still maintain that the
cardinals first will, dated in 1889, has
been replaced by one OF later date.
This, they argue. for two reasons;
first, because Pope Leo Kill. who was
the chief beneficiary under tho first
will, died before Cardinal Rnmpolla !;
second, because the cardinal was firm
~ determined to prevent. his fortune
from falling into the hands of his SIS
ter, the Duchess Of Campobello, or the
daRe, the nephew. These prelates say
the cardinal often declared his inten ;
ton OF leaving his fortune to the dukes
children, Vincent and Mariana, of whom
the Princess Altieri Is now the legal
guardian.
Cardinal Rampolla's abhorrence of
the Duke of Campobello was based on
a long chain OF scandals. which had
i II climax in tho discovery that the
DUKE had forged the cardinals sigma
ture to several notes In order to raise
money to buy Jewels for Vittorina lie
Eanto, wcll-known vaudeville actress
with whom he was then on the most
intimate terms g
the statements published regarding
the cardinals actual fortune SO far
fall much below tho mark. As mat
Ter of fact. tho cardinal inherited from
s his father. Prince Del Tindaro, nearly
one million Ira, while as nrchpricst of
ST. Peters and holder az other import
ant church Offices, he enjoyed an In
como of not less than $4,000.