Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-29
POPE FORCED tn
REFUSE DEMAND
FOR CONS|STORY
Physicians Say Pontiff Could Not
Stand Long Ordeal Of Car
dinaIate Election,
-KAISER'S REQUEST DENIED
His Holiness Illness May Lead
to Schism Among German
Catholics, Is Belief.
-KAIsER'S REQUEST DENIED
BY CAMILLE cIANFARRA.
Special Gable to The American.


ROME, March -Notwithstand-
ing the demands of the German Gov
eminent for an early consistory which
would fill the two vacancies in the
German diocese, the Vatican is still
undecided about setting date for
the creation of new cardinals. The
reason assigned Is the health of the
Pontiff to-day is more precarious
than ever. The unsettled weather
prevailing might prove fatal to a man
whose physique Is so undermined by
a complication of serious diseases.
On the other hand, the attitude Of
the German Government in demand
ing consistory and the appointment
of two cardinals to which, under the
existing concordate, Germany is en-
titled, is regarded here as amply JUS
titled by the fact that Germany at
present is without a single represent
tative in the sacred college, and in
the event of a sudden conclavei she
would have no vote whatever in the
election Of new Pope. From this
point of view the situation is re-
garded as extremely dangerous for
both the German nation and the
church.
Fear Sehism.
Students Of church politics point
out that the unrest existing among
the German Catholics would reach an
acute stage and eventually lead to
sehism if they were unable to make
their voice heard in a conclave.
During the last two years several
important questions have been
raised without the Vatican's being
able to settle any one. This failure
is not imputable to the Vatican, but
to the two late German cardinals,
Kopp and Fisher, whose widely d.
yergent views, especially on the ques-
ton of allowing Catholic workmen to
belong to mixed trade unions, caused
a split in the rank and file of the
German clergy. AS to the Govern
ment's interest in having two cardi-
moment, it is based on the fact that
in a conclave Germany would have no
trusted agent to oppose the French
cardinal
The first intimation, quiet but de-
termined, that meeting of the next
consistory was strictly and unaltera-
bly, dependent upon the Popes physi-
cal ability to bear the long and IA
tiguing ceremonies attendant upon
the creation of new cardinals was
conveyed to Germany on March 10,
when, on the occasion of the Pope's
nameday a reception of the whole
diplomatic corps was dispensed with
by order of Professor Marchiafava
and DR.. Amici, the Pope's physicians,
and only the delegation Of Austrian
and Spanish Ambassadors was admit
ted for a brief space to the Pope's
presence.
Pope's Condition Serious.
Those lately received by his holt
ness all declare that extraordinary
precautions are being taken to pre-
vent a fresh outbreak of the disease
which a year ago greatly imperiled
his life. According to these visitors,
the Pope IS now kept veritably in a
dollhouse.
Whenever he leaves his apartment.
the temperature of the corridors
through which he passes and the halls
in which he receives is raised several
degrees above that of his private Ii
brary When he returns the temper
ature of his apartment is also raised
and afterward lowered by small de-
grees.
That the Pontiff's health has re-
manned stationary is due to these
precautions, as the winter. which
generally is fatal to men of his age
suffering from the same diseases, has
had no i'll effect upon him.