The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-02-10
SMOKE SIGNAL IS
BEING WATCHED
TASK OF SELECTING SUCCESSOR
TO POPE BENEDICT XIV is
NOW UNDERWAY IN ROME
Crowds Are in Daily Attendance To
Watch for Thin Column of Va
por From Chimney to De-
note Election

R0me-The conclaye of the Sacred
college which Is to choose a success
sor to Pope Benedict XIV began its
sittings Thursday. The fifty-two car
dinals who are in Rome went into
seclusion Wednesday night. and when
the great oak barrier at the entrance
closed they were cut off from communi-
cation with the outside world until
their sacred task was done.
The balloting is not expected to con-
sumo more than q few days, and the
next pope, In the concensus of opinion
In vatican circles, will come from
among the moderate section Of the
Sacred college. Neither the "irrecon-
ciliables' nor the peace party" which
fayors closer relations with the Italian
government, is understood 30 have
chance to elect its candidate, the mod
crates holding the balance of power.
Crowds gathered in ST. Petersburg
square to watch for the telltale smoke
wreaths from the chimney of the sis
tine chapel, where the conclave sits.
A ballot Is taken on the morning and
evening of each day the conclave is
in session, and these smoke puffs are
the only indication to the watchers as
to the progress made. When no cleo
ton is effected little straw is burn
ed with the voting papers, causing
the smoke to assume a dark color.
When choice is finally made. the bal
lots, burning alone, emit thin wisp
OF light smoke.
Until the election the only communi-
cation between the approximately 250
persons in the vatican and the outside
is through the 'rota" or turning box
at the entrance of the court yard, and
such communications as are made in
this way are not allowed to come to
the attention of the cardinals. Penal
ties for violation of this secrecy is ex-
communication.
Monsignor Mahoney, spiritual direc-
tor of the American college, has gone
to Naples to meet Cardinal OConnell !
of Boston, whe is a pas
senger on the steamship Presidente
Wilson. AS in 1914, when Pope Bene-
dict was elected, Cardinal O'Connell |
may arrive in Rome too late to parti- |
cipate in the conclave.
The confidence that the conclave
would be of short duration is shared |
BY Cardinal Asparri, who, in making
provisions for the sustenance of the
cardinals, only provided menus for
-hree days. Others who believed the
election would be brief pointed out
hat the cardinals generally were in
'avor of continuation of the late
,ontiff's policy, and that there was
therefore, nothing to do but choose a
nan who would follow out that pro-
ram.
AS the conclave convened it APP
reared that the 'irreconcilables,"
leaded by Merry del Val, and the
pence Party" under Gasparri, could
ach count on about twenty votes, the
twelve constituting the mod
rate section. The candidate of Mer-
y del Val's group was said to be Car
inal Lafontaine, while either Cardin-
Is Gasparri, Maffi or Ratti was said
o be acceptable to those. favoring a
approchment with the quirinal. Car
inal laurent was mentioned as
andidate who might be put toward
y the moderates and fully satisfy
9th factions.
Cardinal Marini has Influenza and
ill be unable to attend the conclave.