--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Hull, Thomas collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 1 number: 5 published: 1898-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Thomas Hull, "Events of the Month," *Improvement Era* 1, no. 5 (March 1898): 381–384.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera15unse start_page: 381 end_page: 384 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15unse publication_year: 1898 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1898, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events of the Month EVENTS OF THE MONTH, BY THOMAS HULL, SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL BOARD Y. M. M. I. A. January i8lh, i8g8: In a speech in the executive session of the Senate today Senator Morgan declared that if the United States failed to annex the Hawaiian Islands bloodshed would inevitably follow and the responsibility therefor would rest upon the Senate of the United States. * * * The French are still in a state of hysterical excitement over the Dreyfus case and the anti-Semitic feeling still prevails. igth: Azarial Smith, William W. Johnson, Henry W. Bigler and James S. Brown, the four Utahnians who were at Sutter's Mill in California when gold was discovered, and are the sole survivors of the discoverers, leave Salt Lake City today for San Francisco where they will be the guests of the State of California at the Golden Jubilee. * * * Sanford B. Dole, President of Hawaii, left San Francisco today for Washington. He will be met at Chicago by representatives of the government. 2ist: The Senate today confirmed the nomination of Joseph McKenna of California to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. 22nd: Fearing that the small stock. of supplies on hand would be ex- hausted before the Yukon river opens in the spring, Cap't Ray, U. S. A., has declared martial law at Fort Yukon, Alaska, and placed the inhabitants on rations. * * * Owing to the great irritation manifested by the Czar of Russia at the visit of British war vessels to Port Arthur, China, they have been ordered to leave by the government of Great Britain * * * There is a wave of patriotism .sweeping over England, and the people everywhere endorse the declaration of the government that it will defend to the uttermost its rights in China. 2jrd: The official report of the action of the joint commission of federation of the general conference of the Episcopal Methodists was given out today. The following is the most important recommenda- tion: That it is the imperative duty of the Protestant church to pro- vide in the city of Washington a university, Christian, Catholic, Tolerant and American, having for its sole aim post graduate and professional study and original research and that the American university is worthy of the confidence and benefactions of the people in all our churches. * * * Anti-Jewish riots were renewed in Algiers today. The mob pillaged the shops in the Jewish quarters and drove the merchants into the streets. The streets are patrolled by troops. * * * Dis- patches from Bombay, India, state that during the total eclipse of the sun there today all conditions were favorable and sixty spectrum photographs were secured. 24th: The United States battleship "Maine" has been ordered to Havana, it is stated at the Navy department, in the line of the resumption * * * of free intercourse by our naval vessels in Cuban waters. California's Golden Jubilee, in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of gold in that state, began today in San Francisco. * * * The semi-official announcement is made that Germany desires that its policy in China should be of a liberal character, not interfering with the commerce of other nations. 2^lh: About 3 o'clock this morning a terrific thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain and hail struck the city of St. Louis, Mo., and was followed later in the day by a wind which blew at the rate of 66 miles an hour, doing great damage. * * * The United States steamship "Maine" arrived at Havana today and was received by the Spanish ofhcials with marked courtesy. 26th: A remarkably cold wave prevails throughout the state. At St. — George the coldest weather ever known there prevails 5 degrees below * * * A dispatch to the New York Herald from Seoul zero. says: It is stated on most unquestionable authority that the King of Korea has asked the United States minister here for protection against possible revolutions. Capt. Wildes of the cruiser "Boston" refuses to land a naval force, though strongly urged to do so by the king. * * * President Dole of Hawaii arrived in Washington, and was welcomed by Secretary Sherman. President McKinley called upon hira. The reception was simple and without any military display. 2'/ih: At a banquet of the National Manufacturers' Association in New York, President McKinley declares that he is unequivocally in favor of "Sound Money" and the single gold standard. * * * -phe Spanish Foreign minister, Senor Gullen, has notified United States minister Woodford of the intention of the Spanish government to send a war vessel to visit America. * * * Spanish soldiers today surprised the camp of Brigadier-General Nestor Arangueren, of the Cuban forces, and killed Arangueren and five privates. 281 h: The Teller resolution, providing for the payment of bonds of the United States in either gold or silver, at the option of the government, was passed by the Senate by a vote of 47 to 32. * * * Dun and Co. in their Weekly Trade Review say this week: The first month of the year has brought more increase in business, but less improvement in prices than was expected. With payments through clearing-houses 7.3 per cent larger than in 1892, and probably the largest ever known in any month, with railroad earnings 11. 2 per cent larger than the best of past years, the fact that prices are very low only shows more clearly the increase in quanti- ties of products sold. 2gth: By the touching of a telegraphic key at the White House in Washington, by President McKinley, at 11 o'clock tonight the Jubilee bell was rung and the great California State Mining fair set in operation at San Francisco. * * * xhe Right Rev. Daniel S. Tuttle, once Episcopalian Bishop of Utah and now Bishop of Missouri, in a recent interview with a reporter of the St. Louis Republic, talks of Utah and says that just previous to his coming to Utah in June, 1857, the Congregationalist superintendent of sabbath schools was murdered by the Mormons because he was doing missionary work in Utah. joth: The police have been ordered to protect the legation and United States Minister Woodford's residence in Madrid. jist: The Teller resolution, passed by the Senate on the 28th inst., was defeated in the House of Representatives today by a majority of 50. The vote stood ayes 132, nays 182. * * * The United States cruiser "Mohican" has been ordered to sail for a cruise in the middle Pacific within a month. It is hinted that she will visit Samoa to assist United States Consul Osborne in the investigation of the outrages to Mormon mis- sionaries some time ago. February ist: The fastest long distance railroad run recorded was made today by a Union Pacific train from Cheyenne to Omaha. The dis-' EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 363 tance is 517 miles and the run was made in just 8 hours, an average of 64^ miles per hour. From North Platte to Omaha a distance of 290^^ miles the time was 246 minutes, an average speed of 70 5-6 miles per hour. * * * A terrific snow storm did immense damage in Boston, Mass. telegraph, telephone and electric light wires are prostrated, and ; business paralyzed temporarily; over twenty lives are lost and the money damage will amount to two millions of dollars. 27id: The London, England, newspapers comment in most severe terms upon the alleged withdrawal of Great Britain's demand for the open- ing of the port of Talien-Wan, China. Some of them refuse to credit the report. * * * Severe gales prevail throughout Great Britain and sweep the coast, and heavy storms are also reported from Germany and Austria. * * * The Prussian Minister of Finance has issued a decree, taking effect immediately, prohibiting the importation of every kind of American fresh fruits into any German port or frontier station. The action has called forth a strong remonstrance from Mr. White, the United States Embassador at Berlin. jrd: The trial of Sheriff Martin and his deputies, who fired upon the strikers in Lattimer, Pennsylvania, killing a number of them, began to- day in .Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, Deputy At- torney-General of the United States, is in attendance to protect the inter- ests of the government, it being understood that foreign governments, whose subjects were among those killed, will file suits for damages against the United States if the verdict is against Sheriff Martin. * * * The Associated Press states "on incontrovertible authority" that Great Britain has not backed down on the Chinese question but is doing every- thing to keep the Chinese ports open to the world. 4th: A dispatch to the New York Tribune from Havana says General Blanco's trip to eastern Cuba is a failure as to results. ^th: State Auditor Morgan Richards transmitted to Governor Wells, yesterday, his statement of the state's finances for the year 1897, showing a total expenditure of $1,000,670.14. 6th: At a conference of the Eastern States Mission in New York City, Apostle Francis M. Lyman and Representative Wm. H. King address the congregations. * * * Information comes from Lethbridge, on the Canadian border, that owing to the attempt of Americans to get provi- sions into the Yukon free of duty, under the plea that they were for the re- lief of distress, when they were to be sold to the highest bidder, the Domin- ion government has ordered every man of the mounted police to hold him- self in readiness to proceed to the Yukon, at a moment's notice, for temporary duty. * * * xhe Chicago Tribune's Washington special says: "Premier Sagasta has declined the third offer of friendly mediation on the part of the United States." This information was conveyed in a cipher mes- sage received from Minister Woodford by President McKinley on Friday. jth: The trial of the great French novelist, Emile Zola, for the pub- lication of a letter reflecting upon high officials in the Dreyfus case, opened today in Paris. 8th: At a conference of the so-called Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held today in Kewanee, 111., Joseph Smith de- nounced the Utah Mormons and their practices, stating that his father, the Prophet Joseph Smith, did not practice nor introduce the doctrine of plural marriage into the church, but that it was brought about by the Utah church eight years after the prophet's death. * » * Capt. Leutze, in command of the "Albert," has cabled the Navy department that he has landed marines at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, for the protection of the American consulate, owing to the fact that a revolution has broken out. * * * The queen's speech was presented to the British parlia- ment today and although the statement is made that the nation is at peace with the powers this significant passage appears: "Gentlemen of the House of ComiLons: The estimates which will be laid before you have been framed with the utmost desire for economy, but, in view of the enor- mous armaments now maintained by other nations, the duty of providing for the defence of the empire involves an expenditure beyond former pre- cedent." gth: The Washington morning papers publish what is said to be a letter written by the Spanish Minister to the United States, Senor de Lome, criticising President McKinley. It is stated that de Lome does not deny writing it and it is expected that he will be required to leave Washington. * * * An official cablegram received at Washington today announces the assassination of President Barrios of Guatamala. lotJi: Under a new rule, notice of which has just reached the United States Surveyor-General of Utah, owners of unpatented groups of mining claims are required to do $500.00 worth of work on each claim before a pat- ent can be secured. * * * At a meeting of the Spanish Cabi- net held today under the presidency of the Queen Regent, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senor Gullen, read a dispatch from Senor Dupuy de Lome, saying that the published letter to Senor Canalejas was written by him, and tendering the resignation. The Cabinet decided to accept his resignation and he was so notified nth: The cost of the Cuban war to Spain from February, 1895, to December, 1897, is officially given at $240,000,000. 12th: The Cuban Colonial Government has decided to open negotia- tions with the insurgents in the belief that the revolution cannot be sup- pressed by force of arms. * * * -pjjg g^ij Lake Tribune pub- lishes a statement today showing the following bonded indebtedness in the State: State, $900,000. Salt Lake County, $470,000. Salt Lake City, $2,- 548,000. Board of Education, Salt Lake City, $825,000, a total of $4,743,- 000, over seventy per cent of which is owing by Salt Lake City and its Board of Education ijth: At a meeting held in Boston, Massachusetts, today, representa- tives of the various national textile unions voted unanimously to recom- mend that all unions call out the operatives of every cotton mill in New England If the recommendation is adopted 147, 000 operatives may walk out. . i4ih: The Reverend Charles B. Bliss of Salt Lake delivered a sensa- tional address on church matters in Utah before the Congregational Ministers Association, in Boston, this afternoon. Amongst other falsehoods which he tells is the following: The Mormon church has broken faith with the Nation touching polygamy and before Eastern people welcome Mormon missionaries they should demand that the conditions "nominated in the bond" should be fulfilled. Mr. Bliss warned the Boston Congregationalists to beware of the danger that threatened. ijth: Addresses on behalf of the Democratic, Populistic and Silver Republican parties, which are the result of the conferences which have been in progress among the leaders of these parties at the capitol for the past few weeks, were issued today. They seek to unite the members of the three parties in future elections upon the financial issue as the question of paramount importance. * * * At 9.45 tonight a terrific ex- plosion occurred on board the United States battleship "Maine" in Havana harbor. The magnificent vessel was destroyed and 258 of her crew killed. Tlje explosion shook the whole city of Havana and the wildest excitement prevailed. The cause of the explosion is as yet a profound mystery. The "Maine" was a battleship of the second class and was regarded as one of the best ships of the new navy. i6th: Secretary of the navy Long, has ordered the appointment by Admiral Sicard, at Key West, of a board of naval officers to proceed at once to Havana to inquire into the cause of the disaster to the Maine. Pro- found sorrow is expressed by Spanish officials in Madrid and Havana.