Events of the Month

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY THOMAS HULL, GENERAL SECRETARY OF Y. M. M. I. A. Local—December 16—State farmers' institutes, well attended, are held in American Fork and Mt. Pleasant Ex-postmaster Charles Meighan, of Ogden, is sentenced to one year in the State prison for embezzlement 17—Profs. Merrill and Hutt held a farmers' institute at Manti; there is a movement on foot to establish an experi- mental dry farm in Sanpete. Farmers have arranged for weekly meet- ings 18—The Supreme Court reverses the lower court in the text-book case, which means that the work of the Convention last May was legal. It is victory and vindication for State Superintendent A. C- Nelson and the County superintendents of schools Father Spence, born Scotland, Nov. 5, 1824, died in Wellsville, Cache Co Profs. Merrill and Hutt held a farmers' meeting at Gunnison 19—Farmers' institutes are held at Heber, Wasatch Co., by Profs.Widtsoe and Ball, and at Salina, Sevier Co., by Profs. Merrill and Hutt Anders Nilsson, a faithful old resident of North Salt Lake, 80 years of age, died from exposure, having accidentally fallen into a canal 20—Farmers' institutes are held in Provo, Richfield, Elsinore, Payson and other places Annie D. Hill, a public school teacher, dies under mysterious circumstances in a Salt Lake doctor's office 21—In all the stakes and wards of Zion,the Saints celebrate, by appropri- ate services, in song and speech, the 97th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith 24—George W. Thatcher, a pioneer of Utah, and a leading figure in her history and business, born Springfield, 111., in 1840, died in Logan, Cache Co The case against Clyde Felt, for murder, was dismissed Shadrach Holdaway, a mem- ber of the Mormon Battalion, born Tenn., Oct. 15, 1822, died in Provo 25—John Allen, came to Utah in 1875, age 51, a former Salt Lake City Councilman, died 26—An important agreement is ar- rived at by four canal companies now drawing water from Utah Lake; by which they will combine as the Utah Lake Resevoir and Canal Co., with a capital of $487,500, with a primary right of 4*0 cubic feet per second Isaac J. Seeley, who came to Utah in 1848, died in Mill Creek, age 65 years 27—Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, widow, of Col. J. C. Fremont, the Pathfinder, died in Los Angeles Samuel C. Mitton, an old-time resident of Wellsville, died in Logan 28—The Lehi sugar factory ends its run for this season, having

318 IMPROVEMENT ERA. sacked 21 million pounds of sugar The 33rd ward was organ- ized from the 10th, in Salt Lake City, with Robert A. Brighton, bishop; Samuel Wells, 84, and Halvor Olsen, 72, died; they were the oldest residents in Sevier Co 29—The First National Bank of Murray was authorized to begin business, capital $25,000, L. S. Hills, president, L. W. Burton, acting cashier. January 1, 1903—"Corianton" is presented to a large house in Logan A freight train on the Tintic line of the Rio Grande is wrecked near Goshen 2—The non-"Mormons" of Provo circu- late a statement favoring Reed Smoot for the Senate 3—The City of Murray inaugurated its officers The Utah National bank, Salt Lake, has been purchased by a syndicate headed by President Anthon H. Lund, John Henry Smith, W. H. Smart, T. R. Cutler and others Geo. A. Lowe, born Ashburnham, Mass., May 16, 1836, a leading business man and citizen of Utah since 1870, died in Salt Lake City Gen. Wm. Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, addresses large crowds at the Salt Lake Theatre Augusta Greenhalgh, age 68, a resident of Santaquin, died 5—Judge H. H. Rolapp sentences Brown, the murderer of a Chinaman in Ogden, to 40 years in the State prison Johanna Anderson, mother of C. A. Carlquist, born in Sweden, March 27,1827, died in Salt Lake City 6—James Larson, a teacher in the L. D. S. University, dies of small-pox Arnold G. Giauque is elected president of the Salt Lake Board of Education 7—Ex-Postmaster Charles Meighan, of Ogden, at his own request, he having no money for expenses of a new trial, was taken to the pen to begin his imprisonment for embezzlement of office funds 8—Senator Kearns, in an interview, declares that President Roosevelt had requested him to state that the President hopes no apostle will be elected U. S. Senator, as such action would work great harm to Utah, and would be very unwise, as it would arouse oppo- sition and inject unfortunate questions into national politics. The inter- view caused great comment and discussion 9—Apostle Reed Smoot says he is still a candidate for the Senate, and does not believe the President will interfere The Republican caucus agree up- on Hon. E. M. Allison, Jr., for president of the Senate, and Hon. Thomas Hull for Speaker of the House 10—Smallpox becomes epe- demic in various parts of the State 11—Myron Tanner, father of Dr. J. M. Tanner, and a pioneer in Utah, as well as a leader in her in- dustrial, religious, financial, educational and political life, died at Forest Dale 12—The Senate of the fifth Utah Legislature organized, electing Hon. E. M. Allison, Jr., President, while the House elected as Speaker Hon. Thomas Hull 13—Governor Wells' message was read to the Legislature. He .congratulates the people on the eighth year of statehood, and the joyous event of the new century, and in detail dwells upon the needs and doings of the public institutions of Utah, her industry, and her necessities in the way of new laws James Currie, a pioneer of 1852,died in Salt Lake City 14—The Republican legislative caucus nominated Reed Smoot for the Senate by 38 votes, as against six for Sutherland, two for Wells and two for Geo. M. Cannon. Domestic—December 15—New York bankers form a money pool of

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 319 fifty millions to meet emergencies caused by money stringency 16—The Senate ratifies the treaty with Spain John D. Rockefeller presents one million dollars to the Chicago University. 17—The Urgent Deficiency bill, carrying over one million dollars, passed on the 15th by the House, is passed by the Senate. 18—The Panama Canal Treaty is delayed, owing to a disagreement over the amount of the annuity to be paid Colombia 19—The pruvisions of tbe Cuban reciprocity treaty are made public 22—Mascagni, the musician, cancels all his open dates, and brings his American tour to an end in Chicago 23—The U. S. Supreme Court decides that an insurance policy on a man executed for murder is invalid The quarantine on cattle is raised in Connecticut 24—President Roosevelt is asked by Germany and Britain to act as arbitrator in the Venezuelan controversy; he declines and asks that the matter be referred to the Hague, thus saving the integrity of that tribunal 29—Binger Hermann, Commissioner of the General Land Office, resigns The new battleship Maine is put into commission at League Island navy yard, Pa 30—Senor Azpiroz, Mexican U. S Ambassador, confirms the report that Mexico will change from a silver to a gold money standard. January 1, 1903—The U. S. Steel Corporation announces a plan by which profits will be shared by employees The United States announces willingness to accept China's indemnity on a silver basis 2—The new cable from Hawaii carries greetings to President Roosevelt The President orders the Indianola, Miss., post office closed, owing to enforced resignation of colored post- mistress 4—Reports of the Philippine Commission and Governor Taft are made public 6—Andrew Carnegie offers $1,500,000 for the erection of thirty libraries in Philadelphia A bill passes the House providing for the redemption of Hawaiian silver coins In sending the Philippine commission report to Congress, President Roosevelt recommends an appropriation of $3, 000,000 to relieve distress in the islands The Washington Carnegie library is dedicated 9—The Cabinet decide not to accept the resignation of Mrs. Cox, the colored postmistress at Indian- ola, Miss. The citizens have established a private office for distribution of mails 10—It is reported that President Roosevelt ob- jects to the candidacy of Reed Sraoot to the Senate, from Utah, because of an oath by which, as an apostle of the Mormon Church, he is said to have renounced all allegiance to the State 11—Thousands of residents of Manila urge Gov. Taft not to leave the islands, fearing a change in policy, should he leave to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court 12—Intense cold prevails throughout the cen- tral states 13—Judge W. B. Hey burn is chosen Senator by the Idaho Legislature, and Senator Perkins of California is chosen to suc- ceed himself 14—The Connecticut Republicans name O. H. Piatt for the senate in a three-minute caucus .-.. The bill providing for a rebate of coal duties passed the House by a vote of 258 to 5.

320 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Foreign.—December 15, 1902.—Italy joins Germany and England in making demands on Venezuela 16—Russia presses China to assist in the establishment of customs and postal services under Russian supervision at principal stations of the Manchurian railway 17—Premier Balfour announces a state of war existing between Great Britain and Venezuela 19—The allies accept pro- posal of arbitration made in behalf of Venezuela by U S. Minister Bo wen, Caracas 20—The allies ask President Roosevelt to act as arbitrator in the Venezuelan trouble Official proclamations of the Venezuelan blockade are issued in London and Berlin Many thousand people are reported starving in Finland and northern Sweden The Czar pardons 58 students who were sent to Siberia 21—Marconi announces his success in establishing wireless telegraphic communication between Cape Breton, Canada, and Cornwall, England 22—By earthquake at Andigon, Turkestan, 2,500 people are killed and 1,600 houses destroyed 26—The Powers concerned in the Venezuelan controversy agree to submit the case to the Hague tribunal. Secretary and Mrs. Chamberlain arrive at Durban, South Africa, and Lieut.-General Miles arrives at Pekin 27—The Roumanian senate adopts a measure providing for the naturali- zation of Jews 28—Marconi continues daily wireless communication with England 29—The Viceroy of India officially opens the Coronation Durbar at Delhi The Cuban Senate refuses to meet in extra session to dispose of the reci- procity treaty with the United States 30—France and Guatemala agree to submit their differences to the Hague tribunal 31—Announcement is made from St. Petersburg that financial help for starving Finland will be welcomed. January 1, 1903—King Edward is officially proclaimed Emper-or of India at the Coronation Durbar, Delhi 3—Preparations are making to place Spain on a gold basis German ma- rines land at Puerto Cabello. Venezuela, to cover the seizure of vessels in the inner harbor by the blockading fleet European powers menace China, and decide upon the payment of the indemnity on a gold basis 4—The Sultan of Morocco is reconciled with his brother, and the rebellion ends 5—Ex-Premier P. M. Sagasta died in Madrid 7—All the ministers except the American envoy sign the note warning China she must pay her in- demnity in gold 8—Thirty thousand troop3 led by Lord Kitchener are reviewed by Lord Curzon, at the Durbar exercises at Delhi, Venezuela accepts all the conditions demanded by the powers 10—As King Alphonso was coming from church in Madrid, a deranged man fired into the royal procession 11—Advices from Morocco indicate that the situation is not improving. The Sultan's troops are selling their weapons to the pretender 14—Daily street parades of London's unemployed are causing much apprehension.