Events and Comments

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. Case of Senator Smoot.—On the 13th of June, the steering committee of the Senate practically decided that the Smoot case is to go over until the next session of Congress, which means that it will be considered perhaps next January. On the 10th of June, the committee on Privileges and Elections filed two reports in the Senate, in his case which has been under consideration by the committee for over three years. The majority report, signed by five Democrats and two Republicans, declares that Senator Smoot is not entitled to his seat. This is signed by Senators Burroughs, Dubois, Doliver, Pettus, Bailey, Overman and Frazier. The minority report declares that he is entitled to his seat in the Senate, and the five Republicans who signed it are: Senators Foraker, Knox, Beveridge, Dillingham and Hopkins. The whole matter is now placed before the Senate of the United States, which will make a study of the question and dispose of it. It is clearly evident that the opposition to Senator Smoot has completely failed, and that there is no possibility of obtaining a sufficient number of Senators to deprive Senator Smoot of his seat. Undoubtedly the Senate itself will be as much at sea as the committee has been. While the constituents of most of the senators, and especially the women who have appeared to act by impulse and ignorance of the facts rather than by reason or a sense of justice, detest the "Mormon" Church, it is clear that in a matter concerning a State's constitutional right to representation in the Senate, the members of that body are in duty bound to decide in accordance with the evidence and the law. As to the evidence and the law, it must be clear to every person who has followed this case, that there is nothing that has been offered which would justify the Senate in voting to deprive Utah of her proper representation in the United States Senate. I think that the kernel in this case has been laid bare by Harper's Weekly, which says: It is unquestionably true that no violation of the law against polygamy has been brought home to Smoot himself, and that if he is to be expelled or excluded it must be solely upon the ground that, although himself a monogamist, he is a dignitary of the "Mormon" Church. ****** That is to say, Smoot is to be deprived of the seat in the Senate to which the Utah Legislature, in pursuance of its constitutional rights, elected him, on the exclusive ground of his belief in a religion which is hateful and pernicious in the eyes of a vast majority of the citizens of the United States. It is obvious that on precisely the same ground the Russian Douma would be justified in expelling or excluding Jewish

740 IMPROVEMENT ERA. members, for there is no doubt that the Jewish religion is hateful and pernicious in the judgment of a vast majority of Russia's population. Is it safe to establish a precedent in pursuance of which a United States Senator may be expelled or excluded from his seat on any ground whatever except his personal violation of law? Jesse Nathaniel Smith.—On the 5th of June, Jesse Nathaniel Smith, president of the Snowflake stake of Zion, Arizona, died at his home in Snowflake. He was born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., December 2, 1834, and was the son of Silas Smith and Mary Aikens. Silas Smith was a brother of Joseph Smith, Sr., the father of the Prophet Joseph and of Patriarch Hyrum Smith. His parents early embraced the Gospel which the Lord established through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph, and the boy Jesse grew up amid the stirring scenes of Kirtland, Missouri, and Illinois, and finally arrived with his widowed mother in Salt Lake valley on the 25th of September, 1847. From that time he has labored indefatigably for the building up of the West, and for the establishment and progress of the Latter-day Saints. In 1851 he went to Parowan to reside, where on the year following he married Emma S. West. He took part in civic as well as religious affairs, and held many offices of trust and honor in his county; he was also a representative in the 19th Arizona territorial legislature. In the early settlement of the South, he was a leader in battles against the Indians, and was also prominent in every movement that engaged the attention of the community in whick he resided. Throughout Utah and the West many will remember him as the president of the Scandinavian mission, in the decade from 1861 to 1870, during which he filled two missions to that country. Returning from Scandinavia, he engaged in various pursuits, until called to preside over the Eastern Arizona stake, in the late seventies. In Arizona and Mexico he became the pathfinder of "Mormon" colonies, and with others made it possible for the Latter-day Saints to settle in those regions. He has been a pillar of strength to the Latter-day Saints and to the Church all his days. He was physically strong and of unquestioned integrity and character. His presence inspired faith and power in the hearts of others; and, in the days of trouble, danger, and trial, his very presence inspired men with confidence and hope. His individuality gave strength to the weak, and his noble nature succor to the distressed. With him passes to a better world one of the striking personalities who have helped to establish the character of the Latter-day Saints. Reduced Passenger Rates.—The Oregon Short Line announces that after the first of July passenger rates will be reduced to 3 cents per mile on that whole system. Meat Inspection.—No other subject has attracted the attention of the American public, during the past month, with so much interest, as the revelations exposing the methods of the Packing houses. President Roosevelt sent a special message to Congress urging the immediate passage of legislation providing for the thorough inspection of food products by Packing houses, and with this message was transmitted the preliminary report of the special committee appointed by him to investigate these houses, which report revealed a most revolting condition of

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 741 uncleanliness. On the 26th of May, the Senate passed a rider to the Agricultural Appropriation Bill, providing for a postmortem inspection at every packing house in the United States, of all cattle, sheep, swine, and goats, slaughtered for human consumption. It applies to canned and prepared meats, as well as fresh meats, and directs the destruction of all meat foods which are dyed or artificially colored, ani besides provides heavy penalties for violation, evasion, or attempt at bribery. The exposures made have already affected the sales of American meats in Europe, and have had a tendency to lower the price of cattle. The Royal Marriage in Spain.—On the 31st of May, in Madrid, King Alfonso of Spain, and Princess Ena of Battenburg, who will hereafter be called Queen Victoria of Spain, were married in the Church of San Jeronimo, in the midst of an elaborate program of festivities in their honor. Before the ceremony was performed the bride renounced all rights to the English throne. While the procession was approaching the palace, an anarchist threw a bomb in a bouquet of flowers, just behind the wheel-horses of the carriage containing the king and his bride. By the explosion, eighteen people were killed, and more than fifty injured, including some of the royal escort; but the King and Queen were uninjured. Under such a time and condition, words are not strong enough to express the infamy of such an act. The crime was undoubtedly plotted in London, but the perpetrator was a Spaniard who afterwards took his own life. Heretofore the directors of the anarchist's clubs, of which there are no fewer than ten in London alone, have been careful to safegard the asylum which they have enjoyed in England, by forbidding any hostile demonstration against the British Royal family, but the anarchists in England now argue that Princess Ena ceased to be an English princess when she became queen of Spain. Without doubt there is a deep hostile feeling against royalty in Spain, which is aggravated by the poverty and starvation of the masses. Henrik Ibsen Dead.—This eminent Norwegian poet and dramatist died on the 23rd of May, aged 78. fle was born in 1828, and his first play, Catalina, was produced in Christiania in 1850. In 1857 to 1862, he managed the theaters at Bergen and Christiania, and in 1864, he left Norway, and has chiefly resided abroad since. His dramas are partly prose and partly verse, and include historical plays and satirical comedies of modern life, and a number have been translated into English, and have had presentation even before Utah theater-goers. His last play, published in 1899, is entitled When the Dead Awake. His plays were symbolical and didactic, and appealed only to a few, but will have a lasting influence upon the theater. He gave a new significance to the domestic drama; and to woman, a much higher place than she has ever before held in European drama. Conditions in Russia.—On the 26th of May the Russian premier, Goremykin, read the government's reply to the address adopted by the Douma, in reply to the speech from the throne. All the important demands made by the Douma were refused. They had asked for general amnesty, the compulsory expropriation of land, the abolition of exceptional laws; the responsibility of the ministry to parliament, and the abolition of the upper house. But in this reply, the government's

742 IMPROVEMENT ERA. promises were limited to the extension of elementary education, the creation of local courts, the release of persons arrested under administration order by whom public safety was not threatened, and measures looking to the migration of peasants and their settlement on free land. These deviations of the premier created wild excitement and indignation in the Douma, which body passed resolutions expressing distrust in the ministry, and calling for its resignation and replacement by a ministry in which the Douma could have confidence. The consequence is that a crisis is impending between the government and the Douma, which has already resulted in increasing revolutionary activity, and disaffection and mutiny among the soldiers. The situation is very serious, and Russia is today facing a crisis which bids fair to have momentous results on her future, and which may shortly bring on a reign of anarchy and terror. Simplon Tunnel Opened.—On the 19th of May, the King of Italy formally opened this remarkable tunnel, which extends from Brieg, on the Swiss side of the Simplon mountain, to Iselle, on the Italian side, and is twelve and a-fourth miles long—the longest in the world. It is expected that regular trains will be running through by September. Both ends of the tunnel are now being fortified. The immense cost of its buiding has been borne by the Italian and Swiss governments respectively. The work on the tunnel began in November, 1898, and the two boring parties met in February, 1905, after having overcome some of the greatest engineering problems that have ever been encountered in the world. Death of Carl Schurz.—This writer and political leader died at his home in New York, on May 14. For one-half century he took an active part in the public life of this country. He was born in Germany, March 2, 1829; was educated at the University of Bonn, took part in the revolutionary movement of 1848, fled to Switzerland, and finally, in 1852, left Germany for the United States. Five years later he became a citizen of this country, and soon thereafter was defeated as a Republican candidate for lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin. In 1860, he was appointed minister to Spain; and resigned to enter the army. He served with distinction through the civil war as brigadier-general, and also as major-general. From 1869 to 1875, he was United States senator from Missouri; and under the administration of President Hayes served as Secretary of the Interior. He was editor of the Evening Post, from 1881 to 1884, and in Harper's Weekly exercised much influence as an editorial writer. He was a political channel-finder, and paid but little attention to party, hence he was called unstable, but his honor was unblemished, his patriotism unassailable, and his penetration and intelligence of a very high character. He was, however, considered eratic, and unsafe as a party leader, but this made him the safer as a man who sought to stay by that which is true and right. William Dean Howells, undoubtedly America's greatest writer, speaks of Schurz's recently written autobiography as a masterwork, and a great contribution to history and art, and says: I have no doubt that it will remain his chief monument, and that all his other actions, achievements, qualities, will show there like the inscriptions of some perfect shaft of marble, or some speaking relief of bronze. There is no more

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 743 important or delightful form of literature than that which has chosen this great man to be one of its most admirable exponents. Mr. Howell further says of him that he was a "fighter for freedom in two worlds, a just advocate, an honest politician, a conscientious journalist, and a wise statesman." Oklahoma, the Forty-sixth State of the Union.—On the 16th of June, President Theodore Roosevelt performed the last official act in making the statehood bill a law, when he attached his signature to the certified copy that had come up from the capitol. This creates the forty-sixth state of the Union out of Okla" homa and Indian Territories, with the name of Oklahoma. The bill also provides that the people of Arizona and New Mexico be granted permission to decide by vote whether those two territories shall be admitted as one state of the Union. It is generally conceded that the people of Arizona will vote against the measure, and will rather forego statehood than be united with New Mexico. The President, in signing the statehood bill, used two pens—a gold pen made in Arizona with which he wrote "Theodore;" and an eagle's quill from Oklahoma, with which he wrote "Roosevelt." The President congratulated Senator Beveridge, author of the bill, and Representative Hamilton, chairman of the house committee on territories, on the successful outcome of the long fight for statehood, and expressed the hope that the people of Arizona, at the coming election, would decide to join the Union. Died.—In Salt Lake City, May 1, Bishop Samuel Frink Attwood, born Willington, Conn., February 27, 1825, joined the Church in 1849, and came to Utah in 1851; former bishop of Kamas. -The same day in Payson, Mary Ann Gleave Worsencroft, a Relief Society worker, born Stockport, England, October 20, 1818, embraced the gospel in 1856, and came to Utah in 1864, and settled in Payson.— Thursday, 3rd, in Salt Lake City, Louisa Maria Tanner Lyman, mother of President Francis M. Lyman, aged 87 years, born in Boulton, Warren county, N. Y., and was a pioneer resident of Utah.—Sunday, 6th, at Brigham City, Patriarch John D. Burt, a pioneer of Brigham City, born January 12, 1827, in Dumfermline, Scotland, joined the Church May 18, 1849, and was ordained bishop of the third ward, Brigham City, in 1877, and five years later was chosen second counselor in the Box Elder stake presidency.—Monday, 7th, at South Weber, Mary Peck, a pioneer of Utah, born July 17, 1842, in Cambridgeshire, England.— Thursday, 10th, at Nephi, Edwin Booth, a veteran of Nauvoo, and of the Utah Indian wars.—In Taylorsville, Salt Lake county, Saturday, 12th, Alfred Bennion, second son of John and Mary Bennion, Utah pioneers, born at Taylorsville fortysix years ago. He died from spinal meningitis.—In Provo, Saturday, 12th, Abraham Halladay, an original stockholder in the Provo Woolen mills, and a leading business man of that city, born Warwickshire, England, August 25, 1824; joined the Church in 1848, came to America in 1849, and to Utah in 1852.—Monday, 14th, in Ogden, Dr. Lyman Skeen, Jr., died from tubercular meningitis. He was born July 1,1871.—Thursday, 22nd, in Salt Lake City, Mary Willis, widow of William W. Willis, and a pioneer of 1854.—Saturday, 19th, at Rexburg, Joseph

744 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Terryll, a pioneer resident of Ogden.—Wednesday, 23rd, at Pleasant Grove, Wil liam M. Rampton, one of the oldest residents of that place, and a native of Pennsylvania, also a pioneer of 1847.—Thursday, 24th, in Salt Lake City, William R. Jones, a pioneer and veteran of the Mexican and Utah Indian wars, born at Stockport, England, 85 years ago.—Monday, 22nd, in Salt Lake City, Sara D. S. Woodruff, widow of President Wilford Woodruff, born July 28, 1837, in Bloomfield, Conn., and came to Utah in 1852. History of Taylor Stake, Canada.—The Era has received an authorized Church history of the Taylor Stake of Zion, compiled and published by Elder George H. Budd, stake recorder, and assisted by President Theodore Brandley, Elder Z. W. Jacobs, and clerks of wards and other organizations. The annals dealing with the founding of the various settlements are very interesting, and give a detailed account, not only of the establishment of the settlements, but of the names of the pioneers who opened up the way for the Church in that growing commonwealth. It is certainly a commendable work, and one upon which the future historian may depend for historical facts. The publication of a little work like this is an example that might profitably be followed by other stakes of Zion. Taylor stake may well be proud of her pioneers, both men and women: and, placing upon record their achievements is a commendable enterprise. President Morrell Dead.—On May 30, President Joseph Morrell of the Cache Stake of Zion, died at his home in Logan, Utah. He was born in London, England, February 11, 1856, and came to Utah with his parents, and was baptized July 2, 1868. He worked on the farm in his younger years, and < later as clerk. He married Margaret Rowland. February 28, 1878. From 1879 to 1882 he worked in the wholesale department of the Z. C. M. I. in Logan, and later conducted a business of his own with Robert L. Campbell. From 1880 to 1883, he was an officer in the Y. M. M. I. A.; and in 1883, he filled a mission in the Southern States, laboring in Mississippi. From 1885 to 1888, he acted as bishop in the third ward in Logan, and since the division of the Cache Stake, in 1901, he filled the important position of president of that stake. He was a man of excellent character, congenial disposition, and was loved by all the people. The Touts Sing on Ship.—From the Millennial Star of May 31, we learn: A pleasing and unusual feature of the sailing of the s.s. Arabic from the Liverpool Landing Stage last Friday, was the singing of Elder Edwin F. Tout and daughters. As the boat moved slowly away from the stage the quartet from the top deck sang a number of selections—"The Star Spangled Banner," "0 My Father,'' etc. As the four strong, beautiful voices rang out over the water in perfect harmony, the throngs on the Landing Stage and on the boat stood and listened with rapt attention. At the close of each song there was great applause and cries of, "Another, another!" Not often have the busy Landing Stage crowds been so charmed with beautiful singing. One prominent official who listened to it was heard to remark jocularly, "I wouldn't mind being a 'Mormon' myself."