--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Edward H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 2 published: 1907-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Edward H. Anderson, "Events and Comments," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 2 (December 1907): 154–160.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1102unse 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: improvementera1102unse start_page: 154 end_page: 160 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1102unse publication_year: 1907 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 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events and Comments EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. The "Wayne Sentinel" of 1830.— The Era has been favored with the perusal of a copy of theWayne Sentinel .Volume VII, No. 30, dated Palmyra, N.Y., Friday, April 16,- 1830. This paper was published every Friday, by E. B. Grandin, at his printing office and book store, Main street, Palmyra, Wayne Co., New York. As Mr. Grandin was the publisher of the first edition of the Book of Mormon, the paper is of special interest. It contains an advertisement of the Book of Mor- mon, dated March 26, 1830. The advertisement consists of the words in full found on the title page of the book as now printed, as far as the name of Joseph Smith, whose name is signed "Author and Proprietor." The punctuation differs, but otherwise the words are now appear. Mr. E. B. Grandin signs just as they the advertisement, and above his signature says: "The above work, containing about 600 pages, large duodecimo, is now for sale, wholesale and retail, at the Palmyra Book Store of E. B. Grandin." The advertisement is interesting, as it throws some additional light on the length of time that the Book of Mormon was printed prior to the organization of the Church on the 6th of April, 1830. The Financial Panic. — Beginning with the failure of Otto Heintz, about the financial troubles in New York about the first of the middle of October, November were very serious. The runs on various banks continued untilJ. Pier- pont Morgan and the secretary of the national treasury came to the relief of the situation. It was such temporary relief as was needed to settle the fear that took hold of people who had money, and which induced them to withdraw it from the banks and hoard it until the financial cyclone should pass. Confidence is gradu- ally being restored. Large amounts of gold are coming from abroad. The mints are coining new double eagles, clearing house certificates are being used in all the chief centres, and certified checks are issued by the banks and used as a circulating medium, all of which is relieving the situation. The shock was felt in all parts of the country, and in Utah the banks, as a precautionary measure, refused to pay more than $100, and in some cases $50, in currency to any one de. positor in one day. Certified cashiers' checks were paid out and used as money to meet pay rolls and other dues. There has heen a general tendency to restrict speculations owing to the money stringency, and in some instances building, min- and other ventures, have been temporarily abandoned. The cause of the < EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 155 trouble was over- prosperity, which enabled frenzied financiers to gain control of banking institutions and use the money in over-speculation. The result was a severe shock to the whole country, which will doubtless end in a more conserva- tive course, and, in the coming session of Congress, in the passage of laws that will reform the currency and safeguard the country against recurring panics. November Election.— Twelve states as follows held elections on November 5: Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Kentucky and Mississippi, elected governors and other officers; Ohio, California and Utah elected only municipal tickets; New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nebraska ai d New York elected certain state officers and justices. The Democrats, as usual in non-presidential years, made a number of gains. Salt Lake City elected John S. Brandsford, "American," as mayor, who received 11,774 votes, against 5,952 for Richard P. Morris, Democrat, and 6,270 for Charles G. Plummer, Republican. The city council remains "American." The result of the vote in Salt Lake City dhows that the Republican and Democratic votes are about equally divided, the Republicans casting only 318 votes for mayor more than the Democrats; whereas the plurality of Brandsford over the Republican candidate was 5,504. It shows clearly that the so-called "Mormon" vote was cast for the old parties, whereas the "non-Mormon" vote went practically unani- mously for the "American" party. Ogden City, Utah, elected a Democratic mayor, Hon. A. L. Brewer, by a small majority, with all the other general officers Republican. Logan elected a Democratic mayor by 31 votes; and Provo also elected a Democratic mayor, the council being still Republican, by a small majority. Many other cities in the state were mixed. Spanish Fork went completely Repub- lican, also Pleasant Grove and Lehi; but in Brigham City the Democrats won a sweeping victory. Park City elected a Republican city ticket except the city re- corder and treasurer; and Nephi elected a whole Republican ticket. The Union Stake Tabernacle.— In another part of this number of the Era a portiait and a description of the Union stake, Oregon, tabernacle are given. In this connection it may interest the reader to know that the people of that stake are very proud of their tabernacle, and that the pride is not confined to members of the Church alone, for outside friends have shown and do show their appreciation in having such a magnificent church building in La Grande. We are told that they have taken occasion at various times to refer publicly to it as an example of what united community effort will do. At the dedicatory services, President Franklin S. Bramwell stated publicly that the building was open without cost to all' religious denominations for conferences and other special gatherings which would be too large for their own churjhes,and also for all other worthy and legitimate purposes. On two or three occasions this privilege has been accepted with due appreciation. The new $5,000 pipe organ which is now being built, will be another attraction that will add effect to the missionary work which is al. ready being done by the tabernacle itself. Many strangers have attended church tfhere, and have gone away better informed than before in relation to the Latter- 156 IMPROVEMENT ERA. > day Saints and their religion. Elder H. M. Munson, in a statement to the Era. says: 'It may not be uninteresting to know that seven and a half years ago there was no Church organization in La Grande valley, and there were only a few scattered families of Latter-day Saints who had followed the establishment of the sugar factory > here a year or two before. In June, 1900, a branch of the Church and a Sunday school were organized at La Grande. Emigration from Utah and Idaho began to increase, and in one year after the organization in La Grande, the Union stake was organized, which has continued to grow in strength and numbers ever since. The dedication of our tabernacle, last June, marked the sixth anniversary of the organization of our stake, the stake having long since outgrown the old meeting house in La Grande. Each of the wards of the stake has its own meeting house, and the houses are mostly paid for. This is a very good showing, when it is con- sidered that the people have come from distant parts to esablish themselves in new homes, many of them having only little means to begin with." Secretary Taft in Manila.— On October 15 Secretary Taft arrived in Manila, and was enthusiastically welcomed by 50,000 of the natives. On the following day, the first Filipino Assembly was opened at Manila, and Secretary Taft made the opening address. He gave a very direct statement of the policy of the United States with respect to the islands. He said: "Our present policy in the Philippines must log- ically result finally in ending the sovereignty of the United States, unless both peoples agree to retain the bond owing to mutually beneficial trade relations. " Later in his speech he stated, however, that in his belief ' 'the period of polit- ical preparation for the Filipinos will probably take considerably longer than a generation.'' He stated also that it had been reported that he had come to say bitter words because of the election. "Nothing is falser. I am filled with a spirit of friendliness and encouragement. * * * As you conduct your proceedings and SECRETARY TAFT. shape legislation on patriotic, conservative, in- telligent and useful lines, you will show capacity to participate in the government. Finally, upon you the responsibilty of falls achieving success, and bringing a greater extension of political power, or, through neglect and obstruction, of requiring the confiscation of your existing powers be- cause they were prematurely granted." The Philadelphia Press believes that the opening of the Assembly "begins a new chapter in the world's colonial administra- tion," and represents "the greatest and most successful national experiment in teaching self-government the world has yet seen." Sydney Brooks, the British political writer, satirizes this idea, and the American idea of administration in the islands. He says: "After nine years of American rule, a congress of peoples, many of whom live in trees, the bulk of whom are still in the tribal stage ' EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 157 of civilization, and all of whom have been ruled for the past four hun- dred years or so under Spanish tutelage, are adjudged fit to undertake the full responsibilities of democracy. * * * * It is an amazing theory, and it has led in the Philippines to some amazing results, * * * * American rule in the Philippines has indeed been a strange affair. So far as it has gone, the first attempt ever made to 'hustle' and Americanize the East, looks like breaking down." But it must be remembered that British and American notions of government never did agree. And let it be said to the credit of Congress, that in the government of those islands we have contradicted what- ever precedents have heretofore been set by Great Britain, as well as by France, Spain and Holland. And it may be well for Great Britain, if she hopes to retain India, to follow our example. End of the Hague Peace Conference.^On October 18, the International Peace Conference at the Hague adjourned, having the day previous drawn up a summary of its labors, including thirteen "conventions" actually agreed upon by that body. These conventions, named in the dispatches, leave the average reader in doubt as to what they provide. They will be binding only on such powers as sign them before June 30, 1908, and read as follows: 1. The peaceful regulation of international conflicts. 2. Providing for an international prize-court. 3. Re- gulating the rights and duties of neutrals on land. 4. Regulating the rights and duties of neutrals at sea. 5. Covering the laying of submarine mines. 6. The bombardment of towns from the sea. 7. The matter of the collection of contrac- tual debts. 8. The transformation of merchantmen into war-ships. 9. The treat- ment of captured crews. 10. The inviolability of fishing boats. 11. The inviola- bility of the postal service. 12. The application of the Geneva Convention and the Red Cross to sea warfare; and, 13. The laws and customs regulating land warfare. The seventh specially interests South America; the second, fifth and twelfth are hailed with considerable satisfaction by the American press. Dis- appointment and not altogether discouragement is the attitude of the American papers on the labors of the conference, and their general sentiment is that while it accomplished little, the conference is not a failure, and will lead to a third. The British view is not so bright. They point out that two of the main questions: limitation of armaments, and the establishing of a court of compulsory arbitration, were dismissed without result, and that the conference was a "peace comedy," and a "fiasco." The Saturday Review thinks that the Hague conference has ab- solutely neither settled nor made more likely the future settlement of any of the great questions which have been before it." German papers are not so pessi- mistic, but the German delegate, Von Bieberstein, is charged with having con- trolled the conference, and especially having opposed any desire of the United States and Great Britain, and directed the issues according to German wishes. The French papers think that ' 'the results of the conference do not amount to much," but the Revue is quoted as saying, "If the second conference has not guaranteed the peace of the world, the good- will which exists between the dele- ' gates of all nations has been plainly proved. ' , 158 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Utah at the Jamestown Exposition.— Utah Day was appropriately ob- served at the Jamestown Ter-CeDtennial Exposition, on October 15. Governor Cutler, former Governor Arthur L. Thomas, Hon. Wesley K. Walton, and Judge H. B. Henderson, members of the Utah Commission, and a number of other prom- inent Utah citizens were in attendance. Two of Utah's famous musicians, John I J. McClellan, the Tabernacle organist, and Willard E. Weihe, the violinist, gave splendid support by their playing, which was pronounced by those who heard it among the most pleasing of the musical recitals given at the Exposition during the season. An address of welcome was given by Lieutenant Governor J. Taylor Ellyson, of Virginia, who made particular reference to the. honor felt by the citizens of Virginia and the officials of the Exposition, in the visit of prominent citizens from a State so far west. He was followed by Director General Martin who said that Utah was the only one of the western States that had made an appropriation for r M^^fW^^^^MJr^-''' i?wrp*& wHaP HMJfflMWPv^w^^lSP^^- 1 ' 1 w fe^fiL | '>^H Sr^ v ^rJ$nfB v .'; \" ,";" %-? ... _•- w fe too -c* ;'' ; -- «"„'£ "^ Ill 1 vl -'-.' r . Ld 'V* : rVH- \\ ..... . . ..-.-: ^*«£g - 4 •» , - - - -*.' '-.':' ."""''-' - "" 8 -'"-" ~^?i'-^-»™»' «.~ '..,.. ".;-^^™ *'l x%V- ^ra^SPIrelll * , •• .-*~-^^^- - J .-] b&3 '" v , *-"•"- E££taiejA» ' --^~-. " " ~' ; s. - =«, WHERE THE JAMESTOWN COLONISTS FIRST WORSHIPED. EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 159 representation at the Exposition, and sent a delegation for the observance of a State day. Governor Cutler followed, in an address in which he called attention to the parallel between the settlement of Virginia in its encouraging effect on the mak- ing of other settlements in the new world, and the settlement of Utah in its effect on the building up of the west. He paid a high tribute to the leaders in both these great movements. A brief account of the resources of Utah, and the con- ditions existing here, was given, followed by a tribute to the citizenship of the State and an invitation to his hearers to come to Utah and become acquainted with conditions by actual contact with the people. Former Governor Thomas followed with an address in which he took occasion to praise the people of our State, and called especial attention to the excellent work done by the two musicians who had taken part in the day's exercises. Re- citals were given by Professors McClellan and Weihe, not only on Utah day but on several subsequent occasions. Governor Cutler says that he was impressed by the solid and permanent char- acter of the buildings of the Exposition. He was warm in his praise of the Ex- position as a memorial to the great work done by the founders of the Nation, and stated that he had particularly enjoyed his visit to the places made interesting by their historic associations. Utah Day was declared by the officials of the Exposi- tion to be as interesting as any State day observed there. Bishop Robert Taylor Burton. —In the death of Bishop Robert T. Bur- ton, which occurred at his home in Salt Lake City, on Monday, November 11, 1907, there passed away one of the historical pioneers of the Church, of Western America, and of the state of Utah. In 1817, his parents, Samuel and Hannah Shiplev Burton, emigrated from England to America, residing first in New York about three years, and then removed to Canada West, where he was born in Amersberg, October 25, 1821. From the time he was converted to the gospel, at the age of sixteen, to the time of his death— in Missouri, in Illinois, in the exodus and in Utah — he was ever in the forefront of the religious, civil and military bat- tles of the community. He returned with his parents to the United States in 1828, and later went to Canada, in 1838, where he was baptized, October 23, bat year, by Elder Henry Cook. In 1843 and 1844. he filled a mission in Illi- nois, Michigan and Ohio, returning to Nauvoo just two weeks prior to the martyr- dom of the Prophet and Patriarch. He was on guard in Nauvoo at the time of the tragedy in Carthage. In the exodus from Nauvoo the Burtons crossed the river in February, 1846, and joined the Saints at Winter Quarters in May, 1848, the mother of the fami'y having died in the meantime, and was buried in a lonely grave on the banks of the Missouri. Robert T. Burton crossed the plains in the company of Brigham Young, and arrived in Salt Lake City in the latter part of September, 1848. He joined the local militia in 1849, and took part in all the early campaigns against the Indians, and aided in protecting the settlers from their depredations. In 1853, he was made Captain; in 1855, Major; in 1857, Colonel; and in 1868, he was commissioned Major-General by Governor Duikee. He aided the belated 160 IMPROVEMENT ERA. handcart company in the fall of 1856, took part in the Echo Canyon war in 1858, protected the mails and settlers on the Platte in 1862, engaging also that year in the "Morrisite War" on the Weber; and until its disbandment in 1870, was one of the principal men with Lieutenant General Wells, who perfected and directed the operation of the Territorial Militia. His civil offices were many, including constable of Salt Lake, U. S. deputy marshal, sheriff, assessor and collector, Territorial deputy marshal, collector of internal revenue, by appointment of President Lincoln, member of the city council and territorial legislature, and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Deseret. His ecclesiastical offices are no less numerous: bishop's counselor, bishop of the 15th ward, Salt Lake, missonary to the Eastern States (1869), to England (1873), second counselor to Bishop Edward Hunter, (1875) until the Bishop's death (1883i when, July 31, 1884,he became first counselor to Bishop W. B. Preston, in which capacity he continued actively to officiate until the day of his death. He was a farmer and home manufacturer, besides. He, with others, built and oper- ated the Wasatch Wollen mills on Farley s creek, and on his State Street farm, raised cattle and cultivated the land. He was full of integrity, courageous and upright; and his fidelity to duty and trust was never questioned. Funeral services were held in the Assembly Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 10 a. m., and he was buried in the Salt Lake City cemetery. Among those who spoke were Presidents John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund and Joseph F. Smith. Pioneer of 1847 Dead. — Conrad Kleinman, one of the original company of Utah Pioneers, died in St. George, Utah, November 12, 1907. He was born in Germany, April 19, 1815, and was therefore in his 93rd year. He came to America when 18 years of age. He moved to lSiauvoo in 1839, where he helped build the temple, and where he stood guard during the troublous times. He joined the original Pioneers in Winter Quarters, and entered Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847. In Salt Lake he was first counselor to Bishop Pettigrew of the 10th ward, and was called to St. George in 1861, settled in Toquerville in 1867, and in Mesa, Arizona, with his family in 1882, where most of his children now reside. He re- turned to St George, in 1901, where he finished his days engaged in temple work. He was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle John Henry Smith. Third Douma. — The third Douma opened at St. Petersburg on November 14, in a dignified Under the election law, the owners of and orderly manner. land had the right to elect most of the members, and the peasants had little chance. There are 189 Monarchists, 113 Octobrists or Moderates, 33 constitu- tional Democrats and 24 Radicals. This, of course, does not represent the peo- ple, and the policy of repression goes on. filling the prisons, while assassinations are said to be numerous though not reported. The people regard the new Douma as a farce. Premier Stolypin for the government is not even sure that the new Douma, with so many radicals, will accept either autocracy or bureaucracy, on the old lines. The struggle will come when the Douma will be asked to authorize the borrowing of $800,000,000, which loan is based on the imperial lands which the people are demanding for themselves, and which will be lost to them if the loan is authorized.