Events and Comments

— EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. Violent Storms.— Portions of Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana were swept by tornadoes, April 24-26, and in early May, and many villages were wrecked. More than four hundred people, mostly negroes, lost their lives, and two million dollars' worth of property was destroyed. Amite, Louisiana, and Purois, Mississippi, suffered most severely, though many other places were affected. A tornado swept along the Platte river in Nebraska, and did great damage. Second Ward Meetinghouse.— On May 2, the corner-stone of a new and splendid $20,000 meeting house for the 2nd ward, Salt Lake City, was laid on the grounds at 7th South and 5th East. Bishop Heber G. Iverson presided, and the stone was laid by the former owner of the lot, Patriarch James Leach, who has occupied the corner since the spring of 1849, but now donated it to the ward. Speeches were made by President John R. Winder, Elder John Henry Smith, Bishop Iverson, Historian Andrew Jenson, and others. The tin box placed in the stone contained the Church woikti and many of the current Church mag- azines. A Friend of the Young People.— On the 21st of April, James Cottom was thrown from a buggy and instantly killed, in Richville, Morgan county, Utah. He was born February 28, 1842, in England, and was married to Sarah Hope, October 26, 1862. On May 8, 1880, he joined the Church, and in 1891 was called to preside in the Wigan branch, and filled that position until September 17, of the following year, when he emigrated to Utah. He settled in Morgan, later moving to Coalville, and again to Richville, where he has resided most of the time until his death. He leaves a wife and four children, and a host of friends. He was especially a general favorite among the young people, both of his own ward and those adjoining. Asa L. Dickson. Pleased With "Self-Control."— Hon. J. A. Hendrickson writes from Logan, May 1 : "I cannot refrain fram expressing to you my pleasure in observ- ing the announcement in the May Era, just arrived, that you intend to publish, beginning with the June number, the contents of the two books written by Wil-

— 642 IMPROVEMENT. ERA. liam George Jordan, entitled TKe Kingship of Self-Control and The Majesty oj Calmness. I congratulate you on having received this courtesy from Mr. Jordan, and your decision to give to your readers the contents of these volumes. They are worth their weight in gold. Every subject treated, while brief, is applicable to the daily life of every individual, and no one can read them without receiving encouragement, strength of purpose, and added determination for the right. Every line is a gem. As I see it, these two books are among the very best given to the reading public. It has been my pleasure to read them several times, and each time I receive added strength, and feel to extend my thanks to Mr. Jordan for his thoughts." Conditions in India. — It is hard for those who live in countries like the United States and Europe to understand the awful conditions that sometimes pre- vail among the teeming populations of Asia. There the masses live all the time on the ragged edge of existence; and when some calamity, especially famine, overtakes them, their condition often beggars description. Owing to the short- age of rain, and the consequent scarcity of wheat, the price of bread has become abnormally high taroughout India, especially in the North. On an area of 700,000 square miles, there are 50,000,000 people waging a struggle for exist- ence. The government there is taxed to the utmost to meet the situation. Pub- lic works, inaugurated largely for the purpose of affording relief, have employed on them something like a million of men, and it is stated that 378,000 are receiving free aid. India's Viceroy recently telegraphed to the Secretary of State for India that ' 'there are some signs of deterioration in the general condition of the people, and crime is increasing." The unhappy people of that country are so often the victims of famine that the rest of the world is showing more and more indifference in the response to a call for help. It is as if one expected to hear practically nothing else about India but famine, so that in many quarters it has even ceased to awaken any sympathetic interest. Joseph M. Tanner. Delegates to the Republican National Convention. —On May 7, the Republican State Convention met in Salt Lake City to name six delegates and six alternates to the National Convention at Chicago, June 16. There were 470 delegates present, and they endorsed the administration of President Roosevelt and joined in a demand that he be renominated for President of the United States, with Taft as second choice. The delegates chosen, however, were not instructed. Following are the names: Senator Reed Smoot, Senator George Sutherland, Congressman Joseph Howell, C. E. Loose, Dr. C. M. Wilson, Summit Co., W. D. Livingston, Sanpete county. Alternates: A. R. Heywood, Weber, John C. McClain, Salt Lake, Thomas Sevey, Garfield Co. , Preston D. Richards, Salt Lake, Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Box Elder, and Mrs. Susa Young Gates, Salt Lake. There was an effort made by what are termed the "insurgents," or the opponents of Senator Smoot, to pass a resolution demanding that a candidate for United States Senator shall be nominated at the State Republican Convention next fall. This, as was declared, was for the reason that the "peace and tranquilty" of the people of Utah are "paramount to the political aspirations of men or

: EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 043 political machines." The resolution, having only very scattering support, failed of passage and got very little sympathy. Death of Hon. John Clark.— On May 5, 1908, Hon. John Clark, a most respected citizen, formerly mayor of Salt Lake, and leading business man for many years, died suddenly at his home in Salt Lake City. He arrived in Utah, August 24, 1852, at the age of eighteen. He was an orphan, his mother, Jane Wallace Clark, having died when he was little more than a baby, and his father, William Clark, passing away when his son was fifteen. John Clark was born April 3, 1834, in Chilton, England, the family coming to America the next year. His father joined the Church after the death of his wife, and went to Nauvoo, where John was baptized when he was ten years old. John Clark became a mem ber of the Nauvoo Legion , with rank of major, and took part in Utah in many of the Indian campaigns, and in the Echo Canyon war. In politics he served Salt Lake City as city councilor from 1869 to 1888; for three terms, beginning in 1884, he was a membor of the Utah Legislature, and in 1897 was elected mayor of Salt Lake City, on an independent ticket. He filled one mission to England in 1879, where he labored a part of the time in the Liverpool office under the direc- tion of President Joseph F. Smith. He filled many important ecclesiastical offices, including clerk of the Fifteenth ward twenty years, and alternate high councilor in the old Salt Lake stake, and high councilor in the Ensign stake. His wife, Emma M. Empey, whom he married November 23, 1856, died October 31 , 1897. He was a conservative, economic, safe and honest man, faithful to the end. Nine children survive him. Peace Day. — On May 17 was peace day. During the day many thousands of the Latter-day Saints gathered in their houses of worship and sang and spoke the praises of peace. In the Salt Lake Tabernacle Elder Orson F. Whitney spoke on the millennial peace foretold by the poets and prophets, and to which all the Saints are longingly looking forward. But universal peace may never be enjoyed until the coming of the Savior. At the First Congregational Church, the Utah Peace Society held a large gathering presided over by Col. George B. Squires, in the absence of Governor John C. Cutler, and composed of all creeds. Rt. Rev. F. S. Spaulding, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese, spoke. He said that the United States would this year spend $202,445,187 for war preparation, which is twenty times as much as we spend through our agricultural department, to dis. cover by scientific investigation how to increase our supply of food stuffs. It is considered necessary. It is the price of peace. But is it a duty of our country to enlarge her army until she leads the world in this method of securing peace? He thought it should be done at a cheaper cost, and that we could get a truer peace by paying for it in other coin. He would change the motto, "In time of peace, prepare for war," to "In time of temporary peace, prepare for permanent peace. ' ' Emma Ramsey Morris sang, and Bishop Scanlan sent an address to be read. The following officers were elected Utah Peace Society Officers:— President, John C. Cutler; First Vice-President, Dean Benjamin Brewster; Second Vice-President, Rabbi Charles J. Freund; Secre.

' 644 IMPROVEMENT ERA. tary, and Treasurer, J. M. Sjodahl; Directors, John Henry Smith, Mrs. F. S* Richards, Mrs. J. B. Cosgriff, Mrs. W. V. Rice, N. P. Stathakos, Rev. P. A. Simpkin, Judge J. E. Frick. A branch was organized at Prove, with Prof. Alfred Osmond, president. Abuse of the Post Card. —Lyman J. Packer, of Mantua, writes these timely words on the subject to the Era: "Serious ill feelings are sometimes engendered between neighbors and families by the habit of exchanging so-called comic post cards by mail. Instead of being considered funny, as probably intended by the sender, th(iy are considered insulting by the receiver, as indeed they often really are. "Much money is often spent foolishly in buying cards, when it is needed to provide the children with food, clothing, or good books. Parents and guardians should gain the confidence of their children, and teach them to select and send cards, where they can afford them, that are covered with good words and pictures. No child should be permitted to choose for himself without direction. If the habit of sending cards is not to be done away with altogether, (and I do not wish to be understood as advocating that) then the parent or guardian should point out to the boy or girl, and even the young man and woman, the better results from sending sweet and ennobling pictures and verses, rather than the debasing, vulgar kind. This course would create better feelings and cause friendship rather than enmity. ' 'Then there is the moral view of this subject. Some of the post cards un- blushingly displayed in the book stores and souvenir stalls in our cities and towns, are viciously immoral, and would make any decent person disgusted. I personally know, however, that some of these vulgar and debasing cards are actually sent by young men and women and exchanged, too, between lovers. ; In talking with one young married man on this subject, he confessed to me that just before his mar- riage he thoughtlessly sent a card to his sweetheart, that he did not consider evil, but which she thought very vulgar. She broke their engagement on account of it, and not until he succeeded in assuring her that he had not noticed the vulgar view of the card, would she consent to his further attentions. Young men send these vulgar missiles, as they say, for amusement, but it is thought anything but amusing by those who receive them, who are pure in heart and have tender feel- ings. Let me ask such young men a question: 'Would you like your sister or your mother, or any member of your family to receive these immoral cards?' Remem- ber, then, the admonition, 'Do unto others that which you would have others do unto you. ' Some send the cards out of spite, jealousy, or because they entertain a grudge against the person to whom they are sent. In such cases the conscience of the sender is more smitten than the receiver. It is best to make friends. To- day we are independent; tomorrow we need a good Samaritan!" The Soda Fountain Fad. — A correspondent writing from Ogden, in a caustic note to the Era, touches on a subject akin to the extravagant "resort' and "excursion" fads so extensively prevalent during the summer months, — a sub- ject that should prove a lively thought-awakener to all the boys and girls. He

— : a EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 645 mentions the financial side, and refers lightly to the health, but there is a moral phase to the subject of even greater importance than these To my Young Friends: There is among us a comparatively new kind of intemperance, which though still in its infancy, is growing rapidly to alarming proportions. I refer to a habit more or less curtailed in our rural districts, by a lack of opportunity to practice it, but in our cities, where there is an abundance of opportunity, restrained often by only one thing — lack of money or lack of credit. This hab.'t I shall ask the liberty of christening the ' 'Fountain Fad." Lizzie, in our big department store, working for six dollars a week, (good wages for a girl) and trying to help the family, perhaps has her dishes and vases and cut glass dusted by ten o'clock of a hot summer morning, when all worn and warm she "must go over to the drug store and have something." At the door she meets Clarence from the shoe department, going on the same errand, and together they pursue their way to the fountain. Here they find already Edward, from the hardware, with Sarah and Martha from the lace and gloves. The transaction costs Clarence a quarter of a dollar, and Edward nearly four bits. They return to work. Just before noon, Lizzie mMS< have "something cold." Just after noan she must have "something cold. " Before going home at night, she pays the fountain another visit, and two to one it is her turn to ' 'stand treat' ' at least once a day. After supper Lizzie walks out with her girl friend; they pass a drug store; they "have something." Clarence, who is drawing ten a week, and who has a widowed mother, a little sister, and a ravenous bull dog to keep, walks out with his girl friend; they pass a "fountain;"' they have something. And so on. Lizzie once frankly confessed to me that during the summer months, "foun- tains" cost her an average of a dollar a week. Clarence lost his chosen companion because he did not have the money to "buy drinks," and the "dispenser of pleas- ures" had refused to trust him. What do we get for it all? Bone? Muscle? Sinew? Brain? * * * We have only hindered for a little while the health of the system by congeal- ing and freezing our insides. We have only effeminated our minds a very little — scarcely perceptible little — by indulging a habit at once useless, unhealthful and expensive. We have only robbed our judicious pockets of two nickels, three nickels, five nickels, a dollar. If the usages of fashion are at all influenced by the natural trend of history, I make bold to predict the speedy adoption of pock- etless trousers and pancake purses. Your old friend Benjamin Waddlestock. Political Progress in Russia. — The third Douma has been much more quiescent than its predecessors. The ability of the government to send its mem- bers home any time and order a new election with any number of delays it may wish to create, has become so well established, that the last Douma saw that if it had any continued existence, it must either exhibit a more or less submissive attitude, or be dissolved and its members sent home. Whether, as some believe, the Douma can fasten itself upon the established institutions of the country in such a way as to promote the liberty of the people, by accepting small crumbs in the beginning, is a question about which there is considerable doubt. While the

. — 646 IMPRO VEMENT ERA Douma has shown some opposition, and made demands, it has avoided issues with the Prime Minister, and thus prolonged its existence. It has really no powers that the government may not withdraw at will, and it may be disposed of alto- gether. There is one phase of the Douma' s existence and power which may be overlooked, and which explains, perhaps, in some measure, the wish of the Czar and his Prime Minister to have the Douma an established institution of the empire, and that is the effect its existence will have on international questions arising out of the finances of the country. Russia must borrow, must do business abroad, and the Douma will serve the purpose of the autocrat in making the world believe that Russia really has some semblance to a free government. Recently the Douma asked that an assistant cabinet minister be dismissed in con- sideration of its acceptance of the budget. The demand was acceeded to in order that the financial support of the Russian legislature might be given to the world as a guarantee of the financial responsibility of the whole Russian people. Some have thought that this meant ministerial responsibility by which ministers of the Czar must be dismissed when objectionable to the Russian parliament, but it must be remembered that the concession came as a favor, and not as a right, and there is no reason for supposing, at least under present circumstances, that the Czar and his advisors had any intention whatever of granting ministerial responsibility to the demands of the Douma or the people generally. The issue in Russia, after all, must be solved by the peasants of that coun- try, who are phlegmatic, and really not competent to give intelligent direction to political forces. The peasants are in a worse condition than ever. When they were emancipated from their former condition of servitude, by Alexander II, they had per family perhaps double the amount of land which they now have at their disposal. Their condition is fast driving them to desperation. Even were all the crown lands distributed among them, they would not have enough to meet their actual needs; and it looks very much as if something must be done to loosen the grasp which the landed aristocracy has upon the farm lands of the country. While the Bureau of Emigration may succeed in putting a million emigrants a year into Siberia, it will do but little to relieve the situation, as the increase in the popu- lation of the country will more than offset such relief. It is very much to be doubted that the new recruits to the army, coming from the peasant population, as they do, can be relied upon to suppress in the future the peasant revolts. Joseph M. Tanner. The High School Cadets and the Fleet at San Francisco. — About 300 strong, the Salt Lake High School cadets left for San Francisco in a special train, on Saturday morning, May 2. They -were going to witness the arrival of the Atlantic fleet which entered the harbor at noon on the 6th. For days prior to their departure, the school oflacials workad to raise the money so that the boys might go free. The public responded freely, and by assistance from business men, a concert in the large tabernacle, help from the Ogden High School, and by private donations, some $14,000 were collected for the purpose, and the remarkable trip assured. On the 7th, the festivities in honor of Admiral Robley D. Evans and the great fl^et took place in San Francisco. In the immense naval,

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 647 military and civil procession, witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people, were three thousand soldiers and eight thousand five hundred marines, but the youngsters from Utah were favored with the honor of marching at the head, as the personal es- cort of Admiral Evans. They were heartily cheered, made a fine showing, displayed excellent discipline, and won the admiration of the public as well as the com- mendation of the Admiral. He was proud of his young escorts and of their home state, from which by the late Captain Wm.- H. Hooper, he was, in 1860, first ap- pointed to the U. S. Naval Academy. It was a proud day for Admiral Evans, who, notwithstanding his illness, stood the ordeal of tiie tremendous ovation he received with becoming patience and cheer. After the parade, he said: "Say to the people of Salt Lake and Utah that I think the High School cadets are equal to the best trained body of young men I have ever seen. Even after their long march they did not show fatigue in the least. I am indeed proud to have had such a fine, soldierly lot of young men as my body guard." The boys won favors and privileges not only from the Admiral, the soldiers and sailors, but also from the commanders at the Presidio. They were given every privilege to behold the magnificent fleet to the best advantage, and for three hours were permitted to closely inspect the flagship Connecticut. By special invitation they were the only visitors on board when Admiral Evans' flag came down on the 9th, to give place to that of Rear- Admiral Charles M. Thomas. They lined up on deck while the Admiral gave his touching personal farewell to his men, and while Secretary Met- calf's order was read placing Admiral Thomas in charge of the fleet. Admiral Evans must have thought, with the youthful Utahns about him, how fitting the incident that their state should figure in the closing as well as in the opening scenes of his career of forty-eight years of honorable labor in the service of our country. The cadets and their commanders and friends returned home on Monday, 11th May, all well. At Ogden they stopped and marched to the High School grounds where they gave a drill as a courteous appreciation of the spirit shown by the Ogden boys and girls who clubbed together and contributed money to send them to the coast, when the financial horizon looked darkest. The boys' conduct while away was a credit both to them and to their home state, and will prove of great advantage to both. "There never was a better behaved lot of lads. Utah has reason to be proud of them," said Superintendent of Schools D. H. Christensen. Captain Webb, of the High School, who was the responsible disciplinarian of the boys, deserves praise for his splendid control of the camp. On Monday morning, May 11, Admiral Evans passed through Ctah on his way East, and many people met him at the railway station in Ogden, to say "good morning" and "goodby, " to pay their respects to him, and to wish him health and many years of enjoyment in the rest and retirement he has so faithfully earned, in the nearly half century of active life in the Navy. Among those who went from Salt Lake were federal and state officials. Presidents Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Francis M. Lvman, Mr. Willard Done of the Governor's oflBce, Hon. Angus M. Cannon, and Bishop David A. Smith. Admiral Evans expressed his appreciation of the honor shown him by the people, and said because of his appointment he owed a debt of gratitude to Utah.

648 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Rear- Admiral Charles M. Thomas turned over the command of the Atlantic fleet to Rear- Admiral Charles S. Sperry, who took charge as Commander-in-Chief, on May 15. British Prime Minister.— Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman who, owing to ill health, resigned as Prime Minister of Great Britain on April 5, died on the 22nd of the same month, aged 71. In 1868 he was elected to the House of Commons, when he was thirty-two, and represented Sterling from that time to the day of his death. Since 1899, he has been [leader of the Liberal Party, and acted as Prime Minister, since 1905. He was twice Secretary for War, and once Chief Secretary for Ireland, in which positions, as in all others through his long career, he distinguished himself with tact, equanimity, sincerity and courage. He was genial and possessed a simple, but winning humor, that endeared him to his asso- ciates. His successor. Chancellor of Exchequer, Mr. Herbert Henry Asquith, in the 56th year of his age, is described as a first class debater, and fighting man, who possesses an Oxford "superiority" and arrogance, that does not take well with the Irish Nationalists, and that is distrusted by the Labor men who see in him "precisely the kind of Whig they most wish to get rid of." p"**^ A Temperance Lecture, with a Vivid Demonstration. "This photograph," says Colliers, "was taken in Puget Sound, and the second line of the inscription was painted by a sailor."