Events and Comments

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. Indiana and Local Option. — County local option has been enacted by the Indiana legislature. The bill was passed by a vote of fifty-five to forty-five, on the 6th of September. Four Republicans and all of the Democrats but six voted against the measure. The bill was immediately signed by Governor Hanly, one of the greatest temperance advocates in the country. Cholera in St. Petersburg. — During early September, the cholera broke out in St. Petersburg and alarmed the whole country. Hundreds of deaths occurred every day, and it was not until the latter part of the month, that the sharp frosts checked the spread of the disease. At St. Petersburg the number of new cases was reduced to about three hundred a day, and the deaths to about one hundred and fifty daily. Tuberculosis Congress.— On the 28th of September, a very important "Congress on Tuberculosis" was opened at Washington. It was the sixth triennial International Congress on Tuberclosis, and was attended by representatives of thirty foreign countries who were investigators and medical experts. Among them was Dr. Robert Koch, the discoverer of the tubercle bacilli. He reported to the congress that during the past thirty years the mortality from tuberculosis in Prussia had been reduced one half. Traveling in the Air.— On [the 21st of September, Wilbur Wright, who, with his brother, Orville Wright, shares the distinction'of having attained the greatest success in the construction and management of aeroplanes, flying machines, made the new world's record at La Manes, France. He remained in the air one hour, thirty-one minutes and fifty-one seconds, and covered a distance of nearly sixtyone miles. The feat was witnessed by ten thousand spectators, among whom was the American Ambassador Mr. White, who warmly congratulated Mr. Wright upon his achievements. Reduced Postal Rates Between Britain and America.— At midnight, October 1st, the new postal law between Great Britain and the United States went into effect, so that now letters may be deposited at any postoffice in Great Britain or in the United States and sent to America or to Great Britain for the local postage rates, two cents an ounce, which is a reduction of three cents for each letter weighing an ounce or less. This arrangement was reached after long negotiations between the postal authorities of this country and the British government. It is believed that the reduction in the rate will ultimately result in

78 EMENT ERA. increased receipts and freer commercial intercourse. It will also prove a boon to English speaking citizens in this country of limited means, enabling them to keep up a correspondence with their relatives and friends in the old country at domestic rates. The State Democratic Convention convened at Logan on September 22, and the following state ticket was named. Hon. Jesse Knight, the nominee for governor, refused the nomination. On the 2nd of October, the Democratic State committee named J. William Knight, a son of Jesse Knight, nominee for governor; and Samuel A. King was chosen Democratic state chairman to succeed Lyman R. Martineau who was nominated for Representative to Congress: Governor, Jesse Knight, Utah county; Secretary of State, E. R. Owen, Cache county; State Treasurer, Joseph E. Caine, Salt Lake county; State Auditor, J. W. Nixon, Emery county; Superintendent Public Instruction, D. H. Robinson, Sanpete county; Justice of Supreme Court, Samuel W. Stewart, Salt Lake county; Attorney General, Joseph W. Stringfellow, Salt Lake county; Representative in Congress, Lyman R\ Martineau, Salt Lake county; Presidential Electors, Frank B. Stephens, Salt Lake county; Aquilla Nebeker, Rich county; James Andrus, Washington county. Died w th the Harness on. — In 'the introduction to his closing speech at the October General Conference of the Church, President Smith read, for the information of the Saints, the names of seven missionaries who had died in the mission field since the first day of January, 1908, out of a number of two thousand now laboring there. They were: Leroy Hall Southern States mission, typhoid fever. Burdette P. Burdette, Swiss and German mission, drowned. Everett Hall, Central States mission, typhoid fever. John A. Southwick, New Zealand mission, typhoid fever. Emil J. Huber, Turkish mission, typhoid fever. John Leroy Tripp, Netherlands, appendicitis. John Loosly, Swiss and German mission, heart failure. "This,"' he continued, ' 'is sad news, we are sorry indeed for the kindred and loved ones of these good and faithful elders who have met death while laboring in the missionary field. The Lord prolong their memories in Zion, for they died with the harness on — faithful to the covenants they had made and the commission with which they were sent forth to preach the gospel. There are now laboring in the mission field a little over two thousand elders." Priesthood Quorum Study. — The report following has been adopted and will be carried out in the various stakes. It is a very important movement in which presidents of stakes, bishops and the priesthood generally, are specially interested. The report explains itself, but a letter of instructions will accompany the report to presidents of stakes : Salt Lake City, Utah, October 6, 1908. We desire to announce that a committee has been appointed to prepare a course of study for the various quorums of the priesthood, namely, high priests, elders, priests, teachers and deacons. The personnel of the committee is as follows: Rudger Clawson, David 0. McKay, Charles W. Nibley, Orrin P. Miller, David A.. Smith, Joseph B. Keeler, Charles C. Richards, P. Joseph Jensen, Stephen L. Richards, Nephi Anderson,

EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 9 Edward H. Anderson, David 0. Willey, Jr., Henry H. Blood, Joseph J. Cannon, Sylvester D. Bradford and John M. Mills. The lessons have been in course of preparation for months past. By and with the consent of the First Presidency, the following suggestions are presented for your consideration and adoption: 1. That before December 15th, 1908, presidents of stakes and bishops of wards make special efforts to get every worthy member ordained to the priesthood, and properly enrolled in the quorum in which he can do the most efficient service to the Church. In connection with this, effective work may be done among young men, and older ones too, who are addicted to evil habits by influencing them to make a general "clean-up" preparatory to their joining this great quorum mtvement. 2. That in every ward a weekly priesthood meeting be held on Monday night. 3. That the first weekly priesthood meeting be held in every ward in the Church on the first Monday night in January, 1909, and that each quorum take up the first lesson in the prescribed course. 4. That special stake conferences of the priesthood be held in every stake throughout the Church, commencing November 29th, and continuing each Sunday thereafter until December 27th, these appointments to be made after the schedule of conferences is made out for the next six months. It is recommended further that at these conferences three meetings be held as follows: One with the stake presidency and high councilors; one with the stake presidency, high council and bishopric; and another with all the priesthood. 5. That at each of these conferences there be at least two elders representing the general authorities of the Church, one of whom should be a member either of the council of twelve, or the presiding bishopric, or of the special committee on course of study for the priesthood. Utah State Fair. — The thirtieth State Fair of Utah passed into history at 10:30 p. m. on Saturday, October 10, with the following record of attendance for the week that it was open: Monday, 9,000. Tuesday, 14,000; Wednesday, 29,000; Thursday, 22,000; Friday, 31,000; Saturday, 15,000; total, 119,000. Friday, children's day, was the big day of the fair from point of attendance, but Wednesday, was the big day when receipts are to be considered. The total attendance at the fair in 1907 was 106,000. The fair was at least a third larger in every detail than last year, and cost much more, of course, than any other ever held. The mining industry was not represented this year, but it is the plan of the directors to have a new building erected for Utah's chief industry by another season. However, the buildings and grounds were more thoroughly covered by exhibits than ever before, and President J. G. McDonald stated that it was more nearly a state fair than ever before — that is, the whole state was more nearly interested and represented than ever before. The manufacturing, agricultural, horticultural, and educational departments surprised and pleased everybody; which may also be said of the displays of cattle, horses, sheep swine and poultry, which were big items in the success of the fair, not forgetting the dogs. Utah's list of factories for home products is growing yearly, and the display of home manufacture under Frank J. Hewlett, supervisor, was an inspiration for boosting to all who saw it. At no other time has the practical side of agricultural machinery been shown to greater advantage than at this fair. The woman's work was larger and finer than ever before; and the educational and fine arts dis-

80 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . plays merited praise from all hands. The races were many, glorious, and well' patronized, and Supervisor Lester D Freed, with his host of fine horses, put up splendid exhibitions of the best horse flesh in the west in action. The agricultural displays, under Supervisor Wm. C. Winder, told many interesting stories, and demonstrated why Utah farms are attracting attention throughout the agricultural world. The dairy products were in greater profusion and of a higher standard than ever before, and explained why Utah wins at the displays in other states. There was an unusual activity on the "Pike," where more "shows," bad and indifferent, were in evidence than has ever been witnessed in like space before. Many of these may well be "cut out" of next year's fair. In all departments there is cry for more room, and to satisfy the demands for a greater fair more expenditure for next year will be needed. It must be said for the street car company that never before have the crowds been handled with such facility and dispatch. A. special word should be said in favor of the splendid educational display of the State Agricultural College in charge of Professor L. A. Merrill, and President John A. Widtsoe. Each of the six sections of the college were well represented by cleverly arranged displays in agriculture, horticulture, domestic science and art, mechanical arts, ornithology, entomology and live stock; and fruit exhibits were shown from the three experimental farms at Logan, Lehi and St. George. At this display also was exhibited the great sweepstakes loving cup, won at Albuquerque by Utah at the Irrigation Congress. The fair altogether was a great credit to the state, and President McDonald, Secretary H. S. Ensign, and all the department supervisors and helpers, deserve great praise and credit for their faithful labors . [Photo by Geo. Albert Smith. Uintah Railway Ferry across Green River, near Vernal, Utan.