--- 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: 12 number: 9 published: 1909-07 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* 12, no. 9 (July 1909): 756–760.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1209unse 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: improvementera1209unse start_page: 756 end_page: 760 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1209unse publication_year: 1909 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 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events and Comments EVENTS AND COMMENTS, BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. The Philipine Assembly.— On the 20th of May, the Philippine Assembly adjourned, and just before adjourning Speaker Osmena offered resolutions in- structing the Philippine delegates at Washington to work for the granting of im- mediate independence to the islands. This resolution was adopted without dis- sent, all the Nationalists voting for it, while the minority party, or Progressives, were permitted by their own request to refrain from voting. What Utah Stands For.— Superintendent of Schools A. C. Nelson, in speaking about Utah recently at Heber, Wasatch county, at a school commence- ment, related an incident of a man in Oklahoma who asked this question: "What does Utah stand for?" Mr. Nelson quickly replied: "This is what Utah U-T-A-H — stands for: — U for union and unity; T for truth and tenacity and tol- erence; A for ambition and ability: and H for honor and happiness." President Lund Leaves for Eurooe.— President Anthon H. Lund, wife and daughter, left for Europe to visit most of the European capitals and a num- ber of Church conferences, also President Lund's birthplace in Aalborg, Den- mark. They sailed from New York on June 19. President Lund while in Europe will visit the conferences in Denmark, also those in Norway and Sweden and be expects to return home through Germany and France. We wish him a pleasant voyage. Affairs in Turkey.— On May 20, the new Sultan of Turkey expressed deep regret for the massacres in Asiatic Turkey, in his first speech from the throne to the Chamber of Deputies. He declared these atrocities had been stopped and measures taken to punish those who were responsible, and that with God's help such events would not again occur in any part of the empire. Efforts have been taken under the patronage of the Sultan to relieve the sufferers at Adana and else- where. Judge Henderson Dead.— Judge Henry P. Henderson died on the 3rd of June,1909, in Salt Lake City. He was born at Otisco, New York. September, 22, 1843. He graduated from the Lansing, Michigan, Agricultural College, at the age of nineteen, and came to Utah in 1886, having been appointed one of the judges of the supreme court of the territory during those troublous days in Utah, by President Cleveland. He lived fifteen years in Ogden, and later EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 757 came to Salt Lake City where he has practiced law. He was elected a member of the Board of Education in 1898, and has continued a member, with the exception of two years, ULtil the time of his death. He was a highly respected citizen, esteemed for his intellectual abilities, integrity and force of character. South African Union. — Another important step has just been consummated in the movement for a closer union of the four South African States — Cape Col- ony, Orange River State, Natal and the Transvaal. On May 3, the second Con- stitutional Convention met at Bloemfontein, and on the 14th of the month the revised constitution was signed by the delegates The constitution as now revised went back to the four Parliaments for approval. It was passed about the middle of June by them, and a delegation headed by General Botha, who was formerly England's stoutest foe in the Boer War, will go with it to London to receive the approval of Parliament. A commendable thing about the movement isthe way in which the Boers, the British, Africans and the Rand magnates have joined hands in the effort to found a new nation on a basis liberal enough for them all to live together in peace and prosperity. Salt- Wash Arch.— This arch is one of the wonders of wonderful south- eastern Utah, and is located at what is known as Salt Wash, about twenty miles north of Moab, Utah, and fifteen miles from Thompson's Springs Sta- tion on the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. It stands upon a high mesa about five miles northeast from the Court House station, on the mail line between Thompson's and Moab. The best way to reach it is from Thompson's. There is a good road from that station to Wolf's Ranch, which is near the arch. Mr. William Howard, U. S. Commissioner at Huntington, Utah, has favored the Era with a picture from which the cut is taken. He has not him- self seen the arch, but from what others have told him describes it as "a wonder to look at." The height of the arch is not known, but a The Salt Wash Arch, a wonderful look at the picture will convince Phenomenon in Southern Utah. any one that it is a very imposing in the deserts of Utah sight and one of the many wonders in formation that occur To the right of the arch are deep rocky canyons. The summits in that region. rock ledges near, showing that it of the hills surrounding are smooth without any the arch must have taken ages to wear away the surroundings and leave as, it now is. The Situation in Cuba.— The condition of the little Island Republic since the withdrawal of the United States troops last fall has become a source of much disquietude on the part of the officials of the United States government. There can be no mistake about the fact that the island has fallen into shocking condi- tions under the new government now controlling affairs. A dispatch says that some small effort has been made to supply funds, tbe Cuban government being in debt some thirty million or more, but the endeavors of the government so far have consisted in the restoration of the lottery and of cock fighting. It is also stated that there is a bill pending in Congress to revive bull fighting. Twice has the United States interfered to save this republic, yet notwithstanding the estimable advantage of close association with numerous leading American citizens and a knowledge of American methods through her representatives here, quick advantage has been taken of re-establishing objectionable institutions to which the natives have long been accustomed and of which this government deprived them. In reply to a request of the presiding Cuban administration at Washington, it has been decided to place three United States army officers on duty in Cuba to undertake the work of creating a well disciplined Cuban army. There are many people in Cuba today who would prefer to see the guardian hand of the United States extended over Cuba for all time; and it is about safe to say that this will doubtless be done in one form or another, either by annexation or by the estab- lishment of a protectorate, the latter appearing to be the most logical and perhap s the easiest to consummate. Veteran's Birthday.— Elder K. N. Winnie, of Nome, Alaska, reports that on February 4, Elder E. G. Cannon, a veteran of the Mexican War, and the old- est mining man in that part of Alaska, celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday anniver- sary with some eighteen of his many friends, at his home which is the meeting place of the Latter-day Saints. A splen- did program of readings, lecitations and speeches was given, and a dinner prepared by Sister Grace E. Riggs was partaken o to the enjoyment of all. The decorations in the home consisted of colors and mottoes Dr. Cannon responded with a speech in which he gave the secret of his long and happy life — obedience to the gospel. Elder K. N. Winnie read a poem dedicated to Elder Dr. E. G. Cannon. Cannon, and all together the celebration was very enjoyable. Carnegie Libraries— There were altogether, up to Dec. 31, 1908, in all the world 1,547 Carnegie library buildings. Out of this number 959 are in the EVENTS AND COMMENTS. 759 United States, 325 in England and Wales, 42 in Ireland, 105 in Scotland, 86 in Canada and 14 in New Zealand. Mr. Carnegie has given for the buildings, in- cluding nearly four millions for College libraries, $51,596,903. He has only given the buildings. The community that accepts the gift gives the site and promises to maintain the library. In this way he has induced the people to do perpetual work in a good cause; has stimulated cities and towns to do really great things in a few years in bringing good books for the poorest and supplying its inhabitants with free libraries. Mr. Carnegie gave his first gift in 1886 to the Pittsburg library, when he founded the Carnegie Alcove of scientific and technical books in that library. The last he gave was for a library building in the Fiji Islands. He donated $7,500 for a building, provided the inhabitants of Fiji would assure $750 annually for its maintenance. The promise was made and the library was started at Serva last September. In Idaho there are six Carnegie libraries for which Mr. Carnegie gave $73,500, at Boise, Lewiston, Moscow, Mountain Home, Nampa In Utah we have three, costing $52,500, at Eureka, and Pocatello. Wyoming nine, costing $161,000, at Caspar, Cheyenne, Provo and Ogden. In Douglas, Evanston, Green River, Lander. Laramie, Rock Springs, Sheridan. One in Reno, Nevada, $15,000. These facts are gleaned from a statement of Mr. Carnegie himself in a recent number of Collier's Weekly. Edward Everett Hale died at his home in Roxbury, Mass., on the early morning of June 10, and the whole country mourns. Rev. Dr. Hale was chaplain of the United States Senate, a preacher of patriotism, a Unitarian divine, a philanthropist, an author, a journalist, a lover of peace, and everybody's friend. His Man Without a Coun- try is a classic, and In His Name is equally popular and a favorite in many lands. He was the most voluminous of American writers, and latest, includes over seventy titles, one of his if not his latest being Memories of a Hundred Years, 11900). Mr. Hale was born in Boston, Mass., April 3, 1822, and was the son of Nathan Hale, the first editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser. He was educated at the College, later Boston Latin School and Harvard the Church of studied theology, was pastor of Unity, Worchester, Mass, from 1846 56, and Society, laterof the South Congregational Edward Everett Hale. pastor emeritus Boston, of which he has been organizer of many humanitarian He was a popular preacher, and the Z^ from 1901 He was active in religious and social enterprises to the ast Americans and everything American. He was XS71it • ^ T^g ,1-1 a broad svmpathy for all future of our country and with her people. interests, he had boundless confidence in the 760 1MPROVEMEN1 ERA. Henry Huttlestone Rogers. — Well known as the vice-president and chief head of the Standard Oil Company, and one of the foremost financiers of the United States, died suddenly in New York, May 19, in his sixty-ninth year. When he was a boy he was very poor, and in his youth sold newspapers, drove a grocery wagon, and worked as a brakeman on a railroad. When the oil fields in Pennsylvania were discovered he went there and became early associated with Mr. Rockefeller in the development of the oil interests. He was the chief inventor of the pipe line system of transporting oil. When he died he was very wealthy, having large interests in gas companies, banks, copper mines, and rail- roads, and his fortune is estimated at from forty to seventy-five million dollars. He was very stern and exacting in his business life, but is said by many to have been very kind and charitable in his private career. Hence he is described: "as the most ravenous wolf that ever breathed in Wall Street," while on the other hand, Helen Keller and Mark Twain, who were particular friends of Mr. Rogers, give him unstinted praise as a good and a kind man. In a letter to the Boston Transcript, Miss Keller gives him a high character, and closes with these words: "He had the imagination and the vision and the heart of a great man, and I count it one of the most precious privileges of my life to have had him for my friend. The memory of his friendship will grow sweeter and brighter each year, until he takes my hand and we gather roses together in the gardens of Paradise." Death of Distinguished People.— On the 9th of April F. Maiion Craw- ford, the American novelist died after a long illness at his home in Sorrento, Italy; on the same day Ethan Allen Hitchcock, ex-Secretary of the Interior, died at Washington. On the day following Algernon Charles Swinburne, the distinguished English poet and essayist, died, aged seventy- two. These three noted characters passed away almost simultaneously. Swinburne was considered the foremost Eng- lish poet since the death of Tennyson. His poems and dramas fill eleven volumes. Mr. Crawford was one of the most brilliant and voluminous of contemporary novelis t s, and as he died at the early age of fifty-five his death will be distinctly felt in American literature. His first story, Mr. Isaacs, was published in 1882, and his last, The White Sister, this year. He was the son of American parents, but was born in Italy, spent most of his life there and died there. Mr. Hitchcock was minister and embassador to Russia in 1897-8, and Secretary of the Interior from December, 1898, to March, 1907. He died in his seventy-fourth year. He was spesially energetic in prosecuting land frauds, their being eighty-nine con- victions during the last five years of his service. William Morris Stewart, U. S. Senator from Nevada from 1865 to 1875, and again from 1887 to 1905, died April 23, aged nearly 82 years. He made a large fortune in mining. He bolted his party in 1892, and voted for free coinage of silver, but later returned to the ranks of the Republican party. Madam Helena Modjeska, noted American actress, died April 8, in her 65th year. She was born in Poland and came to this country in 1876 and first ap- peared on the American stage the year following.