Passing Events

Passing Events.

St. Louis celebrated its centennial in early October. It has a newspaper over one hundred years old, the St. Louis Republic, established in 1808. Its population has grown from 1,400, in 1808, to about 800,000 at present.

At the last session of the semi-annual conference, October 6, Eld :r Levi Edgar Young, born in Salt Lake City, February 2, 1874, was sustained as a member of the First Council of Seventy. He is a son of Dr. Seymour B. Young, very prominent in educational affairs, and a. fav- orite with the young people wherever he is known. His ability, genial- ity and unassuming disposition have won him many golden opinions and will make him useful and popular in his new position.

The thousands of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin S. Richards deeply sympathize with them in the death of their son, Joseph T. Rich- ards, who died after an operation, October 9, 1909. He was a well known young attorney, born in Ogden, Utah, December 8, 1871. Through diligent application and natural ability he became one of the ablest men of his profession, and at the time of his death was an active member of the firm of Richards, Richards & Ferry, one of the foremost law firms in the state.

The Utah State Fair, open during the week ending October 9, 1909, was pronounced the best ever held. The home industry displays were a veritable revelation, and the growth of the state shown in every line of husbandry was a marvel. The live stock pageant presented specimens unexcelled in any part of the world. The display of the State Agricul- tural College, in a building by itself, has never before been approached in practical usefulness and value to the farmer. More than 75,000 peo- ple passed through the gates.

John Albert Johnson, Governor of Minnesota, died September 21, in his 48th year. He rose from poverty to be one of the most respected men in our country. He left school at twelve, and at fourteen had to support his mother and a family of five. While hard at work during the day, he studied at night and so made good his early deficiencies in educa- tion. He was elected three times governor of his state notwithstanding

96 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

it was Republican by a great majoirty; and received 46 votes for Presidential nominee in the latest National Democratic Convention.

President Taft, and President Diaz of Mexico met on the American side of the Rio Grande, at El Paso, Texas, Octo- ber 16, and exchanged amenities. It was 99 years, September 16 since the struggle began which ended in the independence of the Repub- lic of Mexico. President Diaz is only 20 years younger than the repub- lic over which he presides, and has served 32 years continuously as presi- dent. He is a candidate now for re-election. President Taft after his pleasant sojourn in Salt Lake made the round of the Pacific coast, making many speeches and meeting enthusiastic receptions everywhere.

William H. Taft, president of the United States, arrived in Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon, September 24, and remained until Sun- day afternoon, 26th. He reviewed the soldiers at Fort Douglas, played at golf at the country club, appeared in a parade on main street, reviewed the school children and saw the living flag of children, was dined by various clubs, and finally, on Sunday morning, 26th, appeared in the great tabernacle where ten thousand people heard him speak. The building was gorgeously decorated with flags and bunting, and the organ was graced by a large portrait of the president. He chose for his text Pro v. 15: 1: "A softanswer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." On his way north he stopped at Ogden, Brigham City and Cache Junction, Utah.

Amos Milton Musser, assistant Church historian, died in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 24, 1909. He was born in Lancaster county, Pa., May 20, 1830, and joined the Church by baptism, May 24,1851, though he had been nominally a member some years previous. He came to Utah in the fall of 1851, and has ever since been one of the prominent workers in the community, in civil, industrial and religious affairs.He circled the globe on a mission to India in 1851, and was travel- ing bishop of the Church from 1858 to 1876. He was one of the incorpo- rators of the Deseret Telegraph Company, and introduced the phonograph and telephone to Salt Lake City. He has written several Church pamphlets and tracts, and in 1887 issued the Palantic. He was connected for years, as sscretary, with the Deseret Agricultural & Manufacturing Association, and took a leading part in the Bee Association and the Utah Silk Associa- tion, and for nearly twenty years prior to statehood was fish and game commissioner. In many other industries, corporations and ways he de- voted his ability to the building up of the community. He leaves a large and honored family and a name that will long live among the people.