Passing Events

Passing Events The Situation in Mexico did not improve during the month of April, the whole of Chihuahua apparently being in revolt. The president of the United States modified the prohibition of the shipment of arms and ammunition into Mexico, providing that President Madero may buy war supplies in the United States. This has had a quieting effect to some extent upon the insurrection. Harvey W. Wiley, chief of the Bureau of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture since 1883, resigned on March 15, believing he could do more effective service in private life. His resignation caused widespread comment and much criticism of the head of the agricultural department, as it is generally taken as a blow against the pure food propaganda. Other criticism was directed against Secretary Wilson, owing to the Everglades scandal in Florida. The Great Coal Mine Strike in England came to an end on April 3, the British House of Commons having passed a bill, March 26, which provides for the creation of a minimum rate of pay for miners in each district after the manner of the Australasian Labor Arbitration Boards. The strike will be remembered as a remarkable exhibition of the power of the common laborers, in union, to stop the wheels of industry; and, shall we not say, to seal the fate of nations — to decide peace or war? Emma Smith Woodruff, widow of the late President Wilford Woodruff, died at her home in Salt Lake City, March 4, 1912. Mrs. Woodruff was the daughter of Thomas Smith and wife Marticia Smoot Smith, of Tennessee, who joined the Church in 1833. She was born in Adam-ondi-Ahman, now Springhill, Missouri, in 1837. Her father died on the journey to Utah in the spring of 1850. She was the mother of eight children, and an active worker in the Church. While President Woodruff was alive she accompanied him to Mexico, British Columbia, and a number of the United States. At the time of her death she was the president of the Relief Society of the Granite stake. The Svmmer School of the State of Utah Agricultural College will make a feature of gymnasium work. The Thomas Smart Gymnasium will be opened for instruction June 10, for the first time, when the Summer school begins. Professor Teetzel will be held at the College during the summer to assist the teachers in organizing regular school games. The necessity of this work in the lower grades is being felt more and more, as we study child nature. More educational "play" and less indoor grind for the very young is the ideal. Swimming classes will be organized for both men and women, who will receive

666 IMPROVEMENT ERA instruction in various gymnasium methods used in the most advanced institutions of the country. Negotiations are now under way with some of the most prominent educators of the country to be in attendance at the Summer school, for special lecture work to the teachers of the state assembled in Logan. Dr. Sun Yat-sen, formerly provincial president of China, and whose secret and persistent efforts to give liberty to his people, has amazed the nations, announces that after the completion of the Chinese political revolution, which he considers practically ended, he will commence the greatest social revolution in the world's history among the Chinese. Among the principal reforms which he says will be instituted, in the near future, are the single tax, and government control of railroads, mines and similar industries. He claims to have the full approval and consent of the government. It would not surprise the student of conditions in that country if China would do more radical things than ex-President Roosevelt has ever dared to propose, and some authorities have expressed the idea that it would be no surprise if the people, in a mass, were asked to accept Christianity. The statement that the single tax will be instituted is remarkable, and it is not at all unlikely that China will become a disciple of Henry George. The son of Henry George is a member of Congress, and is acquainted with Dr. Sun, who was very much interested in his father's theory of taxation, while attending college in the United States. The single tax theory advocates the taxing of land, and land only. Hiram B. Clawson, first manager of the Salt Lake Theater, first superintendent of Z. C. M. I., and a famous and well-known pioneer of Utah, died on the 29th of March, 1912, at his home in Salt Lake City. He was born November 7, 1826, in Utica, New York. He came to Utah with the pioneers of 1848, the family having first removed to Nauvoo, in 1841. Hiram B. Clawson won the heart of Brigham Young by his ability and brightness. He had charge of the first building work done in Salt Lake Valley by the Church. He took an active part in every public activity for many years, including Indian wars, mercantile progress and material and spiritual interests of the state. He occupied many important positions in connection with the people, and is the father of one of the largest and most successful families in the state. President Smith stated at his funeral, March 31: "I think it would be difficult to find another man who could be more successful in rearing one of the largest families extant in the world, or who has ever been more successful in that exalted position and capacity than has Bishop Hiram B. Clawson." Elder Rudger Clawson, president of the European mission, and Bishop Thomas A. Clawson of the Eighteenth ward, are members of that family. Bishop Clawson was for many years the presiding authority of the Twelfth ward of Salt Lake City.

PASSING EVENTS m,7 "The Holy Land." In this new 400-page book jusl issued from the press of the Deseret News, the author, Mrs. Lydia I). Alder, expresses her passionate love for the land of the Savior, and tells of her dreams and desires to "walk where He walked: gaze on the scenes He looked upon; pray on the Mount of Olives; weep in Gethseinane; stand in awe on Mount Calvary, and see the place where the Lord lay; follow the way of the resurrected Saints into the Holy City; and on Olives, nigh unto Bethany, look up into heaven where lie, the clouds hanging low, ascended unto the Father." Her book i- an exposition in part of what she saw and learned on the journey in which her life-long dreams were delightfully fultiled. She takes the reader on a pleasant descriptive and historical trip through many of the most interesting places of the Holy Land, Syria and Egypt. Not only are the ancient scenes and associations vividly brought to mind, considered, and dwelt upon, in fifty-five chapters, but modern affairs and conditions are discussed in such chapters as "The Shops of Jerusalem," "What American Education is Doing in Syria," "Recent Events in Jerusalem," "The New Palestine, Its Farms and Farm. Implements," "A Sail on the Jordan, and on Galilee," and "Baalbek of Today." The spirit of the book brings the reader to a more personal appreciation of the life of our Savior and a knowledge of the scenes and incidents of his earthly career, and the whole story of his life becomes to the reader a closer reality. The text is illuminated with thirty-nine beautiful illustrations, and is printed in large, clear type. Eleven original poems are given, including: "The Two Mothers," "Jerusalem by Moonlight," "The Glory of Bethlehem," "Moonlight on Galilee," and "The Sphinx." Price $1.25. New Wards and Changes for March, 1912, as reported by the Pre ' siding Bishop's office: Wards. Metropolis ward, North Weber stake, with Wilford A. Hyde as bishop and Anson V. Call, Jr., as ward clerk. McGill ward, North Weber stake, with Parley Liddle as bishop, and Frank E. Blair M RS LYDIA l>. ALDER Author of "The Holy Land."

668 IMPROVEMENT ERA as ward clerk. Mt. Green ward, Morgan stake, with Joseph A. Parrish as bishop and Oscar Rollins as ward clerk. New President. James W. Lesueur, of Maricopa stake, to succeed John T. Lesueur. Bishops. Albert A. Capson, East Mill Creek ward, Granite stake, to succeed John Neff. John E. Pettit, Coalville ward, to succeed William Z. Terry, in Summit stake. Christian Hermansen, Jr., Preston ward, North Weber stake, to succeed Hyrum S. Arnoldsen. James Rasmussen, Jr., Gunnison ward, South Sanpete stake, to succeed Fred N. Swalberg, acting. William W. Williams, Samaria ward, to succeed D. E. Price, in Malad stake. George E. Toone, Star Line ward, Alberta stake, to succeed George W. Pack. Albert V. Whitear, Peterson ward, Morgan stake, to succeed Joseph A. Parris. John Balfour, Brighton ward, Pioneer stake, to succeed Frederick W. Schoenfeld. John A. Lee, Lebanon ward, St. Joseph stake, to succeed Thomas Alger. Oscar W. Green, Menan ward, Rigby stake, to succeed Franklin W. Green. Facts Concerning the Potato Growing Competition. The prize cup is donated by the National Copper Bank. The name of the winner, his address, variety of potatoes raised, and number of bushels to the acre, will be engraved each year on the sliver plate which is placed upon the base of the cup. His name and picture will be published in the papers and the cup, bearing the inscription above mentioned, will be shown at the various fairs and land shows. If the same boy wins the cup three times in succession, it will become his permanent property, and the bank will furnish a new cup for competition. Each year a cash prize of $100 will be given to the winner in addition to the honor of winning the cup. There will be no second or third prizes, but some form of recognition will be arranged for those who come close to first place. The competition is under the directorship of Louis F. Boyle, lecturer for the Intermountain Industrial Association. The unit which each boy was required to cultivate was at first set at one acre. Later it was changed to one-half acre, at the request of the Extension Division of the Agricultural College, which at the same time raised its unit from one-fourth to one-half acre. This Division is organizing potato clubs in various parts of the state, and desired that the members of these clubs might be eligible for the cup and prize. The time-limit for filing entries has been extended to April 30, in response to requests from several parts of the state where slow mails or the late spring were making it difficult to return the entries promptly. The first boy to enter was Horace Tanner, Jr., of Murray. The youngest boy so far entered is Alfred T. Lund, of Paragoonah„ Utah. He will not be ten years old until July 7. Up to date 200 entries have been filed. The judging will be done by three experts from different parts of the state, not yet selected. The entries will be marked by number only. No one except one of the officers of the bank will know who sent them in.