--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 5 published: 1921-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Passing Events," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 5 (March 1921): 461–466.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse 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: improvementera2405unse start_page: 461 end_page: 466 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events Resistance to the enactment of a stringent Sunday Idw, as "anti-Jewish as well as anti-American," was urged, at the ninth annual meeting of the United Synagogue of America, held in New York, January 16. The president of the organization is Dr. E. L. Solomon. The total number of unemployed in the country was estimated, January 25, at3,500,000. The total for the district embracing Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, was only 23,714. Of these Salt Lake City had 2,000 and Ogden 1,000. The sixtieth anniversary of their wedding was celebrated by George Washington Baker, Sr., builder of the first dwelling house in Cache valley, and Agnes Richard Baker, at Mendon, Cache county, January 18. Mr. Baker is 84 and his wife is 78. They are the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living. A large part of the downtown business district of Athens, Georgia, was a mass of smoldering ruins January 25, and it was estimated that the fire which, early in the morning, swept clean three city blocks and damaged adjoining buildings, had destroyed property valued at least at $4,000,000. No loss of life was reported. The fifty-sixth annual convention of the National Woolgrowers' association came to an end, January 19, with the re-election of Frank J. Hagenbarth of Salt Lake as president, the adoption of many resolutions affecting the wool and sheep industry and the pledging of organized efforts to further a program of progress during the current year. Miss Astrid Ott, a Danish girl scout who is traveling around the world, arrived in Salt Lake, January 14. On the trip she is taking, a special study is being made of the educational systems of the countries through which she is passing, and also of scouting. She is the author of several books for children and a correspondent of the Berlingske Tidende. It grows grass and kills weeds at the same time. This is claimed for Ammonium sulphate, in an announcement published February 7 by the experiment station of Rhode Island state college. "By using ammonium sulphate," we are told, "the required amount of nitrogen is furnished and the soil kept in the acid condition under which the grass develops best, but the weeds are so weakened that they are crowded out." Prince Peter Alexeivitch Kropotkin, Russian geographer, author ant! revolutionary leader, is dead in Moscow, says a London dispatch of January 29. He was a noted anarchist who spent a large part of his life in exile. At the time of the assassination of Alexander II of Russia, in 1881, he was expelled from Switzerland. In 1917 he was invited to join the Kerensky cabinet. Transfer of the body of an unidentified American soldier from France to the Arlington national cemetery was urged by General John J. Pershing before the house military affairs commitee on Feb. 1. Memorial day was suggested as an appropriate occasion for the interment. The commitee was considering a bill by Representative Hamilton Fish, Jr., of New York, for that purpose. 462 IMPROVEMENT ERA As one result of the war, Germany has "gone back" in the matter of population more than fifteen years. Census figures published January 20 show a total of 62.282,602 inhabitants— more than 350,000 below the total of 1905. The number of heads of cattle has dwindled from 65,000,000 in 1/910 to 16,500,000 in 1920. Of goats there are one million more now than there were before the war. Bishop John Wells, of the presiding bishopric, arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, December 6, where he gave the missionaries many helpful suggestions regarding the keeping of records and other mission office work. On December 11 and 12, in company with President Callis, he attended the Georgia conference at Augusta. Bishop Wells also visited the offices of the Eastern, Northern and Central States missions. An anti-cigaret bill was introduced in the senate of the Utah legislature, January 19, by Senator Edward Southwick, of Utah county. The bill makes it unlawful to sell cigarets and cigafet papers; to advertise cigarets and cigaret papers; to permit any minors to smoke in certain places of business; for any person to smoke in certain enclosed public places. The bill was passed by the senate, February 3, by a vote of fourteen to three. President Charles W Penrose's 89th birthday anniversary was observed . January 3, by a family reunion at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clark L. Whitney. In the evening there was an appropriate program of music and recitations, an outstanding feature of which was the rendition of songs written by President Penrose and his own account of the circumstances that suggested them. The Era joins with his thousands of fiiends in congratulations and well-wishes. Dr. A. S. Condon, of Ogden, died in his home, that city, January 17. He was a native of Maine, and came to Ogden in 1874 as surgeon for the Union Pacific Railroad company's employees. He was a member from Weber county in the first legislature following the granting of statehood to Utah. He was the author of several poems. He was a member of the Dix-Logan post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of the Weber County Medical society. Sevier Stake was divided into three, Sunday, Jan. 30. The new stakes were Called North and South Sevier, respectively. North Sevier stake contains the following wards: Redmond, Salina first and second, Aurora, Vermilion and Sigurd, 2,632 members, in all. South Sevier has Inverury, Monroe north and south wards, Elsinore, Joseph, Sevier, Marysvale, and Anabella, with 2,819 members. Sevier stake retains Richfield first, second, and third wards, Glenwood, Koosharem, Venice, and Burrville Green, with 3,613 members. President-elect Harding has received appeals from anti-tobacco organizations to abstain from smoking. Lucy Page Gaston, Topeka, Kansas, representing the National Anti-cigaret league, announced January 16, that she had received a reply from Mr. Harding in which he said: "I think it is fine to save the youth from the tobacco habit. I think, however, the movement ought to be carried on in perfect good faith and should be free from any kind of hypocrisy or deceit on the part of those who are giving it their earnest attention." John Nathaniel Henrie, 44 years of age, president of the Panguitch stake of the Church for four years, died at his home in Panguitch city, February 3, of pneumonia after an illness of four days. President Henrie was born in Panguitch, September 10, 1876, son of James and Christine S. Henrie. In October, 1897, he was married to Emma Lee, who died in De- PASSING EVENTS 463 cember, 1914, leaving seven children. In November, 1915, President Henrie again married, his wife being Hazel Barton. To this union three children were born, two of whom survive. The Lehi sugar factory finished slicing beets January 20. During the 111 days of the campaign the mill cut 110,000 tons of beets, averaging about 1000 tons per day. About 40,000 tons were shipped from Salt Lake, Boxelder and Wasatch counties. The tonnage per acre is said to have been above the average of former years, and the price paid the farmers, $12 per ton, is the highest ever paid in the state. The saccharine content has also been most satisfactory, so, taken all in all, the past year has, it is thought, been a record year for the quantity of sugar produced per acre. Lieutenant Warren H. Langdon, chief engineer of the U. S. S. Albany, on duty in eastern Asia, was shot by a Japanese sentry in Vladivostok one day in the early part of January and died a few days later. His Russian wife was reported to h_ve committed suicide when she learned of his tragic end. The Japanese authorities immediately expressed regret over the incident and notes between the Washington and Tokio governments over the matter were exchanged while Admiral Gleaves, commander in chief of the American Asiatic fleet, was speeding to Vladivostok with a court of inquiry to investigate the shooting. The Russian government, January 18, informed the allied council that the territorial limits of Russian waters had been extended from three to twelve miles and that the Russians were reserving the right to sink armed ships penetrating this limit either by mines or by land batteries. The announcement came by radio and was intercepted by the Eiffel Tower station, Paris. The message carried the name of the Russian minister of foreign affairs, Tchitcherin. Allied naval circles interpret this move to mean that soviet Russia intends to complete preparations for a gigantic spring offensive in absolute secrecy. Edgar A. Guest, the "poet of cheer," entertained students at the L. D. S. university,December 18, with his cheerful philosophy. His talk was full of humorous stories, bits of poems, and pleasing comment on life. Through the courtesy of President Heber J. Grant, v/hose guest the poet was while in Salt Lake, Mr. Guest was given the use of the Assembly Hall for a free lecture. He also spoke to the Rotary Club. In company with President Heber J. Grant, Superintendent Adam Bennion and others, he visited Provo and addressed the students of the B. Y. U. He paid a pleasant visit to the editorial rooms of the Improvement Era. An enormous war indemnity will be exacted of Germany, according to a decision by the supreme council of the Allies, at Paris, January 29. Thai country will be required to pay 296 billion marks. The 'payments are to be made as follows: Two annuities of two billion marks; three annuities of three billion marks; three of four billion, three of five, and 31 of six billion marks. In addition the Allies will collect 12 percent of the value of all German exports for the time during which the annuities are to be paid. The German press considers the terms "impossible," and even the Manchester Guardian, characterizes them as "folly." The election of Warren G. Harding as president, and Calvin Coolidge as vice president of the United States was formally declared, Feb. 9, at a joint session of the senate and the house of representatives. The formal vote wa s404 for Harding and Coolidge, and 127 for James M. Cox and Lewis Judd, who was to have Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mrs. Margaret carried the electorial vote of Utah to Washington, failed to do so, owing 464 IMPROVEMENT ERA to misunderstanding as to the time when she was required to be there, but the vote was nevertheless cast as intended, a copy of the certificate having been sent to Vice President Marshall by mail. At a congress held at Paris of representatives of Russian anti-Bolshevists, a Constituent Assembly was formed. On February 1 it was reported that this Assembly was about to apply to the French, British and American governments for recognition as the de jure government of Russia. It is stated that thirty-three members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by popular vote in Russia, in 1917, but that they were compelled to seek safety in flight when Lenine annulled the vote and assumed control of the government. As a precedent the fact is referred to that the Allies recognized the Serbian government set up in the island of Corfu, while the entire country was occupied by the central powers. Detective G. B. Hamby was killed instantly, and Chief of Police Joseph E. Burbidge was slightly wounded, February 8, in a fight with one Tom Burns at the Nord hotel, Salt Lake City. Burns was mortally wounded by the Chief and Detective Clifford Patten, and expired shortly afterwards. He was one of a gang of desperadoes who had planned a daring robbery. Three of them were taken into custody, when the police were notified of the intended crime, but Burns made his escape, in true moving picture style, over the tops of the buildings, and finally took refuge in the house where he was killed. Detective Hamby is the sixth officer of the Salt Lake police force murdered while performing his duty, since August 23, 1883, when Marshall Andrew J. Burt was slain by a negro. Public welcome was given by the Jews in Jerusalem, to Sir Alfred Mond, English financier, and Professor Chaim Weizmann, the noted English Zionist, says a London dispatch dated January 20. In acknowledging the greeting, Sir Alfred declared that Palestine held great possibilities. There now was no power on earth, he said, which could hinder the Jews from building there a national home. Sir Alfred emphasized that Palestine had ample room for a Jewish home, as well as an Arabian commonwealth. The difficulties, he added, were relatively small, and men of vast influence, wealth and experience in state building were coming to the assistance of the Jews. Another dispatch states that a million-dollar corporation at Pittsburg to develop industrial lines in Palestine is being organized by members of the Zionists organization. The industries to be developed include glass, foundries, limestone, brick and machinery. John C. Sharp, former bishop of Vernon and prominent in business circles in Salt Lake City, died January 30, in his home in this city, 70 years old. He was born on the banks of the Kaw river, Nebraska, while his parents, Joseph and Janet Condie Sharp, were traveling towards Utah. They arrived in Salt Lake, August 28, 1850, and then moved to Vernon, Tooele county. On June 24, 1877, he was ordained a high priest by Lorenzo Snow and set apart as bishop of the Vernon ward. Prior to that he had been acting as presiding elder at Vernon, having been set apart to this position by Orson Pratt, December 4, 1875. For 15 years he was superintendent of Sunday schools in Vernon. In 1890, he moved to Salt Lake and became a resident of the Twentieth ward. When Ensign stake was organized April 1, 1904, he was chosen as an alternate member of the High Council and later became a regular member. Dr. John Ward Christian, "the grand old man" of southern Utah, died at his home at Beaver, January 9, at the age of 99 years. He was born on a plantation near Purdy, in McNairy county, Tennessee, February 7, 1822, and was truly "a gentleman of the old school." His grandfather, Jens Peter Christian, came from the Isle of Man about the year 1750, and PASSING EVENTS 465 settled in Georgia, where Dr. Christian's father, Yancey Presley Christian was bora. His mother, Sara Barbara Wylwyte, was born in Marseilles' France, and came to America in 1799, at the age of 18 years. Dr. Christian's early education Was under the direction of the Catholic fathers. Later he attended the Pennsylvania State university, now Jefferson college, and he was graduated as an M. D. in 1844. He then went to New Orleans, where he practiced mjedicine until 1854, when he moved to California, remaining there until the year 1858, when he came to Beaver, where he had since been identified with every forward movement, serving the community in various public capacities. He was a lawyer as well as a doctor, and for many years was more or less active in both the practice of medicine and law. An ultimatum was issued by Lenine to the Socialists of the world, some time ago. He gave them "twenty-one conditions" to which they must subscribe before, they can be received into the Third of Communist International of Moscow. Among these conditions were these: "They must purge themselves of all moderates, defy all national laws, undermine armies, gain control of the press, throw off the allied "yoke," promote a world economic crisis, condemn any league of nations, aid the soviet government and abandon for the blood and fire of "red revolution all conservative social democratic programs." Answers to this ultimatum from many countries were published January 23. In the United States the national executive committee of the socialist party refused to recommend affiliation. Also in the following countries the Socialists returned negative answers: Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, the Scandinavian countries as represented in a congress at Copenhagen; Belgium, Austria, and the Baltic states. Favorable replies were given by the socialists in France, Spain, Chile, Sweden, Norway and Mexico, and those in Holland deferred action. In most of these countries, however, the opinions were divided, and in many of them the party was split up into two or more factions. George Harrison, of Springville (popularly known as "beefsteak" Harrison) passed away at his home, February 2. He was born "at Manchester, England, August 24, 1841, and came to this country, with his parents, in 1856. The members of the family began the trip across the plains from the Missouri river in the handcart company of Martin and Taylor. In the vicinity of Laramie, Wyo., provisions had run so short that some of the members, including Mr. Harrison, who was a boy of 15 years, were in actual want of sufficient food. The boy is said to have wandered away from the handcart company and made his way to a Sioux Indian camp, where he was welcomed and fed. The squaws, who called him "White Skeleton," gave him such a bounteous supply of meat that he fell sick and when his father found him at the camp he was unable to travel. Consequently, he remained behind, learning the Sioux language until he could speak it fluently, and becoming a great favorite with the Indians. In 1858 Mr. Harrison came to Springville and entered the hotel business. His hotel had been known all over the west for more than forty years because of its reputation for serving bounteous meals and the sobriquet, "Beefsteak, was earned by Mr. Harrison through the manner in which steaks were served. Baptized by the Prophet— George Smith Rust has just passed his eightyseventh birthday, January 23, a month after that of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He has the distinction of having been baptised by the Prophet in the the Mississippi river. His birthplace was in the same state as that of Prophet—the state of Vermont. Recently, Mr. Rust and his wife, Eliza Brown Rust, who is 83 years of age and a Pennsylvanian by birth, cele- 466 IMPROVEMENT ERA brated their 65th wedding anniversary at Manti, Utah, where they have made their home for the past 20 years. All of the seven children were present: George B., Orion A., LeRoy W., came over from the Uinta Basin; William S. and David D. came up from Kanab; Julia (Jeffery) came down from Canada and Laura (Beal) from Salt Lake. The aged — couple are lively and full of good cheer much younger than their ages might indicate. They are working in the Manti temple for their long lists of ancestors. They have been engaged constantly at this work for nearly twenty years, and more than 5,000 of their dead kindred have been blessed by their labors. George S. Rust was a Pioneer of '47 and took part in all the trying experiences of the settlement of Utah. He was prominent in the development of the Tintic mines and was the discoverer of the Eureka — Hill and the Mammoth two of the richest mines in the district. He was for years a leading resident of Payson. He was engaged in the Indian Wars of the early settlement of the state for which service he now receives a pension from the government. He was one of the last to see the Prophet as he was driven away from Nauvoo to Carthage jail. Faithful always to the callings of the Church, he has been on two missions, and held many positions of trust. In his last years he regards with pride his position as "guard of the temple." World-wide Revolutionary Propaganda. According to a Paris dispatch dated February 14, this year, documents have been seized in that city containing plans for the overthrow of the governments of France, Spain and Italy. Two members of the chamber of deputies are said to be involved in the plot. Soviets, it is claimed, have been organized in France, with Brest as headquarters. Funds were transmitted through an American financial organization with its European headquarters in Paris and branches in Berlin and Vienna. It would appear from this, and from reports of revolutionary movements elsewhere, that the Bolshevist propaganda is, broadly speaking, world-wide. But it is more particularly in evidence in Asia, and the inference is that an organized effort is being made to marshal the unnumbered millions of Asia against the western world; should these efforts — succeed, we might well look for the battle of Armageddon "the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Rev. 16:14-16.) During the summer of 1920, the communist organization, known as the Third International, decided to call a special congress of the representatives of various revolutionary elements in Asia, in order to consolidate them under a common leadership. The congress was held in September, 1920, at Baku, by representatives of no less than twenty nationalities. There were delegates from Turkey, China, Turkestan, Hindustan, Daghestan, Khiva, Bokhara, Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Two definite actions were taken at this congress. (1) The delegates pledged themselves to fight the capitalism of the world. (2) A council was organized for propaganda in Asia. The Baku congress has already borne fruit. In China the Anfu government has been overthrown and a regime set up, behind which stands Gen. Wu-Pei-Fu, who is supposed to be friendly to soviet Russia. In Afghanistan, Enver Pasha, the former Turkish tool of Emperor William, is at the head of 200,000 soldiers armed and equipped by Russia. His mission is to fight European influence in Asia and to organize the malcontents of India, Persia, and other countries into soviet armies. At the same time a "holy war" is being preached all through the near east and India. Such are, as near as can be judged from published reports, the aims and activities of the Bolshevist leaders of the Russian government. The signs of the times are portentous and cannot but attract the attention of all intelligent ob-