Passing Events

(Passing Events The last session of the 69th Congress convened Dec. 6, 1926, at noon. The new chapel in the Alhambra ward, Los Angeles stake, California, was dedicated on Sunday, Dec. 5, 1926, by President Heber J. Grant. The new temple at Mesa is practically completed. Elder Melvin J. Ballard reports that the building is expected to be ready for use in late January. The new structure is very imposing. Albert H. Kempton was sustained as successor to Arthur S. Haymore, who was released from the office of bishop of the Gilbert ward, Arizona. The new bishop, Kempton, received as counselors William H. Millett and Alfred H. Nichols. Dominik Balzzo, 35 years old, a miner, was found dead in Park City, Utah, Dec. 14, 1926, in an alley, frozen to death. On the previous day, the mercury had dropped to 8 degrees below zero, and the man had been seen drinking, it is said. Alcohol inwardly applied is evidently no protection against a low temperature. Mrs. Leona Gudmanson won the Heber J. Grant Religious Essay prize at Brigham Young University on November 22, President Grant's birthday. Norma Christenson won second, and Anna Smoot third place. The prize will be a book autographed by President Grant, according to Professor T. Earl Pardoe, who had charge of the contest. Leadership Week is announced for Brighpm Young University, January 24 to 28 inclusive. The central theme of the week this year will be: Youth in the Modern World. There will be 21 short courses offered, among them being several which are given this year for the first time. These courses are open to everyone and are given free. The Rhodes scholarship this year goes to Paul C. Kimball, 23, son of Don Carlos and Marie A. C. Kimball, 1432 Eleventh East Street, he having been selected as 1926 Rhodes scholar for Utah by the Rhodes scholarship committee. Mr. Kimball will enter Oxford university, at Oxford, England, in October, 1927, and will study economics. The scholarship carries an annual stipend of $1,960. Germany is now one of the great powers whose duty it is to preserve the peace of the world through the instrumentality of the Permanent Court of International Justice. Herr Stresemann. on behalf of his country, signed the protocol Dec. 10. The acceptance by Germany of the principles for which that court stands may be considered a distinct gain by the world court, and the cause of peace. A beautiful snow storm with low temperature terminated an unusually mild Autumn in Utah, on Dec. 12. At 7 o'colck in the evening five inches had fallen in Salt Lake City, and the thermometer showed 27 degrees above. At midnight it had fallen to 21 degrees. Ranch owners and business men generally welcome the snow. The supply in the mountains is said to be unusually large for this time of the year. The imperial conference in London held its final session, Nov. 23, 1926, after a session lasting five weeks. Its main achievement was a declaration defining the status of the dominions. This declaration has been called the Magna Charta of the dominions. It is recognition of

300 IMPROVEMENT ERA their autonomy within the empire. India, however, is not recognized as a "dominion," and there is, consequently, dissatisfaction in that country. Seminole Indians in Florida desire citizenship, according to a com- munication to President Coolidge, published on Nov. 27, 1926. Chief Tony Tommy writes that more than 300 of his people have authorized him to express their desire to swear allegiance to the United States government and become citizens. This is a radical departure from the traditional attitude of the Seminoles, who have always scorned all attempts to approach in a friendly spirit. Diplomatic relations with Mexico will be broken off if American property in Mexico is confiscated under the terms of the alien land and oil laws, which go into effect in January, 1927. The value of the property involved is estimated at a billion dollars. The relations between the two countries are aggravated by the suspicion that Mexico is implicated in the rebellion in Nicaragua in pursuance of the Mexican policy of domination in Central America. Elder Melvin J. Ballard and party of auxiliary group convention visitors went to Colonia Juarez, in Chihuahua, Mexico, and dedicated and broke ground for the erection of a mechanic arts building for the Juarez stake academy, on November 14. They held meetings in El Paso, and on their return trip they went to Virden, New Mexico, and to Thatcher, Arizona, where meetings were held November 20 and 21, returning to Salt Lake City Nov. 23. A storm, accompanied by earthquakes, waterspouts, thunder, rain, snow and hail harassed southern California, Dec. 8, 1926, and the following night. At Santa Monica a funnel-shaped cloud, cyclonic in appearance, picked up columns of water from the ocean about four miles out, while on shore heavy rain, punctuated by sharp flashes of lightning, fell over the bay district. Two waterspouts were reported from the vicinity of Catalina Island, disappearing over the eastern end of Long Beach. Patriarch Ole Nelson Stohl, Brigham City, passed away at his home in that city, Nov. 13, 1926, at the age of 91 years. He was born near Malmoe, Sweden, Nov. 9, 1835. On Jan. 16, 1854, he joined the Church by baptism. For six years he engaged in missionary labors, under many difficulties, as was the case in those early days. His efforts, however, were crowned with considerable success. On April 14, 1862, he emigrated, with a large company of Saints, and arrived in Salt Lake City, Sept. 22, 1862. Our policy as regards the Permanent Court of International Justice was defined by President Coolidge in an address on Armistice day, at Kansas City, Mo. He called attention to the fact that much misrepresentation had resulted in misconception of its principles and objects. And then he said he did" not intend bringing the question before the Senate. The resolu- tion passed must be accepted as it stands. This is a perfectly consistent attitude. It now depends on the powers already interested in the Court, whether they desire our co-operation or not. John E. Hayes, registrar Brigham Young University, in a report shows that 626 women and 621 men have registered for work in the five colleges of the institution during the Autumn quarter. Women hold the majority in three colleges, while men have the majority in the other two. Of the 1,247 students registered during the Autumn quarter, 472 are freshmen; 349 are sophomores; 182 are juniors; 133 are seniors; 55 are specials; 35 are unmatriculated; 17 are graduate students; and four have not returned their cards. Adolf o de la Huerta for president in Mexico is the object of the revolu-

PASSING EVENTS 301 tionary movement in that country, according to a statement to the press, dated Los Angeles, Nov. 18. It is claimed that more than 20,000 men are under arms against the Calles regime, and that Mexicans are fighting in the ranks of the Yaqui Indians. Huerta became president in 1920, when the Carranza government was overthrown, and stepped out when Alvar© Obregon was elected president. There is little doubt that Huerta has the support of the clerical party. The poultry business — The value of poultry and poultry products marketed in Utah last year increased to $3,600,000. Interest in the poultry business has been stimulated by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. The Third Intermountain Egg-Laying Contest in Utah is being conducted by Byron Alder, station poultryman and superintendent of contest, and started November 1, 1926, with forty entries, each containing ten competing pullets and two alternates. The contest will continue until October 30, 1927. Four hundred and eighty pullets are entered; 5,966 eggs were produced in November. Interallied control of German armaments will cease on Jan. 31, 1927, according to an important agreement at Geneva, ^Dec. 12, 1926, between M. Briand. Herr Gustav Stresemann, Sir Austin Chamberlain, M. Vander- velde, Signor Scialoia, and Viscount Ishii, the representatives of France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy and Japan, respectively. Should protests be made to the League of Nations that Germany is not fulfilling the conditions of the Versailles treaty, investigation will be made by com- missions appointed by the League. This arrangement appears satisfactory to both Germany and France, and is another demonstration of the value of the League of Nations as an instrument of peace. Bishop James R. Price,, of Phoenix ward, Arizona, was sustained as the new stake president of the Maricopa stake, Arizona, at the conference of the stake, held Nov. 7, 1926. President James W. Lesueur, who has been president of the stake for the last fifteen years, and his two counselors, Orley S. Stapley and John Cummard, of Mesa, were honorably released. The re-organization took place under the direction of Elders Stephen L. Richards and Melvin J. Ballard, of the Council of the Twelve. Formei President Lesueur was sustained as a member of the stake high council. Elder George F. Price was selected as the new bishop of Phoenix ward, with George F. McDonald and Golden Driggs as counselors. Joseph McKenna, retired justice of the supreme court, died in Washing- ton, Nov. 21, 1926. Born in Philadelphia, August 10, 1843, of Irish parentage, Joseph McKenna was but 1 2 years old when his family crossed the continent and made Benicia, Cal., their home. There he attended public school and was graduated in law from the Benicia collegiate institute. He was elected district attorney of Solano county in 1866, just one year after his graduation. After two years in the lower house of the California legislature, he made two unsuccessful campaigns for election to congress. In the third trial he won, and served in the forty-ninth and three succeeding congresses. President McKinley placed him upon the bench of the supreme court to succeed Justice Stephen K. Field of California. California-bound tourists were trapped by a blizzard, Dec. 1, 1926, in Montgomery pass, in the Sierras, near Tonopah, Nevada, and were saved from death by cold and hunger by two old-time "mushers," who effected their rescue. The caravan consisted of 31 automobiles with two score of travelers. For two days they remained snowbound in the pass without food, and they burned trunks and various personal effects in a futile effort to keep warm. Meanwhile, Dan Haskin and Bill Farrington were pushing through to Bishop. Nevada, with the motor stage, though the snow was two

3 02 t IMPROVEMENT ERA feet deep in places. Finally they came upon 22 of the stranded cars, and, later, 9 more, almost buried in the snow. By the aid of these two men a trail was broken to Burton, where the tourists were fed and taken care of. The Denner party, in 1846, was trapped 200 miles north of the Mont- gomery pass. The unfortunate members of that party were snow-bound for six months, during which 3 9 of the 87 perished, and the survivors had lived on the dead bodies of their comrades. John M. Browning, of Ogden, died, Nov. 26, 1926, at Herstals, neat Liege, Belgium, of heart-failure. His body was brought to Ogden for burial. He was born in Ogden, Utah, Jan. 23, 1855, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth C. (Clark) Browning. His first American ancestor was William Browning, who in 1622 came over from England in the ship Abigail and settled in Elizabeth City (Newport News) , Va. His father, Jonathan, was born in Tennessee and lived in Iowa, where he was a blacksmith and gun- smith until 185 2, when, having joined the "Mormon" Church, he settled in Ogden. The boy, John, received his education in the public school and acquired mechanical skill by helping his father in the smithy. When he was 13 years of age he made his first gun. His first model of a new gun -was patented in 1880, and after he and his brother, Matthew, had made 600 of them by hand, it was sold to the Winchester Firearms company, and marketed for many years as the Winchester single-shot rifle in calibers from 22 to 45. In the last few years Mr. Browning worked steadily, de- veloping his anti-aircraft gun and his new type of double-barreled shotgun. On the occasion of his seventieth birthday his friends revealed that he had twelve patents on firearms pending in Washington. President Heber J. Grant passed the 70th milepost on his life's remark- able journey on Nov. 22, 1926, and received numerous congratulations from friends at home and all over the world. In the evening a dinner party was held in his honor at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ashby D. Boyle, where members of the family and the Church authorities and others were present. A unique gathering was held on the evening of Nov. 21, in the Assembly Hall, under the auspices of the foreign-language organizations and the associated newspapers of the Church. The hall was profusely decorated with flowers and. flags, and long before the appointed time it was filled in every available corner by friends eager to see and listen to their beloved Church leader. The invocation was offered by Elder Adam L. Peterson, and the closing prayer by President Rudger Clawson. Greetings were read in seven different languages — Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Swiss- German, Dutch, Mexican and Armenian. Addresses were made by President Grant, Dr. John A. Widtsoe, President Rulon S. Wells, and Elder J. M. Sjodahl. Singing and music were furnished by German and Dutch choir, a Swedish male chorus, a Danish soloist, and a Norwegian trio, flute, violin and piano. It was, undoubtedly, the -first gathering of its kind attempted in the Church, and it was generally thought to' have been very enjoyable. James Albert Anderson, one of the prominent figures in the civic. Church and industry circles of Utah, died at his home in Morgan City, Utah. November 18, 1926, of pneumonia, 51 years of age. He was born in Peterson, Morgan Co., Feb. 22, 18 74. After being graduated from the Brigham Young Academy, Logan, 'he engaged in the produce 'business, and, in 1904. established the Morgan Canning Co., which now operates the largest pea packing factory in the United States. Mr. Anderson had long been a community leader of Morgan. In 1903 he was elected to the state legislature and was reelected in 1905 and 1907. He took considerable interest in education and sponsored a public speaking contest in Morgan, for which he offered prizes. He was a lifelong member of the L. D. S. Church and was at one time bishop of the North Morgan ward. Surviving

PASSING EVENTS 303 Mr. Anderson are his widow, Martha Sodia Heiner Anderson; a son, Lane Marcel, 8, and a daughter, Alice, 4, and four brothers. Funeral services were held in the Morgan Tabernacle Nov. 21; the place was filled to overflowing. Floral tributes were sent from all parts of the United States. Eight missionaries in California were injured on Thanksgiving day, according to a letter received, Dec. 1, 1926, at the office of the First Presidency. They were standing on a street corner in the city of San Jose, waiting for a street car, when an autoist drove in among them. President Stephen L. Chipman of Alpine stake, who is filling a short-term mission, suffered cuts on the head and body, a fractured rib, a broken ankle and fractures in other bones of the foot. Mrs. Chipman was badly bruised and upset. Elder Loyal Carter of Provo suffered three broken ribs, a cut on the head, a broken vertebra and is in serious condition in a California hospital. Miss Guelda Mae Elsmore of American Fork, suffered a fractured skull and waj rendered unconscious. Miss Donna Davis of Lehi was bruised, and others slightly injured were Elder E. B. Hawkins of American Fork, Elder Delbert Fugal of Pleasant Grove, and Elder Daniel L. Corry of Cedar City. Presiding Patriarch Visits East Iowa Conference On October 13, 1926, at Davenport, Iowa, the East Iowa conference was held. Hyrum G. Smith, presiding patriarch of the Church was present. Many of the Saints came from out of town to attend, one man coming more than two hundred miles. He came to be baptized. The conference marked the close of a very successful season in the country, where the elders had been greatly blessed during their Summer work. Many branches of activities increased this year; thefe were more baptisms than before, and we have hopes the good work will continue. Elder Utah Thompson, a wonderful help to us here, was transferred to preside over West Iowa con- ference. Elder Rich, from Southern Indiana, soon arrived to take the place of President Lloyd A. Davis. The elders were assigned to their fields of labor, in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Rock Island and Davenport. The ciders express their thanks for the cooperation and help received through the Improvement Era. — Lloyd A. Davis, President East Iowa conference. Mwyt ELDERS OF EAST IOWA CONFERENCE Front row, left to right: Rincldo L. Borg, Los Angeles, California; Hyrum G. Smith. Presiding Patriarch of the Church; John H. Taylor, president of the Northern States mission: Lloyd A. Davis, conference president, Blackfoot. Idaho; Norman L. Jacobson. Los Angeles, California. Back row: Ben M. Doty, Richmond, Utah: Melvin Powell, Cedarview, Utah; Wm. D. Atkinson. Teton, Idaho; Henry M. Day. Draper, Utah; Utah Thompson, president West Iowa conference. Price, Utah: Jay L. Johnson. Salt Lake City.