--- 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: 31 number: 4 published: 1928-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Current Events,” *Improvement Era* 31, no. 4 (February 1928): 321–324." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3104unse 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: improvementera3104unse start_page: 321 end_page: 324 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3104unse publication_year: 1928 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 1928, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Current Events Current Events A Study for the Advanced Senior Class M. I. A., 1927-28 1 — Religion and Social Service (February, 1928) a. President Coolidge's Christmas Greet- ings. The message may be fittingly called "White House Wisdom." It contains Solomon's psychology of character and the doctrine of heaven-building taught by the Savior. Though the letter is not a setting up of new sign posts along the highway of happiness, it is a most remarkable re painting of the old and everlasting ones. The document deserves a place in the memory-gem book of every Christian mind, and consistently calls for the attention of all humanity. Questions 1 . Where was the president's greeting sent from? 2. To whom was it addressed? 3. How many words does the message contain? 4. How is the greeting related to Proverbs 23:7 and Luke 17:21, 2? 5. Did you pre- serve the facsimile of the letter published in the Deseret News, December 24, 1927? b. Proposing an American Doctrine of Peace. The British people are absolutely op- posed to conflict with our republic, and Great Britain will not enter into moral rivalry with this country, but our over- seas friends arc uncertain as to how far we would go to preserve world peace in the face of our trade interests. "Europe, as a whole, judges America harshly." The moral support of Amer- ica is essential to the making of a world peace. Englishmen believe that the American people would endorse an official declara- tion to all the world proclaiming our ab- horrence of aggressive war and pledging non-support to any nation or group of nations engaging in such warfare. Questions 1. What was the good- will congress recently held in St. Louis? 2. Who is Mr. Henry Wickham Steed that his ideas should receive international attention? 3. In what respect is Europe misjudging the United States on the peace problem? 4. What objections may be raised against Mr. Steed's peace proposal? 5. What are the arguments in favor of the request? — References: Literary Digest, Decem- ber 3, pp. 32-33. Current History, Decem- ber. 1927. Reader's Digest, January, 1928. c. The House of Human Welfare. "A criminal court is a punishment ma- chine. Its function is to crush social weaklings." * * * "In every city and town there should be, far from the jail, a quiet refuge, a sanctuary to which the spiritually and physically sick might come or be brought for help." * * * "The house of human welfare should be con- sidered no less es-scntial than the public schoo'. system." The house of human welfare is declared to be a good investment for the state, an enterprise in which the church may well invest and a most worthy object of in- dividual benevolence. Questions 1. What is the so-called House of Human Welfare? 2. What claims has such an institu- tion for existence? 3. What class of people would be inclined to disfavor such an in- stitution? 4. Where has the House of Human Welfare been tried out? 5. What were the results of the experiment? — The Forum. De- cember 27, 1927. The Reader's Digest. Janu- ary, 1928. 2 — Politics and Industry a. War-Debt Cancellation. This question is constantly before the people of this country because of proga- ganda in Europe which never ceases. In fact, some Americans have frequently sup- ported this kind of propaganda, too, on 322 IMPROVEMENT ERA the ground that it is the only thing for our country to do. Great Britain, as we know, has on her own initiative made a long-term settlement of her debt to the United States. Italy, also, has made ar- rangements for the settlement of her debt, but France up to the present time has re- fused to agree to any funding arrangement. However, France has made some payments on account of loans which she has made from Wall Street, where she wishes to re- tain her credit. Notwithstanding t h e arrangements which have been made between foreign countries and the United States, as to the settlement of their debts, there is much dissatisfaction on the part of the debtor nations with the arrangements that have been made, and consequently there is con- stant agitation for re-opening the question again. Even Germany would like a re- consideration of the Dawes Plan, and thus of the whole reparation business. Before the Dawes Plan, the Germans had paid nothing out of their own resources on ac- count of reparations, and since then they have really paid nothing either, i. e. of their own wealth; and the French are un- willing to ratify a funding agreement with the United States unless it contains a safe- guard clause to the effect that if Germany stops paying, to let France off; and even England has been saying for some time that if Germany stops borrowing in Wall Street, or exhausts her credit there, that she can not continue to make payments under the Dawes Plan, because her pay- ments have been made out of the proceeds of American loan9. Thus Germany is now really prepared to join the other coun- tries of Europe in demanding a cancella- tion of the allied war debts on the ground that she is unable to pay both the rep- arations under the Dawes Plan and the interest on her American loans; that is. unless the Allies let her off, she will be unable to pay the American investors; and, of course, the Allies can't let Ger- many off unless the United States Treasury will let them off. The result of this whole question is that the principal debtor coun- tries of Europe will urge the American Government to cancel the allied war debt on the ground that if they pay their debts to this country, they cannot pay their private loans. If these ideas should be carried out, of course the only party that could not lose would be Europe. She has had the money and she has spent it. Questions 1. How much do European countries owe the United States? What was this debt for? Has any of it been met up to date? What arrangements have been made for settlement? 2. If the United States should be willing to cancel her foreign debts, how would this affect the economic conditions of Europe? of the United States? 3. What is the sentiment of the country on this question? of the Govern- ment? What is your sentiment? — Reference: See editorial Saturday Evening Post, December 24, 1927. Page 20. on "Borrowers." b. The Road to Prosperity. In the Foreword to The Road to Pros- perity, by George Paish, Governor of the London School of Economics, Mr. George E. Roberts," Ex-director of the Mint, points out that the only way to get back to normalcy, and thus on to the road to prosperity, is to adopt a policy of recipro- city, that is, free exchange of goods be- tween the different countries of the world. This idea has also been advocated by the banks of Europe and by six distinguished financiers of the United States. "It is (really) a plea for closer business rela- tions which they urge will result in in- creased industrial activity, more complete employment of the populations, and a higher standard of living in all the coun- tries." In brief, it is a plea for the national unity of modern society. Mr. Roberts says there are "no economic reasons why the people of different countries should not trade with each other. * * * Na- tural trade relations are determined by the services which different groups are able to render to each other, not by the fact that they have different governments to regu- late their domestic affairs. * * * The best proof of this proposition is afforded by the prosperity and industrial develop- ment of the United States. If this country had been divided among as many nations as occupy Europe, and each nation had set about ptotecting and promoting its own industries in the usual manner, it is quite CURRENT EVENTS 323 certain that the results would have been nothing like as satisfactory as they arc." He says further that nations aspire to be economically independent and that they have fears of war and that the supply of commodities necessary to the national life may be cut off. but he thinks that these considerations, though important, have their basis in political organizations and not in economic considerations. "Another motive which has played a large part in the establishment of trade barriers," he says, "has been the ambition of new coun- tries to diversify their interests and develop un-used resources which promise to supply domestic needs and afford employment for an increasing population." But many of our industries, he believes, can never be- come self-sustaining, so the question arises, "which products shall we undertake to produce, and which shall we undertake to obtain by trade?" The test of whether or not an industry has economic value to a country is in its ability to live and render service without assistance. If it cannot, it is better to shift to something else. "The greatest fallacy obscuring this subject," he thinks, "exists in the theory that there is gain in doing everything for ourselves." Countries should prepare to produce that which they can produce best and cheapest, and import through trade that which they can get better and more cheaply from other countries. Mr. Roberts says: "When nations stop thinking of their interests as in conflict, they will stop thinking of war; that is, they must realize that trade is not war but is a process of exchange, that in time of peace neighbors are our custo- mers and that our prosperity is a condition of our own well-being." When we come to this point of view then the nations will be on the road to prosperity. Mr. Roberts is also inclined to believe that the United States should continue its policy of making loans to foreign coun- tries, for only by so doing will foreign countries be able to purchase from the United States. In the introductory chap- ter, however, Mr. Paish. the author, points out that the amount of credit be- tween nations is so large now that no great amount of additional credit is war- ranted; in other words, that the whole world is over-borrowed, and production markets are completely disorganized. Some countries, too, he thinks, are allowing their currencies to depreciate in order to keep down real wages and cost of production generally, beneath those of competing na- tions, and thus to enable their factories to secure orders which they could not other wise obtain. Before the war, the Eu- ropean nations received a great income on the capital they had supplied to Russia the United States, and other countries. At the present time, they have practically lost the whole of that income and therefore they are in need of income from other sources. This cannot be secured by a policy of restriction but only by removing every obstacle to production and to in ternational exchange. Questions 1 . Do you think that the only road to world prosperity is a free exchange of goods between nations? How would such a policy affect the industries of America that are de- pendent upon tariff protection? 2. What are some of the arguments in favor of a protective tariff? of free trade? 3. Would Europe be benefited by a policy of reciprocity or not? Would the United States? 4. Can such a policy ever be effected without foreign coun- i rics making arrangements for the settlement of their debts to this country, or can they be settled only by a cancellation of foreign debts: in other words, is not some better understand- ing between countries necessary before such on ideal condition can be brought about? 5. Should a country produce only those com- modities which it can produce cheapest and best, or should it also produce other com- modities which it needs? References: Sec The Road to Prosperity, by George Paish. Governor of the London School of Economics published by G. P. Putnam Sons. New York. 1927. 3 — Science and Discovery a. Sugar. In an interesting article by Dr. J. J. Willaman, "The Race for Sweetness." one learns that the relative sweetness of cer- tain sugars is as follows: Fructose 173: Invert Sugar 123; Sucrose 100: Glucose 74: Xylose 40; Maltose 32; Rhamnose 32: Glactose 32: Raffinose 23. Lactose 18. 324 IMPROVEMENT ERA In addition to the beet and cane as sources of sugar, one learns that sugar can be extracted from sawdust, milk, the Jeru- salem artichoke, the alligator pear, etc. 1 . How do you account for the rise of the sugar industry? 2. What is the history and present status of the beet-sugar industry in Utah and Idaho? Is the industry profitable to all concerned, — the farmer, the manufac- turer, the consumer? — Scientific Monthly, January, 1928. b. The Hour of Danger. The most dangerous hour in our streets is from 5 to 6 p. m., the hour when people are hurrying home from work. Studies show that during 1926, ap- proximately 25,302 persons were killed and 759,060 were seriously injured by automobiles in the United States alone. Seven thousand school children are killed annually by automobiles. 1 . What are the causes of automobile ac- cidents? 2. How does Utah compare with other states in the nature and extent of auto- mobile accidents? 3. Is it not about time the public used the same sort of high-pressure technique in a campaign to prevent automo- bile accidents that the manufacturers and dis- tributors of automobiles employ to secure their ends. — Literary Digest, January 7, 1928. c. American Science. The American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, and twenty-five as- sociated societies, held its annual meeting at Nashville during the recent holidays. Dr. Arthur A. Noys of the California Institute of Technology is the president of the Association this year. The society has over 14,000 members. I . What has been the influence of the As- sociation on Science and American life? 2. Are there any Latter-day Saint scholars members of this association? 3. Did any Latter-day Saint scholars present papers at the Nashville meet- ings?— Scientific Monthly, January, 1928. d. Outstanding Magazine Articles for De- cember, 1927. (Selected by a council of librarians) : "Rich Men and Key Men." Samuel Strauss in The Atlantic. "The House of Human Welfare." Judge Ben L. Lindsey in The Forum. "If War Should Come." H. M. Tomlinson in Harper's. "The Colorado River Controversy." Dwight B. Heard in Review of Reviews. "A First Citizen of the Scientific World." Harr S. Sherwood in Scribner's. "What is the Future Religion." Harry Emerson Fosdick in The New Age. "The Confessions of a Penitent and Puzzled Parson." Charles Fiske in Scribner's "Wood's Fear." Fcrard Fruin Hubbard, in Field and Stream. "Our Social Heritage." W. F. Ogburn in The Survey. "Tact." John Erskine in The Century. Hans C. Jensen, of Aetna, Canada, celebrated his one-hundredth anniversary on Christmas Eve, Decem- ber 24, 1927. He was born December 24, 1827. at Hjoring, Denmark. He has one hundred and seventy- six direct descendants; nine children, seventy grand- children, ninety-four great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. One hundred and fifteen of hem were present on the occasion of the celebration. A huge birthday cake bearing one hundred candles stood before him as he was seated at the banquet hall. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1882, with his eight sons and one daughter and wife, Caroline Masine Anderson; and in 1886 emigrated to America, following his son John M., who had come out in 1883. He settled in Spring City, Sanpete county, Utah. Later, in 1897, he moved to Canada, then seventy years of age. His wife died in 1913 at the age of seventy-seven. Grandpa Jensen attends his Church duties regularly and bears a strong and humble testimony of the truth of the restored gospel. His chief occupation is making baskets, which provides him independent care. After the banquet a rich literary and musical program was carried out with a pageant depicting striking incidents in the veteran's life. Games and dancing followed, with Bishop A. C. Jensen, a son of the honored guest, master of ceremonies.