Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 12, 1909

—In the British House of Commons on August 2, the secretary of war announced that during the present year the government would expend $390,000 in aeronautic work in connection with the army.

—A report from Atlantic City, N. J., dated August 1, states that in a dozen churches in that city on the evening of that day collections were taken up to provide money for the crusade against Sunday baseball.

—A serious agitation is reported in Albania, Turkey, against the supposed design of Greece to annex the island of Crete. The Albanians threaten that unless effective measures are taken to prevent the annexation, they will rise and make war upon Greece independently.

—The Chinese government has signed a contract with a New York firm for the installation of a complete telephone system in the city of Peking, the capital of China, at a cost of $150,000. This is regarded as an indication of China’s changing attitude toward Western civilization and methods.

—W. E. Longfellow, the general superintendent of the United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps, says in his report that during the month of June there were 1,126 deaths by drowning in the United States, and 106 in Canada. During the month of May there were 621 in the United States and 81 in Canada.

—As a result of the earthquake in south central Mexico reported last week, the inhabitants of Chilpancingo and Acapulco are dwelling in tents or in the open, and many of them are in dire need. A tidal wave added to the destruction along the water front, and the tropic rains are adding to the discomforts of the people. The federal government and the state of Guerrero are contributing to the relief of the sufferers.

—During a motorcycle race in Berlin, Germany, on July 18, one of the machines became unmanageable and dashed into the crowd of spectators, killing eleven persons and injuring twenty.

—An earthquake occurred on July 15 in the province of Elis, southern Greece, in which it is stated that about three hundred persons lost their lives. In several villages the larger portion of the houses have been either demolished or rendered uninhabitable.

—A great temperance parade in Chicago is being planned for September 25 by Mr. Arthur Burrage Farwell, president of the Law and Order League, and Mrs. Emily M. Hill, president of the Cook County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. It is expected that the parade will number 100,000 persons.

—Great suffering is still reported from Osaka, Japan, as a result of the recent conflagration. Thousands of persons are homeless and in need of food. A system of relief has been organized by the municipal authorities, and outside cities and towns are sending in contributions for the suffering people.

—The 6,000 Japanese sugar-plantation laborers in Hawaii, who have been on a strike for two months, have declared the strike off. The strike has caused much loss to the planters; but their attitude in refusing any concessions, and the prosecution of some of the leaders for alleged conspiracy, caused the collapse of the strike.

—A cablegram to the State Department from the American embassy in Constantinople states that there is still great need of outside help for the sufferers in Armenia who have lost homes or means of support as a result of the massacres in that district. Shelter and means of sustenance are needed for 80,000 persons.

—Amid scenes of great enthusiasm the bill making prohibition constitutional in Alabama passed the House on August 5. The vote was seventy to twenty-nine, six more than the required three-fifths majority. The bill passed the Senate on the following day, and, the governor being a prohibitionist, there is no question about its becoming a law.

—There was great rejoicing in New York City and Jersey City on the morning of July 19 when the twin tunnels under the Hudson River connecting the two cities were formally opened to public traffic. These tunnels are sixty feet below the bed of the river, and serious obstacles had to be overcome in accomplishing the work. These tunnels will greatly facilitate transportation between the two cities.

—The Turkish government has ordered out 40,000 troops in the vicinity of Smyrna, and has contracted with three steamship companies for the transportation of troops and munitions of war. Turkey is demanding that Greece recall the Greek officers now serving in Crete. Greece replies that the matter is in the hands of the four protecting powers, with whose knowledge and consent the officers in question were sent to the island. At the same time Turkey is intimating to the powers concerned that unless her demand upon Greece is complied with, she will follow it up with more energetic measures.

—Emperor Nicholas of Russia has been visiting the king of England during the past week, and left for Kiel on August 5, in the imperial yacht “Standart,” escorted by British and Russian cruisers.

—The flags of the four protecting nations in the island of Crete have been hauled down, and the troops have embarked for their own countries. But this does not mean Cretan independence, nor does it as yet mean that Turkish control of the island is assured. Each of the powers will still maintain a warship in Cretan waters.

—The French government, feeling the necessity of an increase in the population of the nation, is proposing to adopt a novel method to bring it about. For the second child born in any family it is proposed that the government pay a bonus of $100, and for each subsequent birth a bonus of $200. To obtain money for the payment of these bonuses, it is proposed to place a tax of fifty per cent upon the fortunes of all persons dying with not more than one child. The matter will be brought up in the autumn session of parliament.

—A great strike is now in progress in Sweden. It is stated that one twentieth of the entire population is on strike. Idle workmen and others who can not buy supplies are camping out near the cities and living on what fish they can catch. The government is making ready for any emergency. Additional troops have been ordered to Stockholm because of the growing fear of serious trouble. The ranks of the strikers are growing hour by hour, and it is stated that the temper of both the strikers and the inhabitants is rising.

—Negotiations between China and Japan in reference to the Antung-Mukden Railway have entered upon what is considered a serious stage. These negotiations furnish the principal topic of discussion in the Japanese press, according to a despatch from Tokyo dated August 5. While there is a denial of the statement that Japan has issued an ultimatum to China, it is intimated that there is possibility of one being issued if the negotiations continue unsatisfactory. The hope is expressed, however, that China will propose concessions.

—The tariff bill, reported last week as having been agreed to by the conferees of the House and Senate, passed the Senate on August 5, and was signed by the President. The vote stood forty-seven to thirty-one in favor of the measure. After signing the bill the President made the following statement in reference to it: “The bill is not a perfect tariff bill, or a complete compliance with the promises made, strictly interpreted; but a fulfilment free from criticism in respect to a subject-matter involving many schedules and thousands of articles, could not be expected. It suffices to say that except with regard to whisky, liquors, and wines, and in regard to silks and some high classes of cottons—all of which may be treated as luxuries and proper subjects of a revenue tariff—there have been very few increases in rates. There have been a great number of real decreases in rates, and they constitute a sufficient amount to justify the statement that this bill is a substantial downward revision and a reduction of excessive rates.”