p. 20 | Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

Current Mention

—On May 4 the Senate ratified a treaty for “more accurately defining and marking the international boundary-line between the United States and the Dominion of Canada.” The convention was signed April 11 by Secretary Root and Hon. James Bryce, ambassador from Great Britain.

—As a sequel of the street-car strike in Chester, Pa., the children of one of the schools are on strike because two of the teachers rode on the street-car manned by strikebreakers. As a climax the mothers of the children demanded of the school board that these teachers resign. The parents were promised that the teachers would apologize to the children, and also publish an apology in the local newspapers.

—The centenary of the organization of the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York was celebrated the last days of April. Cardinal Logue, who participated in the ceremonies, said of the parade of 30,000 Catholic laymen on May 2: “I never saw such an impressive gathering in all my life, and I never expect again to witness such a demonstration of loyalty to the Catholic faith. I have seen processions in various Catholic countries, at Rome and elsewhere, but nothing to equal this.”

—The retail and wholesale prices now being charged for meats of all kind are the highest recorded in seven years, being an increase of from two to seven cents a pound over the price of one year ago. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the cause, some attributing it to the so-called beef trust, while others believe it to be due to a scarcity of cattle. Public protest against these high prices has taken the form of refusal to buy. As a result it is reported that the sales within the last month have fallen off fifty per cent in Chicago and other large cities.

—The action of Austria in breaking away from the concert of the powers in regard to Turkey by her railroad proposals has caused other nations to push forward their claims. Italy demanded that she be allowed to establish post-offices in six principal cities of the Turkish empire, the same as other nations; and when her request was refused by the porte, on the ground that those of other nations were permitted by sufferance rather than by treaty, prepared a fleet to be despatched to Asia Minor. On receiving the news of the proposed demonstration, the porte met all the demands, conceding not only the right to independent post-offices, but also the purchase of land in Turkish territory, and coast navigation and commerce. France is in conflict with the Turkish government regarding coal-mines at Ereğli, in Asia Minor, in which a French company is interested to the extent of $15,000,000. The owners refuse to give up the concession to the Turkish government, which wishes to regain control, until the porte furnishes proof of his ability to provide funds for the purchase. France will make no further Turkish loans until the matter is settled, and the French embassy has notified the porte that France will require an indemnity of $2,500 for every day that settlement is deferred, in addition to $2,800,000 for losses already incurred by the company through the disturbances.

—In order further to pursue her study of the Yoga philosophy, a mystic cult imported from India, the wife of President W. E. Stone, of Purdue (Ind.) University, has withdrawn from the world, her husband, and her family. One bit of the philosophy runs, “So long as one is tied or attached to any particular person or thing, so that his happiness seems dependent thereon, he is the slave of that person or thing.” President Stone will likely be obliged to give up his work on account of impaired health because of his wife’s course, but hopes that mother-love will ultimately predominate, and she will return to her boys.

—The turbulent tribes on the northwest frontier of India have been giving trouble to the British, and the moderate means taken to suppress them seem to have been unsuccessful. On May 1 a large body of Afghan troops, numbering from 13,000 to 20,000, crossed the border, and made an attack upon the blockhouses that guard the Afghan end of Khyber Pass. This attack was repulsed by the British troops, but from all appearances the ameer of Afghanistan must have known of the preparation for this raid, which was made by militia levies commanded by Afghan officers. A few weeks ago the ameer refused to sign the Anglo-Russian agreement, which states that Afghanistan is within the British sphere of influence. While the British are thus occupied on the frontier, the disaffected party among the natives of India shows a tendency to adopt more violent measures. A bomb explosion at Muzaffarpur in Bengal led to the discovery of an extensive plot centering in Calcutta. There the police unearthed much seditious literature and a large number of bombs and cartridges, evidently prepared for an attack upon the British authorities.

—Since the attempt to assassinate President Cabrera of Guatemala some weeks ago, he has adopted tyrannical measures, and is reported to have put to death hundreds of persons. General Vasquez, former president of Honduras, is reported to have planned a revolution against the present Honduran government, and is believed to have the support of Cabrera. Honduran troops have been massed on the Guatemalan border. A special envoy sent from Honduras to Guatemala was obliged to take refuge in the Mexican legation, and the Mexican government has refused demands to surrender him, fearing the man will be shot. Mexican troops were reported to be massed on the Guatemalan frontier, and the government at Washington has been asked by Guatemala to demand an explanation of Mexico. Mexico denies the presence of any troops except the regular frontier guard. Secretary Root has addressed a note to the Guatemalan government urging that every Central American government be represented at the opening of the Central American Court of Justice, which is soon to assemble in the city of Cartago, Costa Rica. If Cabrera should decline to send representatives, the government of the United States and Mexico would be forced to consider measures to compel him to do so.