p. 22 | News and Miscellany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1911

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

—Joseph Pulitzer, one of the foremost American journalists, died aboard his private yacht in Charleston harbor, October 29. Mr. Pulitzer was proprietor of two leading journals, the New York World and the Post Despatch of St. Louis.

—The question of the creation of further American cardinals has been one which the Vatican has had under consideration for several years. It has finally determined upon the elevation of three of its American archbishops to the cardinalate.

—It is claimed that there is now stored in the vaults of the Denver United States mint at Denver $600,000,000 in gold. The mints near the seacoast are not believed to be as safe as the one in Denver, and for this reason the gold has been shipped inward. This is quite an amount of gold to be placed in one mint, but as it is well guarded and is in strong vaults, there is probably no danger that the government will lose any of it.

—The conflict between Italy and Turkey continues in north Africa with varying success. Italy is endeavoring to increase its zone of occupation, but against the most dogged resistance on the part of the Turkish soldiers, reenforced by Arab allies. The latest news by way of Constantinople claims that the outposts of Tripoli have again been captured by Turkish soldiers. Italy is preparing for the mobilization of further troops in north Africa, bringing up its force to 100,000 men.

—More men are out of work now than at any other time since the panic of 1907. This is the announcement of the bulletin just issued by the State labor department of New York. The figures are based in large part on the returns from 190 representative trade-unions, but include results of other investigations. As to the trade-union figures, the mean percentage of members reported idle at the close of each month was 24.8 this year, as compared with 19.2 last year, and 22.3 in 1909. In 1908, when the business depression following the panic of 1907 was at its worst, the mean percentage was 34.7, the highest on record since 1901. From 1902 to 1907 the mean for the first half of the year was below 20 in every year except 1904, when it was 20.2. These figures refer to all forms of idleness, from whatever cause, including idleness due to strikes and lockouts, sickness, accident, and old age. But when these causes are eliminated and actual “unemployment” alone is dealt with, the returns are not favorable. In this sense “unemployment” is limited entirely to lack of work for those who are able and willing to work. On this basis the mean percentage of unemployment for the first half of this year was 22.2 as compared with 14.3 in 1910 and 18.9 in 1909, with similar results unfavorable to 1911 in comparisons with earlier years except 1908. All industries are not affected alike. The most notable exceptions to the unfavorable comparisons are found in the clothing, food, and printing trades, and also in the tobacco and liquor trades.

—Francis Joseph, emperor of Austria-Hungary, is, in a practical way, lending his influence to the agitation against the practise of dueling. As commander-in-chief of the army, he directs that officers, “whenever possible,” shall seek redress for insult or indignity in the law courts, instead of resorting to the duel. The emperor also decrees that no officer who receives a challenge to fight shall be “required” to accept it. The emperor further calls upon the higher officers to see that duels are not fought by under officers “for trifling causes, but only for the most serious matters, and then not until a court of honor, composed of fellow officers, has declared that no other course is open.” Possibly it is not generally known that the duel is still so much a live issue in Europe as to warrant the organization of an Anti-Dueling League. The hope is entertained that the German emperor will at least go as far as Francis Joseph in putting his potent ban upon the practise.

—The annual report of the commissioner of pensions shows that there are now on the pension roll 529,844 survivors of the civil war. Their average age is about 70 years. The total number of pensioners on account of the civil war is, of course, much larger, as it includes widows and other dependents on soldiers. The total number of pensioners of all wars dropped in the past year from 921,083 to 892,098, more than 28,000 of the decrease being in civil war pensions. It is estimated by the commissioner of pensions that of more than 2,000,000 men who served in the federal armies during the civil war only 25 per cent are now living. There are now no pensioners of the Revolutionary war. The last was Mrs. Phoebe M. Palmeter, who was pensioned as the daughter of Jonathan Wooley, a New Hampshire soldier. Mrs. Palmeter died April 25, 1911, at the age of 90 years. She was drawing a pension 128 years after the close of the war in which her father served. If history should repeat itself, pensions on account of the civil war will be paid as late as 1992.

—The demand of the national assembly of China for a complete constitutional government has been acceded to by the throne. An imperial edict has been issued, apologizing for the past neglect of the throne, and granting an immediate constitution, with a cabinet from which nobles shall be excluded. A second edict grants pardon to political offenders connected with the revolution of 1898 and subsequent revolutions, and to those compelled to join in the present rebellion. The imperial edict is in the name of the emperor Hsuan-Tung. The throne promises to effect many reforms in governmental policy. This action on the part of the throne has aroused much resentment among the Chinese nobles, who threaten in consequence to organize a massacre. The revolutionists have continued to make a number of gains during the last week. What effect the recent imperial edict will have in satisfying the claims of the insurgents and leading them to lay down their arms it is impossible to state at this time. There still continues much uneasiness in Peking. The city is strongly fortified by imperial troops, and foreign legations are taking steps to insure their own safety. It is altogether possible that China will emerge from the present conflict with a more liberal government than it has had before.