Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

— The parliamentary secretary of the British colonial office explained in the House of Commons on July 31 the British government’s intention to confer a constitution upon the Transvaal.

— At the recent convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies a resolution was unanimously adopted denouncing Socialism, and another was adopted denouncing “all frivolous and unnecessary amusements on Sunday.”

— Italy is now building a battle-ship which is to excel the great British battle-ship “Dreadnought.” England has decided that she will build this year but three of the “Dreadnought” class of battle-ship instead of four, and that she will make a reduction in the remainder of her naval program amounting to $12,500,000.

— The Negro Young People’s Christian and Educational Congress opened its first session, at Washington, D. C., at half-past one o’clock, July 31, with about 2,500 delegates in attendance. The convention was addressed by C. J. Bonaparte, Secretary of the Navy, Henry L. West, District Commissioner, and by Bishop Wesley J. Gaines, president of the organization. The congress will continue for several days.

— It is stated in Chinese official circles that the emperor and empress dowager of China have given their approval to the plan of the viceroy Chou Fu to abolish the sale or purchase of old and young females throughout the empire, and that a law is soon to be proclaimed to this effect. This is a most important act for China, socially and religiously.

— The United States District Court at Chicago has decided that John Alexander Dowie is not the owner of Zion City and its various industries. The court refused to appoint Alexander Granger receiver because of Granger’s vow recognizing Dowie as “a messenger of the covenant, the prophet foretold by Moses, and Elijah the Restorer,” to which vow “all family ties and obligations and all relations to human governments shall be held subordinate.”

— In both England and France an agitation is now going on similar to that recently started in this country over the conditions prevailing in the packing-houses and slaughter-houses. From what has appeared in the public prints, the conditions in those countries are no better than those exposed in the Chicago stock-yards. If the people allow themselves to think, these disclosures in regard to the filthy conditions surrounding the preparation of meat foods, must be making many converts to the simpler and better diet of vegetarianism.

— In the monthly report of the Massachusetts State Board of Health on food adulterations, it is shown that eighty-two of the 585 articles of foods and drinks examined were adulterated. The adulterated articles included milk, sauces, canned goods, meat preparations, flavoring extracts, vinegar, jellies, jams, and drugs. More than ten per cent of the milk samples were adulterated with drugs or water. Of the drugs themselves more than one third were adulterated. The poisonous adulterants used in food preparations consisted of boron, benzoic acid, and formaldehyde.

— The condition in Russia at the present time is similar to that of a boiling caldron. On every hand there is anarchy, assassinations of officers by sailors and soldiers, the mutiny of companies or whole regiments, the mutiny of crews on board war-ships, the capture of forts, the uprisings of starving and angry peasants against law and landlords, the strikes of workmen, the circulation of revolutionary literature, the murder of police, and the murder of Jews. It has been stated by those who claim to know, that the real revolutionary movement is not yet ready, but will be launched sometime during the present autumn. However, the latest advices would indicate that the revolutionary leaders were unable to control the situation, and that their cause would suffer by premature clashes with the military. While there is much disaffection among the military, there seems still to be a majority who are loyal. Maxim Gorky predicts that Russia is about to be deluged with the blood of her people. A general strike will be ordered by the revolutionaries in a few days, which is expected to make it impossible for the government to move troops. The mutiny at Sveaborg is ended, and the one at Cronstad is practically put down; but the outlook in these districts is still dark.