p. 20 | Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 21, 1907

Current Mention

— Five persons are reported frozen to death near Sturgis, S. D.

— An earthquake of considerable violence was felt throughout the vicinity of Charlottesville, Va., on the 11th. The tremor lasted about twenty seconds.

— Mob elements of Odessa, angered by their defeat at the recent primary elections for the Douma, are openly threatening a massacre of the Jews. Fearing a wide-spread attack on the Jews, the authorities ordered all theaters, saloons, and cafés closed the night of February 14.

— The liberals of Cuba are protesting against the plans of the provisional American government for the increase of the military forces of the island. They also object to the formation of a militia of any kind, and the enlistment in the army of other than native Cubans. Secretary Taft has ordered the postponement of the decree providing for the increase of the rural guard of Cuba.

— The San Francisco mayor and board of education called to Washington for conference over the Japanese school situation, have steadfastly refused to yield the point without material concessions affecting the Japanese coolie immigration. At the urgent solicitation of the President and Secretary of State the Senate has adopted a provision of the pending immigration bill which will practically exclude Japanese laborers after Jan. 1, 1908. There seems to be no question but that the House will concur. In this case Japanese pupils of school age may attend the schools of San Francisco. Naturally we hear of general dissatisfaction in Japan with the arrangement.

— Robert Cortez, an Italian justice of the peace of Paterson, N. J., was killed while opening a box containing an infernal machine sent him by express. He had for years been active in securing the arrest of Italian criminals.

— Closely following the announcement by Rockefeller of the largest single gift ever made to philanthropy, comes the announcement by the Standard Oil Company of the largest single advance ever made in the wholesale price of oil.

— At the recent elections in Russia the peasants showed great interest and activity, fully seventy-five per cent of qualified peasants voting. Many poor men were chosen as delegates to the body that will select the actual members of the douma.

— Four passenger coaches of the electric Harlem express were rolled down an embankment on a curve near 201 Street, New York City, at midnight of February 16. Twenty passengers were killed, and fifty others seriously injured.

— Lyndhurst, the country home of John Wanamaker, near Jenkintown, Pa., was destroyed by fire February 8. The estimated loss is one and a half million dollars. The art gallery contained some of the rarest prints and most valuable paintings in existence. Among the few paintings saved were “Christ Before Pilate” and “Christ on Calvary,” valued at $250,000.

— S. A. Alexandrovsk, governor of Penza, Russia, was shot as he left the theater, February 8. In seeking to elude arrest, the assassin killed two policemen, but, being trapped, committed suicide. A few days later terrorists succeeded in placing an infernal machine with clockwork attachment for exploding in the chimney of the chamber occupied by Count Witte; but it was discovered two hours before the set time.

— A very large sun spot has been observed for a few days. Its estimated area is 3,540,000,000 square miles. It is visible to the naked eye about sunrise and sunset. Astronomers throughout the country are watching the spot with interest, both on account of its unusual size and since it has appeared unexpectedly and at a time when such phenomena are rare. Periods of sun spots and of unusual electric disturbances have been observed to synchronize, and the latter are thought to be the result of the former. The theory is brought forward to account for lightning and heavy thunder accompanying a blizzard at Pittsburg, Pa., February 14.

— Capt. Henry H. Whitney, of the coast artillery, sent to Pennsylvania to inspect the National Guard reports to the War Department, that “the Ninth and Thirteenth Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, located in the very home of unionism, are confronted by the intense antagonism of mine-labor organizations, as well as of independent military and so-called patriotic organizations, there now being some thirty-seven of these companies in the Scranton-Wilkesbarre district. I am informed that these companies are wearing a uniform like that of the regular army; that they are gradually and quietly acquiring arms, and that their active hostility to the National Guard constitutes a serious menace to State authority and to law and order.”