Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-01-08

lt vas not marked b. any great Catas-
trophe, such as the San Francisco
earthquake or the Titanic disaster; II
saw the end Of the wars in the Bal
kans, it witnessed the inauguration OF
a Democratic president In the United
States. followed by genuine tarin re-
duction without financial panic.
The death roll for the past year has
hit the financial world rather hard, IN
Guiding such notable figures as J. +.
Morgan, Henry NJ. Flagler and James
r. Keene The Roman Catholic
church also lost two of its most ven
cradle cardinals, Oreglia, dean of the
sacred college, and Rampolla, once
secretary at the Vatican and who
would have been pope instead OF Plus
X had not the emperor of Austria yot-
ed against him.
In the United States political de-
velopments have been extremely IN
teresting, but not startling. Every
thing seems to have gone the way OF
the Democrats. Democratic victories
were won last November in New York
city, the state of New Jersey and
state of Massachusetts. Congress has
passed the currency bill, and the bank
ing interests of the country are ad-
justing themselves to 1t.
Dongs in Mexico.
South of the Rio Grande develop
ments have been startling and rapid.
The year 1918 saw in Mexico the as
sassinatiQn of President Francisco Ma
dero, Vice-President Pine Suarez and
Gustavo Madero, brother of the presi-
dent, the usurpation of the presidency
by Gen. Victoriano Huerta, boosted
into that position by General Felix
Diaz. Then came the rupture between
Diaz and Huerta, with the practical
Punishment of Diaz. Later in 1913
came the rise of Venustiano Carranza,
leader Of the constitutionalists in the
north of Mexico, with Nthe result that
the powerful northern states of Mex
leo are now under his control. Scarce
ly had Carranza become famous than
Francisco "Pancho" Villa, former ban
dit, with price on his head, leaped
into the limelight as a rebel leader
serving Carranza, and it is now ques-
toned whether Carranza or Villa is
the stronger in the leadership of the
-constitutionalst forces.
In it's relations with Mexico the
United States has stood firm. Early
in his administration President Wilson
announced his determination to with
hold recognition from the Huerta ad-
ministration, and although much
pressure has been brought to bear,
the president has refused to change
his attitude. Efforts have been made
to induce Huerta to retire and allow a
fair and honest election, without re-
suit Today the United States has
heavy, armed force at the border and
an impressive array of battleships of
the coast.
Assasslnations Of the Year.
Barring Mexico's harbernus achieve
ments, there have been FEW assassina-
lions in countries generally recognized
as being civilized. George !, king OF
Greece, was assassinated by mad
anarchist in Salonika, March 18. In
Turkey the commander-in-chief of the
Enver Bey, was slain on February H.
This was followed soon after by the
assassination of Nazim Pasha, Turkish
premier. Turkey and Mexico appear
to have been contending with each
other for honors in the line of assas-
sination, with Mexico slightly in the
lead.
off along
rather as usual, barring few extra
startling outbursts by suffragists in
England, such as the sensational sui
eide of the young suffragette who
threw herself before the kings horse
in the derby and was killed. Politi-
caliy England has been in Juror,
which, however, is nothing out of the
ordinary. The year has seen the very
remarkable rebellion" of Ulster, I'M
der the direction of Sir Edward Car
son, and the organization of an army
of FISHERMEN to resist enforcement of
the home rule bill should it pass par
lament
England has also had its share of
labor troubles. There have been large
SITlh6b dI uOulO anu III lAOiohN, NV
ably the Dublin riots, led by Jim Lar
kin. All of the European powers have
gone on as heretofore in the construc-
ton OF battleships, and the armed
camp" policies of Germany, England,
France and Russia are stronger than
ever. possibly made so by the Balkan
wars.
In the Far East
In the far east several things of mo-
ment occurred in 1913, among them
the Chinese rebellion and establish
ment of a republic, and in Japan the
death of the Mikado and the success
sion of his son and the anti-American
demonstrations and riots as result
of the adoption of the anti-alien land
owning law in California.
In the realm of science and explora-