The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-01-01
WORLD HAS HAD A
FORTUNATE YEAR
No Terrible Catastrophe Has
'larked the TWeIvemonth.
DEATH TAKES NOTABLE MEN
General Success of the Democrats and
Startling Developments South of
the Rio Grande Chief Events
in Western Hemisphere.

year 1918 mas been happy ana ratner
fortunate one for the world in gen.
eral. 1t was not marked by any great
catastrophe, such as the San Francisco
earthquake or the Titanic disaster; it
saw the end of the wars in the Bal
kans 1t witnessed the Inauguration of
Democratic president in the United
States, followed by genuine tariff re-
duction without financial panic.
The death roll for the past year has
hit the financial world rather hard, in
cluding such notable figures as J. P.
Morgan, Henry M. Flagler and James
R. Keene. The Roman Catholic
church also lost two of it's 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 vot-
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 it.
AS alarmed as high finance may
have been when it was learned that
President Wilson believed in Sherman
law should be clarified" business and
financial interests have apparently be-
come convinced that the presidents
attitude is not one of opposition, but
rather an attitude in which he would
consult and confer with business and
finance to remedy evils generally ad-
mitted to exist.
DoIngs In Mexico.
South of the Rio Grande develop
ments have been startling and rapid.
The year 1913 saw in Mexico the as
sassination 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 the 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
constitutionalist forces
In its 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
fair and honest election, without re-
suit. Today the United States has
heavy armed force at the border and
an impressive array of battleships off
the coast.
There have been several marriages
OF Importance in the past year, and
number of engagements of promi-
nent persons announced. Foremost in
the minds of Americans, of course, is
the wedding of Miss Jessie Woodrow
Wilson, daughter of the president.
Assassinations of the Year.
Barring MeXico's barbarous achieve
ments, there have been few assassina-
tions in countries generally recognized
as being civilized. George |, king of
Greece, was assassinated by mad
anarchist in Salonika, March 1S. In
Turkey the commander-in-chief of the
Ottoman forces in the Balkan wars,
Enver Bey, was slain on February II.
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.
European affairs have gone along
rather as usual, barring few Nxtra
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. Pohti-
cally England has been in a Juror,
which. however, is nothing out of the
ordinary. The year has seen the very
remarkable rebellion" of Ulster, un-
der the direction of Sir Edward Car
son, and the organization of an "army"
of Ulstermen 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
strikes at home and in Ireland, not
ably the Dublin riots, led by Jim Lar
kin. All of the European powers have
gone on as heretofore in the .construc-
tion of battleships, and the armed
camp" policies Of Germany, England,