River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-08
WORLD HAS HAD A
FORTUNATE YEAR
No Terrible Catastrophe Has
Marked the TWeIvemonth.
DEATH TAKES NOTABLE MEN
General Success Of the Democrats and
Startling Developments South OF
the Rio Grande Chief Events
In Western Hemisphere.


New York.-Taken all in all, the
year 1913 has been happy and rather
fortunate one for the world in gen
eraI it was not marked by any great
catastrophe, such as the San Francisco
earthquake or the Titanic disaster; II
saw he end of the wars In the Bal
kans. it 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, III
GLIDING such notable figures as j. T.
Morgan, Henry NJ. Flagler and James
Il. 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 VINO
would have been pope instead OF Plus
\ had not the emperor of Austria Yot-
cd 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 or
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 adj
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 adj
mitted to exist
Doings in Mexico.
South of the Rio Grande develop
ments have been startling and rapid.
Tho year 1913 saw in Mexico the as
sassnation 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 Hucrta, boosted
into that position by General Felix
DiaZ. Then came the rupture between
DiaI and IIuerta, with the practical
banishment 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 lad CarranZa become famous than
Francisco "Pancho" Villa, former ban
dit, vith 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 adj
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 q
heavy armed force at the border anC
an impressive array Of battleships of
the coast
There have been several marriages
OF Importance in the past year, anC
a number of engagements of promi
nent persons announced. Foremost in
the minds of Americans. of course, i.
the wedding of Miss Jessie Woodrow
Wilson, daughter of the president.
Assassinations of the Year.
Barring MeXico's barbarous achieve
mepts, there have been few assassina
lions in countries generally recognized
as being civilized. George |, king O
Greece. was assassinated by a mac
anarchist in Salonika, March IS. Ii
Turkey the communicating chief OF thu
Ottoman forces in the Balkan wars
Enver Bey, was slain on February II
This was followed soon after by tn,
assassination Of NaZin Pasha, Turkish
premier. Turkey and Mexico appea
TO have been contending with eacl
other for honors in the line of assas
sination, with Mexico slightly in tn,
lead.
European affairs have gone alon.
rather as usual, barring q few extr;
startling outbursts by suffragists II
England, such as the sensational sui
eide of the young suffragette VIII,
threw herself before the kings hors
in the derby and was killed. Politi
cally England has been in a Juror
which, however, is nothing out of tn,
ordinary. The year has seen the yer,
remarkable rebellion" Of Ulster. IN
der the direction of Sir Edward Can
son. and the organization of an army
of Ulstermen to resist enforcement o
the home rule bill should it pass pal
lament
England has also had its share o
labor troubles. There have been larg
strikes at home and in Ireland, no,
ably the Dublin riots, led by Jim Lar
kin. All of the European powers hav,
gone on as heretofore in the construc
ton Of battleships. and the "arme,
camp" policies of Germany, England
Are Twice TWO Four?