IDITAROD PIONEER
n hi isin i> i \ i:uv "ATI huav mohmnu at iiutahod, alaska
yaj (, Charles A Derry, Losses end Publisher No. 37
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year . $10.00 Umo Month . $1.00
Months .. 6.oo i single Copy.
Advertising Rates on Application
NOTICE, persons sending advertising copy from a distance are particularly re
■ , h.- i"i■ i"u 1 m p-. parinR the same. The publisher cannot accept the
responsibility for ;i 11«■:;ujr cop\. espeeiall\ m the case of forfeiture and other leical
notices, li i-. tiii'refe; e. imperative iliat such notices be clearly written, parttcu
larly as regards names ami dale-.
GERMANY'S LATEST MOVE
The Germans have been said to be lacking in diplomatic ability,
ai d eminent writers have given out the impression that the bungling
methods of the kaiser s advisors are responsible for the alignment ol so
many powerful nations against the German empire. Be this as it may,
Germany’s latest move in the negotiations with the United States shows
evidence of diplomacy of a high order, and the ability to turn adverse
circumstances to her own ad\antage.
At the time that the United States government sent its protest to
Germany against that nation s conduct ot the submarine warfare, al
most identical notes were sent to tire British government protesting
against the lngh-handed manner in which tne British navy was treating
American shipping and American commerce on the high seas. These
American contentions were for the most part rejected by the British,
and surprise even was expressed that the United States government
should embarrass the allies by making objections o he methods em
colyed in the war on Germany. In a note received by the state de
paitment on August 2 the British government rejected every contention
made by President Wilson, and even refused to recognize the right of
the United States lo reserve certain complaints for future settlement.
The note was considered as a bitter disappointment at W ashington, and
negotiations seem now to be at a deadlock.
Last week’s dispatches stale that the German government has ac
cepted in principle the American interpretation of the methods under
which its submarine warfare may be conducted, and promises that here
after the lives of non-combatants will not be endangered on the high
seas without warning. The dispatches also naively state that Ger
many’s object in accepting the terms of America in the submarine con
troversy is primarily to join forces with the United States in establish
ing freedom of the seas." And therein lies the key to Germany’s change
of front. The freedom of the seas is vitally important lo Germany at
this time.
It will be remembered that Germany s submarine campaign against
British shipping and its declaration of a war zone embracing tne waters
surrounding the British isles were undertaken ostensibly as an act ot re
prisal for Great Britain’s declaration that foodstuffs destined for Ger
many were to be considered contraband. It is more than probable
,hat Germany, finding untenable her attitude of defiance of the rights
of neutral nations at sea, with especial reference to the United States,
has accepted the American position with the view of utilizing .American
assistance in raising the blockade of German ports to American food
shipments. It would be highly inconsistent on the part of the United
States if, after having won her point against Germany, she should fail
to make just as strenuous demands on Great Britain for modification of
the order in council which shuts out American products from German
markets. Thus will Germany make use of the neutral position of the
United States as an aid in the circumvention of the allies’ program of
starving her into submission. Should she accomplish this, it will be time
for other powers to acknowledge that Germany has made progress in
the subtle art of diplomacy, as she has in other lines.
THE SHORT BALLOT AND WHAT IT MEANS
Elihu B. Root, the distinguished president of the New York ccn
; titutional convention which is at work on the remodeling of the fun
damental law of the Empire state, in a speech last week undertook to
advocate the use of the “short ballot” and at the same time to denounce
bossim, a course which, pursued by a statesman of less prominence,
would lead to an accusation of inconsistency.
The purpose of the “short ballot agitation is to centralize and
iect before hte convention, most of them framed on the theory that pro
jet before the convention, most of them framed on the theory that pro
viding for the election of a single executive and for the appointment
of all heads of departments and administrative officers, the readjust
ment of executive power may be left to take care of itself. One of the
plans proposd enumerates thirteen executive officers to be appointed
by the governor. Another proposes that the legislature create eight
departments, and specifying their functions. All of these plans con
template that the executive offices shall be filled by appointment by
the governor. Thus, instead of the voter being confronted wuth a
lengthy list of names from which to designate his choice for the man}
offices, he would merely express his preference for governor.
How this centralization of power in the hands of the executive de
partment is calculated to destroy the influence of the political boss is
not quite clear. Patronage is the very essence of bossism, and to place
WHITE RUBBER BOOTS
$9.00 Pair
McMahon, Flat City
Fresh Meats
SeDondSt. IDITAROD MEAT CO. Phone 15
in the hands of one man the distribution of the innumerable official
positions heretofore at the disposal of the people seems to be an invi
tation to political bosses to exert themselves the more.
The manner in which the immense office-bestowing power works
out in national affairs is well known. More than one presidential nomi
nation has been decided by means of the preponderance of presidential
appointees at national conventions as delegates, notably when the will
of the great majority of the rank and file of the Republican party was
thwarted at the national convention held in Minneapolis m 1892, and
President Harrison secured the nomination over James G. Blaine. Other
instances could be cited. Former Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of
Oregon, recently discussed this immense power of the executive in an
intelligent and comprehensive manner as follows:
The conflict between the President and the United States senate over appointment
of fe lend employes in various states constitutes a very grave evil in our form of govern
ment. When the framers of the constitution gave the President power to appoint “by
and with the advice and consent of the senate,” they intended that no man should hold
public office in the appointive classes except for temporary vacancies during congressional
recess, unless there be mutual agreement between the President and the senate. The
members of the constitutional convention could not foresee the vast expansion of the ter
ritory of the United States and the enlargement of the scope of its activities. They had
not the remotest conception of the number of persons who ultimately would be em
ployed in he civil service of the nation, now numbering over 470.000. They assumed that
the President and the senate could make personal inquiry and form personal judgment
upon the qualifications of prospective appointees.
But conditions have undergone a change they could not foresee. Today over 10,000
appointments are made by the President, “by and with the advice and consent of the
senate." More than a thousand appointments are made by the President without con
lirimition by the senate. Ihere may be a dozen candidates tor each position.
It is absurd to imagine that any President can intelligently select the most desirable
men for more than 11.000 offices out of probably 100,000 applicants. If he gave his entire
time to the matter he could probably not intelligently fill 500 of these positions. Neither
the President nor the senate us a body can pass intelligently upon the qualifications of
candidates for all appointive positions. The result has been that the President acts upon
the recommendations of his political friends and legislative supporters, while the senate
usually acts upon the recommendation of the members from the state in which the ap
pointee is to serve, if one or both of the members from such state be of the majority
party. Hence Presidents usually favor senators and congressmen who support their
policies, and reject the advice of those who do not.
Patronage, therefore, has become a means by which the executive rewards those
who agree with him on legislation, and punishes those who differ and have courage to ex
press the inherent right and sworn duty of independent thought and action.
Patronage has almost destroyed congress as a co-ordinate branch of government and
made it largely subservient to the White House. Important legislation now is planned
and written in the executive branch of the government and forced through congress
partly by the aid of patronage. Such a procedure is a menace to popular and representa
tive government. It is the beginning of dictatorship.
Since we no longer live under conditions prevailing at the time the constitution was
adopted, the wise course is to make the constitution meet the needs of this day and gen
eration. The remedy, it seems to me. is the adoption of a constitutional amendment
divesting the President of his power to nominate postmasters, collectors of customs and
internal revenue, registers and receivers of land offices, district attorneys and I nited
States marshals, and provide that they shall be elected by the people in their several juris
dictions. Take from the President the power of their removal; give him only the power
of suspension, with the right of appeal by the suspended employe to the civ:l service com
mission, whch would have the power of reinstatement or removal. This would in no
manner interfere with proper administration of government, federal office-holders w^oal
still give bonds, be subject to executive suspension, but would not be politically sub
servient to the executive. Thus only can we destroy the evil power of patronage, free
congress from subserviency to the White House and make congress a co-ordinate branch
of government in the sense in which it was intended to be. and should be. Congress,
consisting of 531 members, can far more intelligently and unselfishly legislate for 100.
000,000 people than can any President. The sole power of a President should be adminis
tration, not legislation—suggestion, not coercion a veto resubmission to congress, not the
executive barter and sale of patronage for the imitation or defeat of legislation. A one
man government cannot last.
>
As having a bearing on the negotiations between the United States
and Great Britain in relation to the shipping controversy, it is pointed
out as significant, and as indicating the amount of goods entering Ger
many and Austria, official statements show that the exports
of the United States to the Netherlands have increased from
$93,000,000 to $122,000,000; to Sweden from $12,000,000 to
$71,000,000; to Norway from $7,000,000 to $35,000,000, and to
Denmark from $13,000,000. That America received a fair supply
of goods from Germany, notwithstanding the war, is shown, the British
government claims, by the fact that in eight months the imports from
that country to the United States aggregated $86,000,000, and it is
also noted that the imports of dyestuffs from Germany are greater than
the previous year.
- ♦
One of the consolations of having a limited news service is that we
do not get all of the false rumors afloat in the Outside newspaper at
mosphere. On August 7 many newspapers contained the announce
ment that David Lloyd George, the brilliant and energetic British minis
ter of munitions, had been assassinated. As that was the last heard of
the story, it may be put down as one of the innumerable war canards.
♦
For the information of the bureau which furnishes news of the out
side world for this medium, it may be stated that there has not been
noticeable any undue excitement by reason of the fact that a notori
ous characer has arrived in San Francisco, that Teddy has gone hunt
ing, or that a Utah judge has become tired of his official duties. Gossip
of this nature is not worth paying telegraph tolls for.
The staid old Cincinnati Enquifer, in giving a list of notable dis
asters, in connection with its account of the recent sinking of the East
land at Chicago, is guilty of the following: September 19, 1914
Steamer Francis FI. Leggett pounded to pieces in a gale sixty miles south
of the Columbia river, Alaska; eighty women and men drowned.
-+
In recognition of General Botha s services to the British empire in
the conquest of German Southwest Africa, cable dispatches bring the
rumor that the newly-acquired region is to be called Bothaland, and
that the Boer general is to receive a peerage and a gift of $500,000.
--A
The system of tagging transatlantic passengers for identification in
case of mishap through encounters with submarines is so suggestive
that doubtless it will discourage mere tourists. Thus will the See
America first” movement receive new impetus.
-♦
The auction sale conducted by the head of the Geological Survey
party has brought out the query as to whether Uncle Sam comes under
the operation of the territorial law which requires itinerant merchants
to procure a license to transact business in incorporated cities!
-♦
The annual stampede fever is virulent again, and many are becom
ing infected. From the accounts received here from reliable sources
there has been nothing communicated that would justify a rush to any
of the new camps, though there is always the chance of a strike be
ing made anywhere in Alaska where men are engaged in extensive
prospecting. However, a camp that is producing upward of $2,000,
000 annually offers more inducements to the ordinary man than any of
the newest strikes would seem to offer.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
A correspondent who fails to sign his
name sends us a communication relative to
the Monroe doctrine. It is not customary
to devote time or attention to unsigned j
communication, but the omission is over
looked. The letter is as follows:
Editor Pioneer: Please answer follow
i ing questions: A says Monroe doctrine
merely covers the North and South Ameri
can continents of the Western hemisphere.
B says the Monroe doctrine covers the con
t incuts, including West Indian islands and
all other islands and possessions in the
Western hemisphere belonging to European
powers What bearing has tin* Monroe doc
trine in regard to possessions held by Euro
pean powers?
Our correspondent is informed that the i
j “Monroe doctrine” is not a definite policy,
j It has been variously interpreted by differ
ent administrations, and is even now in proc
j ess of evolution. Pages have been written
by able men as to what it should mean,
but few of them agree entirely. Starting
with a decision to foster the Latin republics
of South America against European agres
sion, it has gradually been developed until
it may be said that the assertion that the
j United States' assumption of a “paramount
[•interest” in American affairs applies to all
of North and South America and contigu- [
ous islands. This was by no means the
original Monroe doctrine. The United j
States does not attempt to interfere with
existing European colonies on the continent, i
AMERICAN INVENTORS
(Girard in Philadelphia Ledger'
It would be just like Thomas A. Edison
to go and revolutionize marine warfare, now
that he is going to work for Uncle Sam’s
navy. But don’t forget, gentle reader, that
America already has to her credit more in
vention honors that apply to war than has
any other land.
A Vale boy invented the first submarine
mine.
A L: ncaster countian gave his name to
the first steamship, and Robert Fulton’s
work soon put every sailship navy out of
business.
John Ericsson invented the screw pro
peller for steamboats before the Mexican
war, and so made a new era in naval ma
neuvers.
The first screw-driven warship was con
structed in Philadelphia.
It was again this same Ericsson who, in
the sixties, sent every existing navy to the
junk heap with his ironclad Monitor.
Holland, who died only recently, built
the first of modern submarines.
Richard Gatling, a North Carolina school
teacher, after perfecting machinery to sow
! cotton seed and rice, astonished the world
with the first machine gun - the famous
Galling of the civil war.
Tyrons of Philadelphia began inventing
firearms and rifle appliances a century ago,
and they are still doing business at the
old stand.
Colonel Deringer gave us the vest-pocket
l pistr 1 which bears his name, while Colt.
Winchester and Springfield are names of
American firearms known all around the
world.
Oh. yes. indeed, when it comes to invent
ing things to carry on a scientific war, put
trust in your Uncle Samuel. He has never
failed as yet.
THE PANAMA CANAL
To the end of June, 1915, expenditures
on account of the Panama canal had in all
amounted to $382,000,000. The earnings of
the canal during the twelve months ended
with June. 1915. have been $4,424,000. cr
$225,000 in excess of the cost of operating
'the canal during the same period.
During the calendar year of 1914 the
total receipts of the Suez canal were 125,
000.000 francs, or about $25,000,000. The
expenditures of the Suez canal in this period
were about $6,000,000. During the first
teeven months of 1914 traffic at the Suez
canal showed a normal increase, but after
the European war began commercial traffic
fell off by 40 per cent. This decrease was
partly offset by the transit of transports and
other vessels in military service.
To the end of May 942 vessels had passed
through the Panama canal, carrying cargo
of 4.300,000 tons. In the twelve months
ended with last December. 4.802 vessels used
the Suez canal. Thus, the volume of traf
fic through the Panama canal may be esti
mated roughly as more than one-fourth of
the traffic through the much more accessi
ble Suez canal, with its easy passage with
out the use of locks.
HENRY JAMES BRITISH SUBJECT
LONDON. Aug. 28. -Henry James, the
American writer, according to an announce
ment in the Times, was granted natural
ization papers recently and took the oath
of allegiance as a British subject. In his
petition for naturalization he sets forth the
following reasons:
“Because of having lived and worked in
England for the best part of forty years;
because of attachments to the country and j
sympathy with it and its people; because of j
the long friendships, associations and inter
ests formed—these last including the acqui
sition of some property; all of which things
have brought to a head a desire to throw
my moral weight and personal allegiance,
for whatever they inair be worth, into the
scale of the contending nations’ present and
future fortune.”
For fine silver salmon, see Mitchell, at
Flat City.
THE TRAMP
His hair is long, his breath is
strong, his hat is old and battered;
his knees are sprung, his nerves un
strung, his clothes are badly tat
tered; his shoes are worn, his hide’s
been torn by bow wows fierce and
snarling; and yet, by heck! this
tough old wreck was once some
daddy’s darling!
He still must hit the ties and grit.
A dismal fate is his’n ; for if he stops
the village cops will slam him into
prison. Some hayseed judge would
make him trudge out where the rock
pile’s lying, to labor there, in his de
spair, till next year's snows are fly
ing The women shy when he goes
by; with righteous wrath they con
him. Men give him kicks and hand
him bricks and train their shotguns
on him. His legs are sprained, his
fetlocks strained, from climbing
highways hilly; it’s hard to think
this seedy gink was someone’s little
Wiilie!
And yet ’tis so. Once, long ago,
some dad of him was bragging, and
matrons mild surveyed the child and
set their tongues a-wagging. “What
lovely eyes!” one woman cries.
“They look like strips of heaven!”
“And note his hairs!” a dame de
clares. “I’ve counted six or seven!”
“His temper’s sweet,” they all re
peat ; “he makes no fuss or bother.
He has a smile that’s free from guib
he looks just like his fath-r!”
Thus women talked as he was
rocked to slumber in hi.s cradle; they
filled with praise his infant days,
poured taffy with a ladle.
And 111a and dad, with bosoms
glad, planned futures for the crea
ture. “I’ll have my way,” the wife
would say; “the child must be a
preacher! If is tastes are pure, of
that I’m sure,” she says, with opti
mism: “for when he strays around
and plays, he grabs the catechism !”
“Ah, well,” says dad, “the lovely lad
will reach great heights I know it.
I have the dope that he’ll beat Pope
or Byron as a poet.”
To give him toys and bring him
joys, the savings bank was burgled;
folks cried, “Gee whiz! how cut. h«■
is!” whenever baby gurgled.
His feet are bare, his matted hair
could not be combed with harrow.-;
his garb is weird, and in hs beard
are bobolinks and sparrows You’d
never think, to see the gink, that
ever he had parents! Can it be .-o
that long ago he was somebody’s
Clarence? Walt Mason.
DUCK DINNERS ENJOYED
Frank Korn earned the good will of many
of his friends in this city this week by ,
presenting them with the spoils of the hunt
in the shape of many brace of fine ducks,
which he sent up from Dikeman for Billy
Stoneman to distribute for him.
It is never too late or too earlv to ac
commodate the people from the creeks when
thev come to the
* CROSBY MASSAGE AND BATH
PARLORS
The Home of the Twentieth Century Turk
ish Bath
Job Printing at Pioneer office.
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE
To II. Schofield, and to your heir-, execu
tors. adrninist:,ator,< and assigns:
Yon are hereby notified that the under
signed. a co-owner, ha- expended in lab-w
and improvements the sum of one hundred
dollar- (.<11)0.00, per- year for the years
19i:< and 191 1 upon that certain placer
mining claim known as The Happy New
Year Association, situated at the head of
Flat creek, a tribuiary of Otter creek, in
otter recording district. Territory of
Alaska. in which y-u are the owner of an
undivided one-eighth ( is interest.
You and each of you are hereby notified
that if at the expiration of ninety (90 »
days after the last publication of this notice
you have failed or refused to contribute
your share of the aforesaid expenditures,
your inti rest in said claim will become for
fcitcd and will become the property of the
undersigned, according to the provi.-ions nf
"ee?i"!i -1:)U4 of Revised Statutes of the
United States.
DAVID STRAND BERG. Co-Owner.
Date nf fir.-t publication. Sept. 1. 1915.
Date of last publication, Dec. 4, 1915.
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1910
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney or Iditarod
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
Fred Harrison
ATTORNEY AT LAW
REGINA HOTEL ICITAROD
DR. MOORE,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. E. AUR3NGER,
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR. H. BEHLA,
DENTIST
Appointments by Telephone
FLAT CITY
oaaMWHWViinHMnwaTOTWnpratuiMrn/. ■ :*nmu*
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK & DURAND
Eet. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE MERE TO STAY
First-Class Accommodations
COMMODIOUS LOBBY
LARGE, AIRY ROOMS
YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED
MRS. N. P. GILMORE
Best of Everything
AI.L THE TIME A' 1 HK
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Dav and Night
Hairy Domuii y. the energetic Discovery
business man. was in town this week
MERCHANTS' CAFE
HERBERT E, R8LEY, PROP.
The Best of Everything the Market Affords—Our Sunday Dinners
Are Famous
TABLES FOR LADIES TELEPHONE
...... ^ ‘V- j*Q*»y
H « Gold Si., Flat City
I P H | Jr^ H Q Mrs. Geo. Mutehler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
HARRY~DONNELLEY
j GENERAL MERCHANDISE
| DISCOVERY, OTTER __
THE best of everything all the time
Caribou Cafe
^_- GOOD MEALS
SHORT ORDERS
FIRST AVE. OPEN DAY AND NIGHT HTbTsoutar
-
Job Printing at Pioneer Print Shop