THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Idltarod, Alaska
Vol. 8 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. 23
ARBUCKLE & DERRY, Publishers
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AN AFFRONT TO THE COMMUNITY
While it is always the part of wisdom to refrain from passing
judgment upon matters concerning which all the facts arc not
available, The Pioneer, in common with all the residents of this
community, cannot suppress an expression of astonishment, not
lc> say indignation, at the cavalier manner in which the territorial
Authorities have handled the road matter, as affecting Iditarod.
It Is not to be thought that the affair will be allowed to rest, anil
whatever the cause of the high-handed action of the governor and
his lieutenant, wc shall expect that they be made answerable to
the bar of public opinion, to which they have assumed an attitude
of contempt. If the road funds, territorial and federal, are to be
expended for the exclusive benefit of the Fairbanks district, wc
may be compelled to grin and bear it; but we are not compelled
to acquiesce in it. nor to sanction a dummy commission which
will make such things possible. Mr. Riley was duly appointed a
member of the divisional commission, and as such he will demand
the right to be heard. In this he will be becked up by the entire
community. The acting governor’s letter of explanation will be
awaited with interest.
-♦
SECRETARY DANIELS VINDICATED
Many men have been driven from public office, and probably
from careers of usefulness to the nation, by ridicule. To some
sensitive dispositions the fear of this weapon in the hands of
newspaper and magazine writers and public speakers amounts
almost to an obsession. But occasionally a brave spirit appears
who pursues the “even tenor of his way” apparently untroubled
by abuse and ridicule, end all the efforts of the cartoonist and
the “humorous” press, and emerges triumphant to plague his
erstwhile detractors.
Such an instance was Jerry Simpson, a product of the Populist
upheaval of the early '90s, universally known in the early days of
his career in congress as "Sockless” Jerry, a sobriquet which
he outlived. Upon his arrival in Washington as a member of She
house of representatives the alleged humorists fell upon him like
a pack of hounds yapping at a strange canine that has wandered
within the limits of the city. His habits, his attire and bis mode
of speech furnished much “copy” for correspondents, editorial
paragraphers and the “funnies.” But Simpson was more than a
match for them. He not only paid them back in their own coin
whenever he had the opportunity, which was frequently, but he
lived to see the day when his utterances were listened to respect
fully and he had been accorded a unique place in congressional an
nals as a shrewd and patriotic representative of the tillers of the
soil. Not only that, but many of the “crank” theories that he ex
pounded have been incorporated into the law of the land. He
“did his bit” in the troublous times resulting from the panic of
1S93, and will be remembered long after his detractors have been
forgotten.
Another man who was the victim of a cabal of ridicule and
who survived the ordeal with credit to himself was James Hamil
ton Lewis. As a congressman from the state of Washington a
score years ago Lewis and his “pink” whiskers were the especial
joy of the newspaper humorists, and the New York Sun showed
much genius and cleverness in painting him in a ludicrous light
for the edification of the public. But Lewis thrived on this no
toriety, and his ability and affable nature rose above the pettiness
of the slurs and quips of the writers, cartoonists and platform
orators. As the senior senator from the great state of Illinois he
now occupies a commanding position in the councils of the nation,
ami has been intrusted by more than one administration with
delicate missions connected with our foreign relations.
Probably there has never been an instance where abuse and
ridicule of a public official have been carried to such extremes as
in the case of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. Every
alleged “naval expert” who differed with him either politically cr
otherwise has found occasion to pour out a torrent of abuse and
ridicule which would have blasted the name and fame of any but
a most extraordinary character. A certain “comic” paper devoted
a whole issue to ridicule of Daniels and the navy department under
his administration; and one who was not familiar with American
polities might well imagine from the opposition press that we had
an imbecile at the head of the navy, instead of an able and effi
cient patriot. But it- is becoming known that the cause of this
campaign of abuse and villification was the secretary’s uncom
promising stand against graft, privilege, and caste in the navy.
Wien the armor plate manufacturers attempted a continua
tion of their hold-up of the government. Daniels recommended the
building of government works for the production of this necessary
article. The same course was pursued with reference to smoke
less powder. A combination for boosting the price of projectiles
for heavy ordnance was met with the award of a contract to a
foreign firm for a better article at a tremendous reduction. But
one of his greatest offenses was his effort to eliminate caste in the
navy. Among other things, the enlisted men had been deprived
of grog on board ship, and Daniels, good democrat that he is,
could see no reason why the man with shoulder straps should be
accorded a privilege that was denied the Jack Tar. He therefore
made the rule applicable to the officers’ wine and spirits as well
as to the sailors’ beer. He thus incurred the enmity of a large
number of his subordinates.
In spite of the fact that President Wilson reappointed Mr.
Daniels for his second term, thereby showing his confidence in
him, the campaign of abuse and ridicule continued, hut there has
been a decided abatement of the cabal since the outbreak of war.
There have been some men high in the navy who have refused
to join in the hue and cry against the secretary, and who have
not hesitated to testify to the efficiency of the administration.
The most remarkable indorsement of Daniels yet brought to light
was from no,less a personage than the late Admiral Dewey, who
will certainly be credited with knowing whereof he spoke. In the
Congressional Record of February 1!) appears the following expres
sion of Admiral Dewey:
1 have been in the navy sixty-two years, and have served
under many secretaries of the navy, but Secretary Daniels is
the best secretary we have ever had, and has done more for
the navy than any other. I am amazed at his knowledge of
technical matters. He has studied profoundly, and his opinion
is founded on dose observation.
Stranger things have happened than that the secretary should
make a name for himself in the present war that will be a rebuke
for the men who stick at no unpatriotic action to vent their spleen
against one whose ideas of duty and efficiency differ from theirs.
As a measure of war economy a committee of Nome citizens is
endeavoring to discourage the signing of petitions for renewal of
saloon licenses after September 1 next, thus putling into effect
prohibition without waiting for the going into operation of the
new law on January 1. It is said that Nome, with a population of
1,000 souls, is supporting nine saloons. The receipts from the sale
of liquor are estimated at $500 per day until the opening of navi
gation, about June 10, and from that date until September 1 they
will approximate $1,000 a day. The committee states that Presi
dent Wilson has asked the housewives of the nation to conserve
the food supply, and ca'ls upon the men to do their share of con
servation by cutting off this unnecessary expenditure,
A news dispatch says that the proclamation of the President
“calling for the registration of all men in the United States be
tween the ages of 21 am! 30 years, inclusive, on June o,” does not
apply to the territorial possessions of the United States, including
Alaska, it being announced that a registration day for all terri
tories will be announced in the near future. Governor Strong has
been advised that blanks and instructions arc on the way, and
when they reach him he is directed to have a census taken of all
citizens of the United States in the territory, which will show the
number of men who come under the provisions of the selective
draft system adopted by congress.
The members of the territorial legislature seem to have been
beset by difficulties other than those ordinarily encotm’ered by
law-making bodies. For instance, the proceedings of the senate
were delayed for ten minutes on April 19 by reason of the fact
that there was doubt as to the proper spelling of the word
“maintenance.1’ A dictionary was finally obtained, and still there
was doubt. It was necessary to procure a second dictionary be
fore the members finally were satisfied. But then, there is nothing
like being careful. When the Session Laws appear in printed form
we may expect to see them a model of English,
The civil war produced its Barbara Freitchie, and the present
unpleasantness has brought out a rival for the Frederick heroine
in the person of Mrs. Isabel C. Merriam, a philanthropist of Palo
t Alto. Cal., who attacked an unidentified man in an interurban car
lor assailing President Wilson and praising the kaiser. Mrs. Mer
! riam was sitting so she could not avoid hearing the conversation
j of the man, which, she said, was offensive to a patriotic American
[ woman. She grabbed the man by the coBt collar and shook him
| violently, cubing him a traitor, while others in the car cheered
i her. The man left the car at the next. stop.
--<s
In direct contrast to “slackers” who are seeking licenses to wed
to escape military duty is the case of Clement Klotleba, a machin
ist of Chicago, end a naturalized citizen. Klotleba is married, and
on that account, it is said, his application for enlistment was re
fused. He is now seeking a divorce so that he may enlist, and his
attorneys say that Mrs. Klotleba is so eager for him to go that she
approves his plan. Both are of Austrian blood.
Every inch added to women’s skirts costs the shoe manufactur
ers of the United States 110,COO,000, according to a statement
made in an address delivered at the convention of Pennsylvania
shoemakers recently at Philadelphia. The present fad of wearing
the skirts short and the shoes high has added largely to the in
come? of the shoemakers, he declared, and the convention was
! urged to go on record as favoring abbreviated garments.
-«
It certainly takes some “front” cn the part of an applicant for
citizenship to criticize the lawful actions of the government to
which he desires to swear allegiance, and the laws of which he will
be expected to support. Judge Bunnell is to be commended for his
refusal to grant citizenship to a man who becomes a fault-finder
before he is a citizen. America wants citizens who wi.l venerate
the laws and assist in their enforcement.
Governor Strong has issued a proclamation in which he ap
peals to the “farmers of Alaska and the citizens of the respective
towns” to recognize the responsibility put upon them by the pres
ent crisis, and to help safeguard the territory and the nation by so
increasing home agricultural products as to lessen importation of
such commodities into the territory.
-«
It appears from conversation among our elderly citizens that
conscription would not be necessary if they were but young
enough to be accepted for military service.
AN AMERICAN PATRIOT OF GERMAN BIRTH
(Carl Schurz)
The German who makes this country the home of his choice
must soon learn to understand—and most do learn it immediately
—that henceforth this is his country; that his welfare and that of
his posterity are closely bound up in the welfare of this republic;
that it should never enter the minds of him or his countrymen t.o
form here a separate nationality; that as a German born he has
not exceptional rights or duties or interests, but only the rights
and duties and interests of the American citizen under the free
institutions of this republic, so as to exercise his political rights
honestly and wisely for the public good; that his own freedom,
his own rights and his own future are preserved most safely in the
freedom, rights and future of the community, and that he owes
the American republic his fullest devotion, and, if necessary, his
goods and his blood. _
IDITAROD MIGHT FURNISH RECRUITS
(Juneau Empire)
Ex-Queen Lillioukalini is for Uncle Sam and against the kaiser.
A ukulele division on the Somme front might well offset the Ger
mans’ poison gas.
Ball Band Rubber Boots and Pacs
Ball Band Rubber Boots and Pacs
Special
Ball Band Rubber Shoes, eight-inch Top,
with and without heel, a// sizes,
while they last...
$3.25 Pair
N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska
N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska
ALASKA NEWS
Why He Was Denied Citizenship
After being examined as to his qualifica
tions for citizenship, John Carlson of Cleary
creek was denied the right to swear his
allegiance to the constitution as a citizen
of the United States by Judge Bunnell at
Fairbanks recently. When United States
Attorney Roth questioned him as to the
war the following questions and answers
were elicited, according to the News-Miner:
Mr. Roth—Then you do not believe in the
conduct of the present war on the part of
the government? Applicant—I think that
the war should have been submitted to a
referendum vote cf the people. Mr. Roth —
Well, don’t you think that the President
has the right to declare war? Applicant—
I think he acted kinda high-handed. Judge
Bunnell (interrupting, to Mr. Roth)—\ou
need not ask any more questions. (To Ap
plicant)—You are denied the right to be ad
mitted to citizenship. (Again to Mr. Roth)
- -You will report this man’s name to the
attorney general.
-0—
Skagway Recruits for Navy
C. 0. Pyke, Jr., son of C. O. Pvke of the
White Pass railroad, and 0. Hijuera, a
member of the naval reserve, left Skagway
on May 4 for Seattle to join the United
States navy. They are two of a number
of Alaska boys who have responded to the
call of the country for an increased army
and navy.
Goyette Convicted of Assault
After being out a little more than an
hour, the jury in the case of the United
States vs. Louis Goyette, before Judge Bun
nell at Fairbanks, returned a verdict of
guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon.
The charge contained in the indictment was
shooting with intent to kill, wound or
maim, but the court in its instructions to
the jury stated that a verdict for the lesser
crime could be returned. The de
fendant admitted that he did the shooting
with which he was charged when he shot
Dick Creighton, but. contended that the
shooting was justified. He claimed that he
did the shooting only after a double-barreled
shotgun had been drawn on him, his weapon
being an ordinary ,22-cahber r*.He, and not
a high-powered gun, as was thought. A
conspiracy to defraud Goyette out of his
half of a seven-eighths interest in the Mo
hawk group of quartz claims, at the head
of Cleary creek, was also charged by the
defense. Dick Creighton, Martin Smith,
keoni Lcutre and El-a Peterson were ac
cused of being the conspirators.
Reindeer Attacks Dogs
Under date of April S, the Unalakleel
correspondent of the Nome Industrial
Worker says: “The recent arrival of one
of the mail carriers upon this end of the
Nome run with several of his dogs looking
[as if they had attended a fair where the
‘wets’ were in the majority created some
comment. Later it was learned thet when
leaving Elm it was blowing hard and the
drifting snow made it impossible to sec
well, when there suddenly appeared a vicious
reindeer that without cause attacked the
mail team, getting in the very center of
the dogs, kicking viciously end using every
means at his disposal to inflict injuries upon
the mail team. The carrier threw his sled
upon the side and went to protect his dogs,
and in doing so had to come within striking
distance of the bloodthirsty animal. The
deer instantly struck the carrier a heavy
blow over the heart, rendering him nearly
helpless for a short time, and before the
deer could be pulled away by the carrier
and deer driver the carrier's knuckles were
di-located and hell a-popping. This is not
the first time a similar mix-up has cc
curred, and some regulation should be en
forced for the protection of the dogs.”
— O -
Dr. Hail Not Guilty
A verdict of not guilty was returned in
the case of the United States vs. Dr. M. F.
Hall in Judge Bunnell’s court at Fairbanks
on April 7. The case had been in the courts
for more than two years. Dr. Hall was first
indicted by the grand jury in 1915, the
crime being alleged to have been committed
on September 24, 1914. Flail’s trial at that
time resulted in a conviction, but an appeal
was taken, with the result that the case
was remanded for retrial on the ground that
improper testimony had been admitted at
the first trial. The crime was alleged to
have been committed on the person of
Selma Lappi, a girl nine years of age.
Fairbanks Man at the Front
Writing to a friend in Fairbanks, W. H.
Saul, formerly of Interior Alaska, who is
now on the western front in Frnace, tells of
life in the trenches, says the Fairbanks
News-Miner. He is with a Canadian con
tingent, and at the time of writing was in
a rather inactive sector. He expected,
however, to get into action within a very
short time. Although his letter is carefully
worded to get by the censors without giving
away any military information, he gives
the impression that the military prepara
tions of the French and British for the
spring campaign are enormous, and he
says Americans will be surprised at the
progress.
Henry Must Serve Five Months
In the district court at Fairbanks on
May 5 Judge Bunnell sentenced G. Hinton
Henry, editor of the Free Press, to serve
five months in the federal jail. Henry, in
his paper, charged N. R. King with having
stolen one of his papers. The jury, in find
ing Henry guilty, recommended clemency,
and the court said he would take this into
consideration in passing sentence, and indi
cated that he might have given the accused
the limit of the law otherwise. On the trial
of the case in the commissioner’s court
Henry had been sentenced to serve 120
days in jail, so that by the sentence im
posed by Judge Bunnell Henry is compelled
to serve thirty days more than he would
have served had he not appealed the case.
Judge Bunnell took occasion to review the
case, the trial in the lower court and the
two trials in the higher court-, and also
commented on the paper that the defend
ant edited at Hot Springs before coming to
Fairbanks. Judge Bunnell denied a request
of counsel for the defendant that the sen
tence should not go into effect until the
following day, in order to give Henry time
to attend to some business matters.
Young Mayhood Committed to Asylum
While working on Cleary creek, in the
Fairbanks district, some years ago, Manley
Mayhood, a vigorous young Northerner, fell
down a working shaft and sustained an
injury to his head. For a long time he
was considered mentally weak after the ac
cident, but recovered until it was thought
he was on the road to complete recovery.
George Mayhood, his father, who resides at
Ruby, had been looking forward to the re
turn of his son from the Outside. But he
has received a letter from his son Clair, in
San Francisco, to the effect that Manley
has been placed in the Stockton State Hos
pital, where mental cases are handled. He
had become possessed of strange hallucina
tions, and grew so violent that it was nec
essary to put him under restraint.
O—
Noted Alaskan Created a Bishop
Very Rev. Joseph Raphael Crimont, S. J.,
has just been appointed by Pope Benedict
to the office of prefect apostolic of Alaska
and titular bishop of Amtnadara. Bishop
Crimont’s territory comprises Alaska and
the Aleutian islands, which had been made
a vicariate apostolic. Bishop Crimont was j
born in Picardy, France, in 1859, and at
tended the Jesuit college at the age of 12.
He entered the Society of Jesus in 1875 at
St. Acheul, where he studied seven years.
He came to Woodstock, Mil., in 1888, end
two years later was ordained a priest by
Cardinal Gibbons. He spent seven years
as a missionary to the Crow Indians, and
in 1S95 was sent to Alasak. In 1901 he
was celled to take the presidency of Gon
zoga coilege, at Spokane. He was colled
back to Alaska in 1904 to succeed Father
J. B. Rene as prefect apostolic. F'ather Cri
mont is deeply loved by all Alaskans, who
rejoice that his lsbors have been rewarded
and that this will continue to be his chosen
field.—Seward Gateway.
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
McGibney at Nenana
Frank McGibney, formerly of Iditarod,
arrived at Nenana on May 18 with two
teams of horses, and wiil engage in the ex
press business at that place.
Jack Has a Little Brother
On Wednesday, May 16, a baby son was
born to Mr. and Mrs. James Cody of Ruby.
Mrs. Cody and the baby are doing well.
Mr. and Mrs. Cody are former Iditarod
residents, Mr. Cody having been for some
years connected with the Northern Com
mercial Company here. He is now N. C.
agent at Ruby.
Former Marshal Love Gets Commission
Word has been received in Fairbanks that
H. K. Love, former United States marshal
for the Fourth judicial division, had passed
the examination and had been commissioned
as a captain in the United States regular
army. He took the examination at Fort
Sheridan, near Chicago. Captain Love,
during the Spanish-Arnerican war, was a
member of Roosevelt’s regiment, and ever
,-ince has been a close follower and sup
porter of the former President.
Fred Carter Takes Bride
With only the relatives of the bride pres
! cut, Fred B. Carter and Mrs. Clara Vintin
I were married at Fairbanks on Saturday.
I May 5. The bride has resided in Fairbanks
j about a year. She is a sister of Mrs. Foster
i and Mrs. Brskke. Mr. Carter is a. well
known old-timer, having resided at Fair
banks, Iditarod and Nome. In 1908 he
was mayor of Fairbanks. He is at present
engaged in the automobile business. The
bride is a saleslady at Gordon's Glass Block,
and will continue in her employment.
Danny's Fortune Is Still Growing
As the story of Danny Brice’s famous
poke travels wider afield, the larger it grows.
The following is published in the Dawson
News under a Seward date: “The glamour
of prospecting for gold still tempts the
adventurous. Thus pursuing her, fickle for
me smiled on Dan Brice. He arrived here
iter a 1,000-mile trip by dog sled from
Bethel, on the Kuskokwim river. He came
here from Pennsylvania six years ago, hav
ing rHrien on freight cars to Seattle and
worked his way from that point as a steam
boat laborer. A local merchant, T. W.
Hawkins, grubstaked Brice to S50 worth
of flour, bacon and other provisions, and
got back more than $1,000 from Brice last
year. Since then Brice ahs wandered far
over the Interior, always in bad luck until
the last season, when he struck it rich on
Bear creek. Upon his arrival he deposited
$60,000 in coarse gold in the Bank of
Seward. He leaves on the next boat to
visit his folks in the States, but will return
to Alaska in the spring.”
Tommy McSmart Now at the Front
Tommy King of Fairbanks has received
a letter from Tommy McSmart, who is
well and favorably known in Iditarod and
Fairbanks. The letter was written on the
fcve of MeSmart’s departure for the trenches
in France. The letter, reproduced from
the News-Miner, is dated “England, Feb.
25, 1917,” and is as follows: “I haven’t
received any mail from you for a long
time, excepting one newspaper at Hastings
Park, just before I left for here. Well,
Tom, I have been here now for three weeks,
and have nearly gone through with my
training already. In fact, I think I will
have passed my examination in two weeks
from now. After that I get six days’ leave,
then I go to the front ‘somewhere in
France.’ And the sooner the better, as I
Em decidedly tired of all of this training;
but of course it’s essential or I wouldn’t
get it. It’s very cold here, and prices are
worse than in Fairbanks, so you can un
derstand what that means. I don’t want
to wish you any hard luck, Tom, but I do
wish you were here with me. I like it fine,
but am suffering from a terrible cold.
I do wish you would get me a vest made
out of moosehide, or seDd me enough moose
hide to make one. Of course there will
have to be enough for front and back, but
the sleeves I would like to have knitted.
Of course, I may get killed before I have
time to use. it, but if you can see your way
clear to get me one it will be a life-saver
in more ways than one. We are going to
win this war, Tommy. It's going to be
hard to do it. Many of us will never come
out alive, but it will make the world easier
for those that are left. Anyhow, it’s no
worse than being on the trail in the old
days, or what I went through in Mexico
four years ago. I feel just the same
as I did when I enlisted. Of course
all this routine work and training
from morning till night jars on a man's
nerves, but it’s got to be did. I brought
*wo others with me from California; one of
|he boys is in training to be an aviator, and
the other one is here with me. The gov.
ernment promised to refund our fares to
Vancouver, which was $30 each, but as yet
we have never received it.”
Professions l
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, ttt*
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of Idltarod
E. M. STANTON
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second St*.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
Pint Avenue Iditarod
DR. I^OORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. H. E. AUR5NGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Plat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
FLAT DRUG STORE
FINE WATCH REPAIRING
NUGGET JEWELRY TO ORDER
J. L. SALE, Flat City
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THK
Arcade Cafe
FLAX CIXY
Open Dav and Night
PI APARH^ anfl sma!I* printed on
i LALdI\L/J paper, cardboard or clotti,
on short notice, at Iditarod rioneer ofHee.
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
DISCOVERY
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK 4 DURAND
Bet. the Grand and Bagoy't Bart
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
Big Stocks of Fresh Goods
Everything for the Miner and
Prospector
WAX siWEL
Stores at Cripple City and Mouth of Tolstoi
FINNEGAN & CAMERON
FLAT CITY
Agency for Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records
TOBACCO CIGARS STATIONERY
CONFECTIONERY AND BILLIARDS
C. R. Cameron Jas. F. Finnegan
THOS. McMAHON
DEALER IN
General Merchandise
FLAT, ALASKA