THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Iditarod, Alaska
Vol. 7 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor and Publisher No. 2
Subscription Rates
One Year $10.00 One Month $1.00
Sis Months 5.00 Single Copy .25
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THE COMMERCIAL CLUB
The Iditarod Commercial Club siaits the new
year with an increased membership and an awak
ened interest. There is plenty of work in view' for
it. and it should receive the hearty support of the
community. Its officers are able and broad-minded
men, who have the interest of the city and district
ct heart, and also—what is of utmost importance—
they are active workers in any undertaking they en
gage in. Given the backing necessary for the sup
port of such an organization, their efforts cannot but
result in general benefit to the community.
An organization is )ust what its members make
it. While it may be considered unfortunate that dis
sension arose so early in its career, this is by no
means a discouraging sign. I he organization which
does not have to contend with factional fights and
variance of opinion usually is the organization which
remains passive and impotent. The live, virile body
that makes for civic betterment usually is composed
of men of convictions and the courage to give ex
pression to them. An organization composed of
such men is hound to accomplish more than the
spineless body which allows things to take their
course with the least effort on the part of its mem
bership.
While harmony is the great lever which accom
plishes things, sometimes harmony must be fought
tor. and when secured it is the more lasting.
Let the business men and citizens generally join
in this movement, and doubtless many things may
be accomplished for the good of the community
which long have been regarded as impossible.
*■
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
Presidential primaries are somewhat in the nature
ot an unknown quantity in the national political situ
ation, and as the time approaches for perfecting and
outlining the plans of the different presidential aspn
ants, there appears to be much doubt and uncertainty
as to the best policy to pursue with reference to them.
The names of Theodore E. Burton, Charles W.
Fairbanks and other eminent Republicans of conserv
ative inclination who are known to be willing to de
vote their services to tire country in the office of
President of the United States for the term beginning
March 4, 1917, will not be entered in the Western
presidential primaries next spring, according to a
Washington dispatch. This decision disposes of a
very knotty situation which now confronts the presi
dential boomers for the first time.
Down under (he surface there has Irene great agi
tation in the presidential camps over these primaries.
“To submit or not to submit” is a problem that has
been causing the managers of various presidential
booms to knit their brows and cudgel their brains.
The situation as regards these primaries is enough
to give an alert presidential manager the jim-jams,
for the procession of Western primaries that is to
lake place early in the new year injects a new and,
it might be said, decidedly embarrassing feature intr
presidential campaigning. The primaries will revo
lutionize the early stages of campaigning.
Some twelve or fifteen states, beginning with
Minnesota, will hold presidential primaries next
spring. In some the primaries will go no further
than the selection of delegates to the national con
ventions. In others a presidential preference vote
will be taken. It is the latter that are causing the
most concern.
On the theory that “an early boom is likely to be
nipped by an early frost.” the policy of the friends
of Burton, Fairbanks and other aspirants is to use
gum shoes until the campaign develops further, but
the Western primaries conflict sadly with that pro
gram. It is an obvious fact that the presidential as
pirants whose names are not entered in the presi
dential preference fights will forfeit the delegates
from those states.
On the other hand, the aspirant who would enter
these Western primaries and “get bumped,” so to
speak, would be a dead cock in the pit before the
campaign gets fairly started, as early reverses are
hard to overcome in a presidential contest.
So the dilemma is one that has two horns, either
one of which is bad enough for aspirants like Fair
banks, Burton and others who have no great strength
in the regions where blossom the initiative, referen
dum and recall and other progressive ideas of the
first vintage.
The most ardent of Burton’s friends, for instance,
could not imagine him walking away with the presi
dential indorsement of states like South Dakota.
The managers, friends and lieutenants of various
candidates have been talking the matter over, ex
changing notes and doing a good deal of tall think
ing, and the upshot of it is a well-defined purpose to
“fight shy” of the Western primaries.
In taking this attitude they have preferred to be
impaled on what they consider the less lethal horn
of the dilemma.
It is understood in well-informed circles at the na
tional capita! that Senator Cummins of Iowa prob-1
ably is the only Republican presidential aspirant who
will figure as a candidate in some of the primaries
tc be held west of the Mississippi river.
For the Democratic nomination, apparently no
name other than that of President Wilson is being
seriously mentioned in connection with the honor,
and it is believed that his name will be placed on
the ballots at all the primary electons.
AN UNUSUAL CASE
Chicago has been all torn up of laic over a most
unusual case in which a mother consented to the
deatli of her new-born infant rather than allow an
operation to be performed which might have saved
its life. The coroner’s jury which inquired into the
death of the infant brought in a verdict absolving
the physician, nurses and others of all blame in the
matter, and also upheld the mother for her decision.
The first reports spread over the country indicated
that the practice of allowing babies to die was com
mon in the hospital, and a great storm of protest
a'ose; but the jury found that only one baby’s death
was to be investigated, and that this baby was hardly
less than a monstrosity, so terribly was it deformed.
Some warm protests are still being heard despite the
jury’s verdict, and the question as to whether it is
right to allow' any human life to be lost under any
circumstances where surgical and med.cal skill
might have prolonged life promises to be one
that will be under discussion for some tme to come.
At first glance, it seems a cruel and unnatural
thing for a mother thus to practically condemn to
death her offspring. But no doubt she was
actuated by the most humane and praiseworthy
instincts. Her maternal love may have recoiled
from the thoughts of condemning her child to a life
of suffering and helplessness—a life which would
have been as rutile as hopeless. The idea of con
demning a human being to a life of hopeless misery
merely because science has made it possible to pro
long life under adverse conditions has nothing to
commend it.
❖
LESE MAJESTE OR LANDSLIDE
(Cont ributed)
While confessing to a somewhat hazy conception of just what
is or is not Socialism, it is assumed that it is not very far from
the truth to say that it is a utilitarian doctrine that seeks to atain
the greatest good for the greatest number by the direct and volun
tary action of the numbers most concerned. The phrase, “volun
tary action of those concerned,” is used advisedly; for if the end,
sought is not reached with the consent of those concerned, then
the condition is not Socialism, but despotism, however benevolent,
something incompatible with certain ideas on life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness imbibed by the young American along with
his mother’s milk.
With this thought in mind, a recent article or two appearing
in Pearson's Magazine look more like literary boomerangs than
anything else. A fair example of these articles and their argu
ments is Alan L. Benson’s “How Germany Does It.” in the Oc
tober number of the magazine.
Through many pages of balderdash the author tries to persuade
his readers that the “hit and mbs system” of Great Britain and
other democracies is no longer a la mode, but that the goal in the
fashion of governments to be most desired by all Americans is
“centralized efficiency a la Atlemand.” Well, it is doubtful
whether Germany be the land flowing with milk and honey that
Mr. Benson imagines it to be. It is presumed that even Admiral
Von Tirpitz will admit that the hit and miss “steel wall” —the
British navy—is a fairly effective weapon, and it is suggested that
so far as living conditions go, Germany is just so far behind ss the
situation of Carl Liebknecht is less desirable than that of the Brit
ish Laborite who in the English house of commons told Asquith
and Lloyd George what would happen if they enforced conscrip
tion.
Ti e arguments of Messrs. Benson and Charles Edward Russe’l,
drawn from German control of food supplies, regulation of prices,
industry, and what not, will tie unheard unless they can make the !
average American forget that in 1775 Burke and Chatham had
rights of speech that were denied to Karl Liebknecht in 1915, and
that the liberty and privileges enjoyed by Americans are largely
due to the fact that for over 500 years prior to 1776 Great Britain
met every crisis in her history in much the same manner as she
is meeting the one she faces today; that it is because first the
barons refused to fight for kings who would not give them a
souare deal, and later the house of commons gradually won the
right to say when and how much tlie king should pay his troops,
that today on Capitol hill, at the foot of Pennsylvania avenue, nil
laws for the revenue of the United States originate in the house '
of representatives, and not in the United States senate. All their
arguments pale into insignificance beside the knowledge of the
fact that there is in Berlin a police regulation which forbids Unter
den Linden to automobiles painted in certain colors. It would
be interesting to know what would happen to the chief of police
of Washington if he tried to tell seme enthusiastic Ancient Hi
bernian to keep his Ford off Pennsylvania avenue unless he
painted the machine a beautiful golden orange.
Freedom of speech and action is greater than efficiency in war.
and Americans are all the better for the fact that in 1812 the atti
turie of the people of the New England states was almost treason
able, that Massachusetts threatened to secede if Polk declared war
on Mexico, and that through five years of bitter civil war the
Quaker and the Copperhead went their way in peace. Americans
will still pin their faith and hope to “hit and miss” dissentious
democracies that permitted Lynch to run for parliament, and al
lowed George B. McClellan, a superseded general sent home in
disgrace, to run as a candidate for the presidency against Abra
ham Lincoln, the iSmmander-in-chief who fired him. No, Mr.
Benson, you may tiAnk God that the American way is not lsse
majeste, but landslide.
Discussing the rumor that many men were quitting British
shores to avoid military service, the Seward Gateway makes a
rather strange assertion when it says: “If there are any men quit
ting Great Britain to avoid serving their country they are the men
who will become the most honored citizens of this republic in
years to come, while the bones of the men who fought and died
crumble in nameless graves ‘somewhere in France or Flanders.’ ”
Perhaps the Gateway is right; but no reason can be brought to
mind readily which would justify the belief that England’s “slack
ers” wrould ever become “the most honored citizens of this re
public.”
—--♦
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Sitka has issued
an appeal for support for a measure validating the prohibition
referendum act passed by the last legislature. It seems like a
useless expenditure of energy. The probabilities are strong that
should the voters of the territory demand that the liquor truffle
be prohibited in Alaska, congress will pass the necessary legisla
tion putting into effect the will of the people.
♦ -
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is authority for the statement
that “all the hyphenated newspapers, it is to be observed, cor
dially and unanimously condemn military preparedness by this
country.”
♦
HAD MANY VULNERABLE POINTS
(Ketchikan ProgressiveMiner)
A visiting minister preaching in a small town, near which a
well-known race meeting is held, forcibly denounced the “sport of
kings.” The principal patron of the church always attended the
home meetings, and of this the stranger was afterward informed.
“Pm afraid I touched one of your weaknesses,” said the
preacher, not wishing to offend the wealthy one; but it was quite
unintentional, I assure you.”
“Oh, don’t mention it,” cheerfully retorted the backslider; “it’s
■ mighty poor sermon that don’t hit me somewhere.”
THE SONG OF THE SLUICE-BOX
(by c. Edward Cone)
To thi' mind of the man is the song I sing,
So varied the messages that I bring.
As the turbid waters through me boil
I sing to one of the freedom from toil;
He has labored long, and is growing old,
or the gold that will bring him ease and
rest
And I sing to him of the yellow gold—
So I sing him the song that lie likes best.
To one I sing of the end of his need,
From the grinding heel of poverty freed;
For hunger and toil, and worry and want
Have made him dull, sad, and weary and
gaunt.
So 1 sing him the song again, again.
For he wearies not of the glad refrain.
As I >ing of ihe gold that will set him free,
And deep m his heart lie is thanking me.
As the water and gravels through me scour
l sing to one of the wealth and power
of which he has vividly, vainly dreamed
of the wealth and power that always
se.ennd
To him the coveted apple, or peach,
Thai \\a' ever hanging beyond lus reach.
So | sing to him of the wealtii and power,
of the gold 1 bring within the hour.
To one who is young, as my waters swirl
Ising the charms of a beautiful girl:
\l! impatient is In* that lie must wait
For the time to come that h“ claim his mate.
So 1 sing to him of the gold I've brought
of the gold, and the girl that is in his
thought.
And lie smiles as I sing the joyous lay,
For at all times that is a lover’s way.
•ml to one i sing of the coming time
■\ lien he shall make haste to a distant clime,
Where his wife and children longing wait
And list' for his well-known stop at the
gate.
'Tis long since lie left them, his fortune to
seek.
And with longing heart he would with them
>P‘. ak.
So I sing to him he shall cease to roam.
For tlie gold I will bring shall take him
home.
To one 1 must sing bin a sordid song
Vs my roiling waters hurry along.
He is one who lias not tie* need to toil.
And no tears of grim want his clumbers
spoil.
Viul for power he neither thinks nor cares.
So tlie message toy singing t<> him hears
Is the miserly thought of gold! mere g»id!
The gold 1 shall bring for his hands to hold.
To the mind of the man is the song I sing;
To the thought of the man is the message I
bring.
Without favor I sing to each one a part
of the song that he carries within his heart.
'Tis mine but to sing of the gold I bear;
’Tis his to do as lie will with his share.
So i simr to each a different song
As my swirling waters ripple along.
-A
FURS WANTED
H. Boas, the local clothier, lias an order
for 200 red and cross foxskins from one of
the largest fur houses in the United States.
He will pay the highest prices for such skin ;
OF FORFEITURE
To James McCormack, your heirs and as
signs :
You and each of von are hereby notified
that the undersigned lias expended in labor
and in.pr wi mi nts the sum id one hundred
dinars > Ajnu.no Tor each or the year> of
19 1-J. 19 1 a. 19 1 i and i ‘n 1 . . iip.-ti placer
mining ci.-iinm .'!nr " I■.•ndi, M.mim frac
tion and unmou in itcii. siiuaied on right
limit el Cams cia.k, a tributary of the in
noko river, m the fnnoko mining and re- !
cording district, restrict of Alaska.
Location notices therefor being of record
in Yol. *J. Page 39; Yol. 9. Page 0, and \HI.
•j. Page 3a. of the records of location for
said mining district.
You are further notified that if at the ex
piration <•!’ ninety (90 day- after the last
{ indication of tins notice you fail or refuse
to contribute your proportion of such ex
penditure, your interest m said claims will
become the property of the undersigned, i
your cn-i wurrs. under Section -jaiM of tile
Revised Statutes of the I nited States.
I»ate of first publication. Jan. s. 19 !<'.
Date of last publication. April 8. 1910.
J. OP.11- PIN, Po-owner.
i 11/\S. \Y. SANK!.'V. Co-Owner. j
_ i
FORFEITURE NOTICE
Tii I n tiler n. Hi's*:
You are hereby notified that I. the under- I
signed, have expended during the year nine- j
teen hundred and thirteen (19 Id) one hun
dred doiais (Sion and during tin* year
nineteen hundred and fourteen 19 11 the
sum of one hundred dollars (MDl)' in labor
and Improvements upon the Mammy Asso
ciation plaeer mining claim, on left limit
of Moore creek, a tributary of the Yakutna
river, in Mount M-'kinley mining district,
Fourth (livi-ion. Territory of Alaska, notice
of which is found in Volume 1. at Page 190, :
of the records of said Mount McKinley min- :
ing district, in order to hold said claim mi- i
tier the provisions of Section 2d91 of the
Revised Statutes, and the amendments |
thereto approved January 22. 1SS0, con
cerning annual labor upon mining claims,
being the amount required to hold said
placer mining claim for the periods ending
on the dlst day of December, 19 Id, and on
the dlst day of December, 191 i.
And if within ninety days after the pub
lication of this notice you fail or rcru.se to
contribute your proportion of such expen
diture as a* co-owner, your interest in the
Mammy Association placer mining claim will
become the property of the subscriber, your
co-owner, who has made the required ex
penditure, by the terms of said section.
CFi.lL BARLOW.
First publication. Oct. 9d, 19 15.
Last publication, Jan. 22, 1910.
CLEANING AND PRESSING
ALL KINDS OF FUR WORK
Suits Cleaned and Pressed, Fur Coats and
Robes Lined, and All Kinds of
Fur Work Done
fiftRS. CHAS. LARSON
Orders may be left with Mrs. Thornton
LARSON BROS.’
WOOD SAW
Any Length Handled
Any Part of City
Telephone
Mutohler Bros.
GENERAL
FREIGHTERS
DAILY STAGE SERVICE
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT |
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK & DURAND
Bat. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
Best of Everything
ALL. THi: TIME AT THE
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Day and Night
Profession
Michigan, 18s I Alaska, 19 tu
Kentucky, 1391
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
E. M. STANTON
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Bedding
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
Fred Harrison
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Room 1 Over Merchants Cafe
DR. MOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. H. E. AURIftGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR. H. S3EHLA
DENTIST
Appointments by Telephone
FLAT CITY
Se:cndSt. I01TAROO SVS EAT CO. pho"° I5
li Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
, HARffY DONNELLEY
jEEEE GENERAL MERCHANDISE
\ DISCOVERY, OTTER
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
MERCHANTS' CAFE
GOOD MEALS
SHORT ORDERS .."..
FIRST AYE. OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
--Prerp.
WE ARE GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR
With a Well-Assorted Stosk of
FRESH GROCERIES
AXES, SAWS, MAULS, WEDGES, GRIND
STONES,
POCKET BOOKS, MEMORANDUM BOOKS
BURLAP, OILCLOTH, RUGS, HEAVY
CANVAS
LOGGER SHIRTS, WOOLEN OVERSHIRTS
WOOL MITTS, CANVAS GLOVES
RUBBER BOOTS AND PACS
STOVES AND COOKING UTENSILS
FILES, AXE STONES, POCKET KNIVES
WRITING TABLETS, PENS, INK and PENCILS
STANFIELD AND MEDLICOTT UNDERWEAR
JUMPERS, OVERALLS, LEATHER GLOVES
AND MITTENS
i MACKINAWS, SWEATER COATS
PIPES AND TOBACCOS
PAINTS, OILS AND VARNISH
Mg MM HON
FLAT CITY