THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Idltarod, Alaska
Vol. 7 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. M
ARBUCKLE & DERRY. Publisher;
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WILSON AND DANIELS
Men in public life expect criticism, and no administration of
tills republic has escaped it; it is the right of American citizens
t,, comment favorably or unfavorably upon the public acts of
their servants, and one which they exercise freely. Vet it does
seem on occasion that criticism is carried to extremes, and that a
veritable frenzy sometimes takes possession of the minds of the
people in their condemnation of men and policies. At such times
there is a disposition to treat rather unfairly the object of their
disapproval. This is instanced in lhe case of Hon. Josephus
Daniels, the secretary of the navy. For years the public prints
have been filled with ridicule and abuse of this official. No
alleged humorous publication was complete without one or more
cartoons depicting the cabinet minister in some ludicrous light.
Ill' has been the butt of self-styled naval “experts” and self
appointed guardians of the nation's military and naval policy,
li has seemed as though the official had no defenders, and friends
of the administration even wondered that such an apparently in
efficient official was retained at the head of the nation's "first
line if defense.” It is significant, however, that Daniels has had
the confidence of the President throughout this campaign of
abuse, and the secretary has been “attending to his knitting
meanwhile.
in the June Century Magazine appears an article from tile
pen of George Creel, entitled, “Can Wilson Win'.' ’ It is a clear
defense of President Wilson's policies and i ffieial acts, and places
then, in such a light that they appear thoroughly consistent amf
patriotic throughout his administration, ihe writers answer to
tin question propounded in the caption is that it President Wil
son >oes before the country, taking the people into his confidence
and using iiis great gift of "direct appeal that gets under the skin
of people." it is believed that all the millions of the opposition can
not prevent his re-election. And he says that tins is a duty laid
upon him by the future welfare of the nation.
Allowing fully for the desire to place the administration in as
favorable a light as possible before the country, the article is
replete with enough unassailable facts to constitute a revelation
to many who have read only opposition literature. His defense
of Daniels is well worth reproduction, and should be perused by
ail those who have been prone to bestow censure so liberally. It
is as follows:
"Contrary to the general benet, beeretary oi tne .xavy
Daniels will not be a load for President V, ilson to carry.
When abuse is put to one side and fair investigation made,
it is seen that this so-called 'country editor’ has incurred en
mity by his honesty and economic-, and that the navy of
today, in the opinion of Admiral Dewey and Admiral Badger,
has reached a state of effectiveness and efficiency never pos
sessed before.
“When Secretary Meyer went out of office in March,
11)13, the navy was short 6.000 men of the number allowed
by law; of the men discharged in good standing, only 54 per
cent were re-enlisting; there were 1(1.360 desertions during
)iis term, an average of 1.S00 men in prison, and Annapolis
was iii-r within three hundred midshipmen of its capacity.
"I nder Secretary Daniels the navy has been brought to
its maximum allowance of 53.672 men. a gain of 6,395 : re
enlistment has increased to 85 per cent of the discharges;
desertion has dropped 17 per cent; there are fewer than
7U0 men in prison, and provision has been made for the
addition of 531 midshipmen to the number now trained at
Annapolis.
"The navy has been increased by the addition of forty
seven ships; a million dollars has been appropriated for
aviation, fifteen machines have been purchased and fifteen
ordered; the number of aviators has been increased from
four to eighteen, and the establishment of an all-year school
at the Pensacola station is turning out fliers and mechani
cians as a matter of routine; the first three sea-going sub
marines ever possessed by the navy have been authorized;
radio has been instilled on all submarines and seventy-five
ships; the navy is manufacturing its own powder for 34
cents a pound, as against 53 to 80 cents a pound charged by
the monopoly; the manufacture of torpedoes has been
doubled at the Newport and Washington yards; for every
nine mines possessed two years ago there are now thirty
one; in place of one mine-laying vessel there are three; nets
and entanglements have been provided; and every navy yard
lias been turned into a building and manufacturing plant.
"A five-year program, prepared by the general board and
Secretary Daniels, will strengthen the navy by ten dread
naughts, ten battle cruisers, ten scouts, forty destroyers,
fifteen Heet submarines, eighty-five coast submarines, and
bulwarked by a $25,000,000 fund for reserve ammunition,
all totaling a cost of $500,000,000.
"It is up to congress. Republicans as well as Democrats,
and by the increases or decrease.- urged or brought about the
people will be permitted to judge of the faith and intelligence
of men and parties President Wilson stands on Mr. Daniels'
recommend at ions. ’
-♦—
Some time ago The Pioneer called attention to a circular pub
lished by the Nome Pioneers’ Igloo, asking co-operation in having
the contract for the care of the Alaska insane abrogated, upon
the unsupported charges of former inmates of the Morningside in
stitution. We suggested that such action was premature in view
of the fact that the contractors’ side of the story had not been
heard. The matter was taken up, however, by various Alaska
newspapers, and much condemnatory comment was published,
both concerning the institution itself and the government au
thorities. Now it appears that the complaints had been thur
oughly investigated at the instigation of Delegate Wickersham
by the interior department, and the results of the inquiry have
been submitted to the secretary of the Nome Pioneers. The In
dustrial Worker of that city, in whose columns the matter first
was given publicity, somewhat reluctantly states that the ‘'memo
randum throws quite a favorable light upon the institution, as
doubtless was intended. It is from it apparently clear that the
charges against the Morningsdie hospital’s treatment of the insane
have bpen considerably exaggerated." But after all, the "farming
out" of Alaska’s insane is wrong, and provision should be made
lor their care under the direct supervision of responsible officials.
--
SENATOR SULZER AND THE FOREST FUND
One of the very few enactments of the Alaska legislature which
has stood the test of the courts is that by which the forest funds
were distributed among the four judicial divisions of the terri
tory rather than in the divisions in which the forests are located.
Senator Sulzer, as a member of the legislature, vigorously opposed
this enactment, and after its passage and approval fought it in
the courts. The law was upheld by the district court of the First
division, and the matter is now up on appeal before the United
States circuit court.
As was to be expected, Mr. Sulzer's political opponents are
making capital out of this incident in the hope of defeating him
in his race for congress. He is accused of endeavoring to nullify
a just law in behalf of his home district. Mr. Sulzer has no reason
to be ashamed of his part in this matter, and when the facts are
known to and understood by the people of the territory it should
redound to his credit. But whether one agree with him or not,
the fight he made was open and above-board, and it would be
rather an undemocratic, proceeding to attempt to punish him for
his honest convictions.
The controversy arose over the distribution of the funds set
aside for the benefit of the territory out of the sales of forest
products by the United States government. Under the law 25
per cent of the funds thus received is deposited in the territorial
treasury, and an additional 10 per cent is for the purpose of build
ing and maintaining roads and trails in the forests. The law pro
vides that this 25 per cent deposited with the territorial treasurer
shall be used for the benefit of the “counties” in which the forests
are situated, but as Alaska is not subdivided into counties, the
residents of the coast divisions contended that for the purposes of
the act the divisions themselves wrere counties in the general mean
ing of the term. Disregarding this contention, the territorial legis
lature determined that the funds should be divided pro rata among
(he four divisions, irrespective of the fact that the forest reserves
were situated entirely within the two coast divisions. Sens tor
Sulzer led the fight against, this measure, and later he joined in
the suit attacking its validity.
The fight resolved itself into a contest between the coast and
Interior divisions. The Interior press almost unanimously sup
ported the law, and the coast sections opposed it. Under the
terms of the enactment the funds may be used in any section of
ihp territory, and money collected on the shores of the Gulf of
Alaska may be drawn upon for the building of roads on the shores
of the Arctic ocean or Bering sea if necessary.
This surely was not the intent of congress in providing that
the funds should be used in the “counties” in which the forests
were situated. But for the reservations made by the government,
these forests would have passed into private ownership, and thus
be subject to local taxation. In the event that counties were
created, the use of the funds would be localized automatically.
The law may be upheld on appeal, but that will not alter the
fact that, it was the intention of congress to give the localities in
which the reserved forests were situated the benefit of the revenue
derived therefrom. Nor will it detract from the credit due to
Senator Sulzer for making a fight for what lie thought to be right
even when it was an unpopular position.
«
Wilbur Michael. Company L, Ninth United States infantry,
wrote as follows to the Chicago Herald recently: “A few months
ago Bryan was the most criticized man of decades because of his
assertion regarding raising an army of a million men overnight.
Vet here is the infallible Roosevelt doing the same thing. If our
militia can he mobilized in a week’s time and become in that time
the peer of our regular soldiers, why do we maintain a standing
army? If our militia officers are as proficient as our regular
, army officers, why maintain West Point, where it costs $25,000
to produce a second lieutenant? If the Plattsburg idea is right,
then West Point, our standing army and our National Guard are
all wrong. It Roosevelt can be fit to command a division a posi
tion that we arc told takes a lifetime of continuous study to fit
oneself for then we are paying salaries to Wood, Scott and others
that they should be drawing. It appears to me since the calling
out of our National Guard that Mr. Garrison's idea of a continen
tal army was the best thing short of universal service. We must
stick to Bryan’s plan and Plattsburg or adopt universal service
that is universal.”
The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, the Rockefeller corpora
tion which has come in for much public attention in recent years,
is again in the limelight. In the case of Sheriff Farr, who was
removed from office because of frauds committed by the
Colorado Fuel <fc Iron Company, the supreme court of Colorado
says: “We are unable to find a precedent where like or similar
conditions have been considered as in this case, wherein private
corporations have assumed to deny the public character of an
election and to arbitrarily take charge of and conduct the samp as
if it were the sole private business of the corporation." It was
the trouble of this company with its employes that aroused the
virtuous John P. Rockefeller, Jr., to declare that he “would saeri
lice all his millions invested in that state rather than surrender
the American’s individual right to labor. \\ hat he evidently
wanted was not the individual's right to anything, but the com
pany’s privilege to make chattels out of human beings.
—4
A sentence of three years’ penal servitude was recently im
posed upon Ignatius Tribich Lincoln, the self-styled German spy.
who confessed to forgery at his preliminary hearing on that
charge. The London jury brought in a verdict of guilty immedi
ately after receiving the case. In summing up the judge said he
was dealing with the prisoner simply as a man convicted of
forgery, whose conduct was the more dangerous because he was
well educated. No one in court would have heard other aspect.
of his case, the court said, if the prisoner had not alluded to
them. Such was tho sordid finale in an incident which kept the
state departments of two nations in turmoil for months, because
the prisoner whose extradition from America Great Britain de
manded was acute enough to tell a plausible story that aroused
iho German-American residents of this country to believe that
Britain was trying to secure a dangerous spy under the pretext of
a forgery charge.
Senator Sherman of Illinois designates Samuel Gompers as a
nuisance. He is so regarded by the cotton manufacturers of New
England and the South, who desire to exploit baby labor in their
mills, and who are now prevented from doing so by the passage
ef the federal child labor act. which Samuel Gompers and his co
laborers have been pressing for years. The passage of employers
liability sets through the initiative of the great labor organization
which Gompers heads has likewise caused him to be considered
a nuisance by the captains of industry. The many legislative acts
for the amelioration of the condition of the workers which the
energy of Gompers has been responsible for tend likewise to justify
the designation which Senator Sherman applies. Coming from a
member of the “Millionaires’ Club,” Gompers has no reason to feel
otherwise than honored b\r the vicious attack made upon him.
----♦
A Chicago dispatch of June 30 says the German-American Al
liance has warned its members not to support Hughes and other
Republican candidates with mass meetings, or in other conspicu
ous manner. In making this announcement to its members (he
executive committee said: "We will have none of Wilson; we
will light him to a finish " But it was stated that if the fight
were made too openly and with too much spirit it would defeat
its purpose by creating a resentment among native-born Americans
that would redound to the benefit of the Democratic nominee.
"We can pass the word along quietly and p> 11 the German vote
for Hughes," was another significant statement. It is said that
President Wilson’s now famous declaration against a "species of
political blackmail’’ has had the effect of searing the more con
sc-rvative of the German Alliance.
—♦—
That venerable hoax about the ice-worm which Alaska sour
doughs love to spring on the innocent cheechako will have to be
retired. In an interesting publication depicting the beauties of
the national parks, just issued in' the interior department, appear;
the following relative to the glaciers of Mount Rainier; "Many
interesting things might be told of the glaciers were there space.
For example, several species of minute insects live in the icp. hop
ping about like tiny fleas. They are harder to see than the so
called sand-fleas at the seashore, because much smaller. Slender,
dark-brown worms live in countless millions in the surface tee.
Microscopic rose-colored plants also thrive in such great numbers
that they tint the surface here and there, making what is com
monly called “red snow.”
♦
The committee on territories of the lower house of congress
is said to have approved the bill introduced by Delegate Wicker
sham of Alaska for the abolition of the Alaska road commission,
which operates under war department auspices and has charge of
Alaska road work. If the bill becomes a law the Alaska legisla
ture will provide for the roads of the territory. Fairbanks people
and those of certain sections of the coast view the proposed change
with alarm, and with good reason. But we of the Iditarod district
have little cause to worry over the matter. There is the consola
tion of knowing that, whoever has the handling of the road work,
whether it be the war department or the Alaska legislature, this
section can fare no worse than it has heretofore.
-«.
Editor Thompson’s answer to Mrs. Hatcher’s invitation to a
joint debate on the prohibition question, in which he declines to
divide platform honors with that lady, is being freely circulated
in this district. It makes interesting reading, as most of the
News-Miner editor's effusions do. But as an argument its value
is negligible. A truly Thompsonian touch is given to the docu
ment by mention of that well-known old-time Seattle institution,
Gill & Gill’s saloon, in connection with the name of Seattle’s
mayor, Hi Gill. While the direct statement is not made, the
inference is suggested that Mayor Gill was one of its proprietors.
Of course Thompson knows better, but many of his readers do not.
-♦
The Fairbanks juvenile court has decided that because a
mother has shown no disposition or ability to properly rear her
child, it shall be taken from her and transported thousands of
miles away to be cared for as the authorities determine. Without
reference to either the facts in the case or the Iawr under which
this action is authorized, it may be said that it savors greatly of
barbarism. Alaska is not equipped for the handling of cases of
juvenile neglect and delinquency. But it would seem that a more
humane method than this could be devised.
-♦
The lo.OOO members of the Celtic-Americans Clubs of Chicago
held a picnic in Briand’s park on July 23. at which they displayed
no Irish flags, no golden harps, no shamrocks—only the Stars and
Stripes. The Chicago Irish-Americans wanted to show that above
all they were Americans. Which is a mighty good example for
all other nationalities to follow'.
-*
When the province of Ontario goes dry on September 16 next
by act of the provincial legislature, Toronto, with 400,000 popula
tion, will be the largest dry city in the world.
RECENT TOLSTOI ARRIVALS
STILL RETAIN CONFIDENCE
IN FUTURE OF DISTRICT
During the past week there have been
many arrivals from the Tolstoi region, and
some departures for that section. Although
there are now few prospectors in the Tolstoi,
compared with the numbers there a few
weeks ago, it is the general consensus of
opinion that the coming fall will see a re
sumption of activity in the new district
on a larger scale than previously. Practi
cally all of the returning miners state their
intention of again resuming prospecting
there after the freeze-up, and the recent
reports of newly-found pay will stimulate
the travel in that direction.
Among the recent arrivals here was Ira
Van Orsdal, who with James Pitcher, the
discoverer of Boob creek, is working No. 1
below on that stream. Mr. Van Orsdal re
ports that just prior to his departure from
the camp he and his partner had opened up
new [iay on their claim, which had shown
values of about $1.50 to the foot. The
[iay had been drifted on fur twenty feet,
and the pay was found to lie good for the
entire distance. Mr. Van Orsdal is here for
the purpose of securing a plant with which
to work the claim, which will be taken
around to Tolstoi by water, and will be
freighted over to the creek after the freeze
up. Mr. Van Orsdal will return immedi
ately. going over the ridge.
An interesting fact was brought to Iighl
during Mr. Van Orsdal's slay here. He had
in his possession specimen.' of mineral found
during the progress of development work
which was believed to be platinum. This,
he states is found in considerable quantities
both on Boob and Mastodon creeks. If it
be found to be platinum, there are indica
tions that it will be found profitable '
work the ground for that mineral alone.
One prospector stated that he had enough
in sight to constitute a paystreak if it proved
to be platinum. The specimen has been
examined by numerous persons familiar
with minerals, and it appears to come up
to the known tests.
' A strike is reported to have been made
on Cl; n gulch by Mike Laboski, but tins
has not been confirmed.
On Mastodon creek the lay of Messrs.
McConmuighey. Duffy. Beattie and Murray
has been abandoned, and most of the part
ner.' have returned to Iditarod.
-*
BRISK MINING OPERATIONS
IN OLD INNOKO DISTRICT
John Novak, after spending the creator
part of the summer on Ganes creek, in tin
Ophir district, reached Iditarod via the
overland route early this week.
Mr. Novak informs The Pioneer that
John Reich last May struck pay on claim
No. 5 below. Ganes creek, and that it ch
with his partner are working on the ground
with old fashioned rockers. It is reported
that they are averaging §125 a day as a
result of their labor.
On No. 2 above bench, Ganes crotk. Nel
Vibh <fc Co. have finished stripping 35.000
feet of ground and have begun sluicing
They are in good pay.
On Ilippard’s fraction, off No. 6 above.
Ganes creek. Higgins & Thorns, the lay
men. have 20,000 feet of bedrock stripped,
and are now sluicing.
On No. 10 above, Ganes creek, Warner &
Coutts are taking out good money.
Fred Spencer, on discovery. Ganes creak,
is handling a good run of pay dirt this
summer.
On i ankee creek the rlunie Hredge Min
ing Company, of which George C*1 :i-s is the
resident manager, recently purchased nine
sixteenths of the Mayflower association
claim, and will do extensive pr'spectir/
thereon this fall with a gasoline drill.
Tom Harline. who is operating on ^ ankee
creek, expects to finish his lay this season.
His workings this year will amount to
about 00.000 feet of bedrock.
—♦
DEATH OF “SKOOKUM JIM.”
PARTNER OF CARMACK
IN DISCOVERY OF BONANZA
Skookum Jim. more exactly speaking.
James Mason, one of the discoverers of
gold on Bonanza creek, in the Dawson
camp, died several days ago at ( ireross.
according to the Dawson News of recent
date. He was a victim of kidney trouble,
and was taken ill at his old home and was
buried there. The news of the death has
been confirmed by the News on inquiry by
telegraph ami by arrivals by boat.
Skookum Jim passed away at about the
n^e of 62 vpars. His only child. Miss Daisy
Mason of Seattle, came North several weeks
ago on hearing of her father's illness, and
remained with him until the end. He was
buried, as he long had desired, beside the
grave of his long-time friend, the famous
Yukon pioneer missionary, the Right Rev.
Bishop William Carpenter Bompas.
Skookum Jim, George Carmack and Ta
gish Charley made the discovery on Bo
nanza August 17, 1S96. Skookum Jim was
on the creek two or three years, after
which he returned to his old home district
in the Tagish lake country, and made his
home at Careross. He spent much time
prospecting in that country, and last winter
was on a stampede to the headwaters of
the Liard, He was taken ill this spring
on his return, and was in the Whitehorse
hospital for some time.
TURNING SUNSHINE LOOSE
“It's a dark day,” someone said to Brother
Williams, “a very dark, hopeless day.”
And then the old negro said: “Hit’s ez
you look at it. But why don't you unlock
de sunshine? Ain’t you got some hid 'round
de house some'rs—in some ol’ eo’ner what
you clean forgot? Stir 'roun! Stir 'roun',
an’ tu’n rle sunshine loose. It’s dar—in yo'
house and heart.”
“Here,” the dark day mourner said,
“here’s a dollar for you, old man.”
“Bless God!” Brother Williams said. “I
knowed you’d turn loose de sunshine. Hit
wuz in yo’ pocket all de time?”—Atlanta
Constitution.
-«—
“The amateur weather prophet I met al
ways strikes the rainy days accurately. How
do you suppose he does it?”
“That’s easy. He merely gathers up the
dates of the Sunday school picnics."—Balti
more American.
-«--—
NEW GOODS! NEW GOODS!
One ton of new goods at the Pioneer Drug
Store. There may be something you need.
DR. MOORE.
WICKERSHAM’S NOMINATION
REPUDIATED BY COMMITTEE
The Republican divisional convention of
the Third division, which met in Valdez on
July 17. indorsed Delegate Wickersham for
re-election as delegate to congress as the
Republican candidate. The convention was
dominated by Charles H. Herron of Anchor
age, a former opponent of Wickersham, but
now supporting him, who was temporary
and permanent chairman. J. W. Ward of
Cordova was temporary and permanent sec
rotary. George Dooley for senator, and K.
L. Beddell and Arthur Frame of Anchorage,
W. I\ Henry of Seward and J. II Murray
of McCarthy for representatives, were the
nominees for the legislature.
The day following the convention tin*
Republican committee of the Third division
also met at Valdez and unanimously passed
resolutions declaring the action of the Third
divisional convention in attempting to in
dorse Wickersham as a Republican or the
Republican nominee for delegate to con
gress to be illegal, void and not binding
upon any Republican.
The committee appointed at the Seward
convention is expected to name a candi
il;;te soon. Word from W. A. Gilmore
states that B. F. Millard of Valdez is the
choice there.
Nome Republicans Indorse Hubbard
The Nome Republican Club, at a regular
meeting held on July 20, unanimously in
dnrsed Senator Hubbard of Valdez for dele
gate to congress. The club also asked
William A. Gilm re. committeeman of the
'■ rial convention, to nominate Hubbard
■be running mate with George -Scho
field « n the Hughes ticket.
w
OLD TIME INTERIOR TRADER
ENTERS STEAMBOAT FIELD
Max Simel. the old-time Innoko trailer,
has been in the city during the pa t \vc k.
and expects to leave at any time for Hi Iv
Cross, where he will take owr the steamer
Flip, which he has purchased. Th° w-m-I
will be used in freighting on the Inin i *.
and its initial trip under Mr. Simel’s own
er hip will be moving a i)ig shipment of Ids
own freight, which is m w a! !!• ly Cross.
Mr. Simel will continue to maintain stores
at the mouth of the Tolstoi and at Cripple
City. He has the utmost faith in the future
of the Tolstoi district, as well as other sec
tions of the Innoko country.
> —
Fresh Olympia an! Eastern Oysters,
Si.50 per e: n. Iditar >d M'utl Co.
I Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1010
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrec-ht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALA8KA
Tiie Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
_
E. M. STANTON
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CM AS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. MOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
|
DR. H. E. AUR3NGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Ilnurs in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR, H. 3EHLA
DENTIST
FLAT CITY
FINE WATCH REPAIRING
NUGGET JEWELRY TO ORDER
J. L. SALE, Flat Ciiy
I
Second St. ID3TAROD MEk F CO. Phone 15 j
GRASMD BAR 8-YEAR-°LD GIBS0N RYE
JUAN DE FUCA and
FLAT CITY MARC ANTONY CIGARS
Tile Grand
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
j HARRY ~DONNEL LeTf "~
■EZEE GENERAL IVIERCHARJDBSE |
jj_ DISCOVERY, OTTER
FINNEGAN & CAMERON
FLAT CITY
Agency for Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records
TOEACCO CIGARS STATIONERY
CONFECTIONERY AND BILLIARDS
C. R. Cameron Jas. F. Finnegan
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
MERCHANTS’ CAFE
FIRST AYE.
GOOD MEALS
SHORT ORDERS
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
I ROBT. SOUTAR
Pi’crp.
Hattresses Comforters
Blankets PiSSows
G M A H ON
General Merchandise
FLAT CITY