| IDITAROD PIONEER |
1M lil.ISIIFD EVERY SATI RDAY .MORNING AT IDITAROD, ALASKA
Yol 6 Coo. M Arbuckla. Publhhtr No. 24
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One year . $10.00'one Monlli . 11.00
Six Months' . 5.00 I Single Copy.25
Advertltlng Rate» on Application_
NOTICE. -Persons sending advertising ropy from a distance are partieularly re
n , U) ne careful in preparing the same. The publisher cannot accept the
responsibility for altering copy, especially in tlu* ease of forfeiture and other legal
notices. It is, therefore, imperative that such notices be clearly written, particu
larly as regards names and dates.
MR. BRYAN’S RETIREMENT
No man in public life in the United States has ever been subjected to
such bitter abuse, vicious caricaturing and persistent opposition as has
William J. Bryan. No man ever emerged from such an ordeal under
circumstances more creditable to his integrity and honesty of purpose.
Consistent in probably the greatest crisis in his public career, in spite of
repeated charges of inconsistency, Mr. Bryan has broken with his col
leagues rather than compromise with his conscience in the belief that
international questions are possible of solution without resort to arms.
A consistent advocate of peace, he refused to allow himself to be car
ried away by the war mania which has swept over the arena of inter
national politics during the past year.
History reveals frequent instances of the wisdom and foresight of
great statesmen being demonstrated in their ability to grasp and solve
great problems with a view to their bearing on the more or less remote
future. In insisting on the rights of the United States being respected
in the present troubled state of world politics. President Wilson very
probably is guided by thoughts of future probabilities. Rights which
are not respected in time of war may very readily be ignored in time of
peace. While the people of the United States are willing to concede
many points to avoid taking sides in the European war, it may be that
the interests of the country demand the settlement of serious problems
now rather than defer their settlement to a time when the United States
is at a great disadvantage. Submission to violation of rights conceded
hv international law and usage at the hands of either belligerent party
may easily be taken as an unneutra! act by the other. The United
States lias obligations as a neutral nation as well as rights, and these
are what tend to complicate her position.
Except by the bitter partisans and the jingoes, the retirement of Mr.
Bryan will be sincerely regretted. The people respect his attitude with
reference to world peace. His pacific counsels, acting as a balance
wheel in the machinery of state during this crucial period, will be sorely
missed, and President Wilson indicates that no one realizes this more
than he himself does. _
“MORE POWER” FOR ALASKA GOVERNMENT
As was anticipated, the twaddle about “full territorial government
for Alaska” occupied a goodly portion of the time of the late terri
torial legislative session. After passing a memorial to congress upon
the subject, the militant Wickersham and his supporters evidently con
cluded that if it were more power that the agitators wanted, they
might as well go in for “the whole hog,” and a memorial in favor of
statehood was sprung. Now there is little doubt that the adherents of
both measures were insincere, to say the least. It has been repeatedly
demonstrated that under present conditions in Alaska the territorial
government is vested with ample powers to meet all its needs, and the
restrictions placed upon it are largely theoretical. Moreover, it would
be an extremely dangerous proposition to clothe with greater powers a
territorial government which has demonstrated that it is so amenable
to influences of a sinister nature as is the Alaska territorial government.
It is inconceivable, for instance, that the federal government would
turn over to its management the regulation of the seal industry and
undisputed sway in relation to fisheries, both of which have been the
subject of much international controversy. Yet such visionary plans
have been suggested in the demand for “full territorial government.”
The ill-advised and undemocratic action in the case of Commissioner
Dillon, the overwhelming domination of the big corporations and their
tremendous influence on legislation, together with the childish use of
his prerogatives by the present governor, are but isolated instances of
the dangers which threaten an extension of power and authority in
the hands of a small body of men.
Looking at the matter of statehood or increased governmental
powers for Alaska in a matter-of-fact manner, and as the citizens gen
erally of the United States will be asked to view it, is it reasonable to
suppose that the federal congress wall look with favor upon the sug
gestion that a territory comprising nearly six hundred thousand square
miles, containing resources the magnitude of which even those best
qualified to know and be familiar with have but a faint conception,
shall be turned over to the sovereign rule of a mere handful of people—
a population, in fact, but little exceeding that of such a comparatively
small city as Oshkosh, Wis. ? Is there anything in the demonstration
of local self-government displayed in the two legislative sessions al
ready held and the administration of the territory’s affairs during the
period of “home rule” that would justify the belief that the best in
terests of this vast region and of the future inhabitants thereof will be
conserved by turning over to them the control absolute of this grand
empire? On the contrary, what has so far transpired since the terri
torial enabling act went into operation tends only to show that for the
present at least the restraining hand of congress is needed in shaping the
destiny of Alaska, both for the welfare of the present generation and
those to come after.
The government of the territory so far has been by no means a rep
resentative one, nor is there any hope that under present conditions it
Seward Gold Seal Pacs
ARE THE BEST ON THE MARKET
!: H. DONNELLEY, p_'_SC0VERY^0TT5^-1
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
Caribou Cafe
GOOD MEALS Lmm
-— SHORT ORDERS
I FIRST AVE. OPEN DAY AND NIGHT "OBpro*OUT*"
~TTT1I—|—M——M—l———1——
may bcome such. Representative men of Interior Alaska, for in
stance, cannot expend the time and money required for attendance
upon a legislative session which requires months of travel under most
trying conditions, and which precludes return to the scenes of their
activities until the better part of the short working season is past. In
the more populous districts of the coast the most enthusiastic supporter
of the “home rule” idea hardly will contend that the men elected to the
legislature are truly representative of the people. The reason for this
is apparent. The immense corporations which have obtained a foot
hold in Southeastern Alaska and along the coast are not so much in
terested in representative government as in a government which easily
can be controlled. The great power of these alien corporations is un
disputed. United with the alien fishing corporations, which are rap
idly depleting one of the most important of Alaska’s resources, without
adequate return to the territory or nation, and the alien transportation
companies, they have dictated and will continue to dictate to the au
thorities the course of legislation and administration in Alaska. Is any-'
one gullible enough to suppose that this influence will be used to de
termine governmental problems in the interest of the people?
As conditions exist at present in Alaska, the granting of statehood, or
even “full territorial government” (whatever that ambiguous term
may be held to mean) would merely result in extension of power and
authority to a few corporations controlled by non-residents who have
no further interest in Alaska than the looting of its vast resources for
the benefit of their stockholders.
When Alaska has become a land of homes, when its fertile valleys
respond to the labor of the agriculturist in the production of food for
its people, when the mines have been opened up and have provided
employment and homes for well remunerated workingmen, and when
the immense fishing industry is operated by men whose homes are in
Alaska instead of the tenements of the great coast cities of California
and Washington, then will be the time for a more comprehensive sys
tem of government for the territory. When that time comes, the legis
lation will be enacted by men who expect to live under its provisions,
and not, as at present, largely through the influence of those whose only
interest in the territory is to participate in its bounties with as little re
turn to the country as possible.
POSSIBLE REMOVAL OF CAPITAL
At the recent legislative session in Juneau a movement was inaugu
rated by Representative Noon of Seward for the removal of the seat of
government from Juneau to Seward. The Juneau newspapers af
fected not to regard the proposal seriously. And yet it is more than
probable that within the near future—at all events when statehood is
considered—Juneau will have to defend her claim to be designated as
| the capital of Alaska. In practically all the states the aim seems to
have been, after the example set by the national government in locat
ing the federal capital, to have the seat of government located in some
city where it would be remote from the sinister influence of large com
mercial and industrial activities. Thus the capitals of most of the
states are located in comparatively small towns. The wisdom of this
is apparent. It was illustrated in a small way during the recent legis
lative session at Juneau, when the members of the law-making body
were frequently the recipients of attentions in the way of elaborate
entertainment at the hands of the managers of the great mining cor
porations located in the vicinity of the territorial capital. During the
consideration of a comparatively unimportant measure, which, how
ever, disturbed the existing conditions at the great mines, a public hear
ing was held by the legislative committee to hear arguments for and
against the proposed legislation, which was in the interest ot the wage
earners. The mine managers went to great pains before the commit
tee to demonstrate that the proposed measure was not for the best in
terest of their employes, and it is significant that practically all of the
workmen who testified (under the observation of their employers)
coincided with the mine managers. Ihis despite the fact that many
I Juneau citizens testified that the proposed legislation was for the bene
fit of the miners and their families, and that the men were apparently
| being coerced into expressing themselves in terms at variance with their
1 interests and convictions.
When Seward becomes, through the operation of the government
system of railroads, the principal gateway to Interior Alaska, what
more natural and satisfactory solution of the capital question could be
put forth than its location at that point? Seward is more centrally
located, and it would be more readily accessible from all parts of
Alaska than any other city.
i An enthusiastic follower of the “grand old party” calls our attention
to the following editorial from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, probably
because it comments on an instance of Republican legislation which
was'really useful to the country at large, as against so many pernicious
enactments whose only object appeared to be the protection of special
interests. Believing in giving the devil his due, the article is repro
duced:
The Aldrich-Vreeland law expires by its own terms on June 30 next, for congress made
no provision for its extension. It has tilled fully the office for which it was originally
j created, and its place is now taken satisfactorily by the new banking and currency law.
It is one of the peculiar facts of history that this act, fought bitterly at he time of its
passage by the Democratic party and denarjjuced in political platforms of that party, was
yet called into its first large use as an emergency measure during a Democratic adminis
tration, and its terms were expanded largely, for that emergency, by a Democratic con
gress. It was not the federal banking and currency law, but the enlarged Aldrich law,
which carried the country over the serious financial crisis which it faced with the outbreak
of the war. Owing to the many months of unexplained delay by the President in naming
the members of the federal bank commission, the new banking law* was not in operation
when the crisis came. By the closing of the stock markets of the world, the interruption
of commerce, the declarations of a moratorium and the instant demand made upon this
country to pay its debts abroad in gold, banking conditions here were chaotic. Appeal
was made to the abused and denounced Aldrich-Vreeland bill. Then it filled its great
mission. The banks took out over 8384,000,000 of the emergency currency for which
that law provided, which tided them over the troubled period and enabled them to ac
commodate their borrowing customers. The heavy tax w-hich the law itself provided
upon these currency issues, which increases month by month, has gradually brought
about the retirement of the emergency currency issued under the Aldrich-Vreeland law,
and what little is now outstanding will soon be called in. But the law met fully the
purposes for which it was framed and tideo^the country safely over a great emergency.
The Alaska “roughneck” is known as a person of infinite charity
and open-heartedness. This has frequently been demonstrated, but
never more forcibly than in the case of A. G. McLeod, the unfortunate
prospector who had his feet amputated as a result of frostbite. In
spite of the fact that times in Alaska are not as brisk as formerly, and
employment is only casual, the distress of the prospector elicited the
neat sum of more than thirteen hundred dollars as a contribution from
his more fortunate fellows. Mrs. George Mutchler, who took charge of
the plan for McLeod’s relief, is entitled to great credit for her efforts
in his behalf. _
An act of the recent territorial legislature which is of the greatest
importance to miners and laborers is entitled “An act to provide for
the liens of laborers and miners working on, in and about mines and
mining property, repealing the act of the territory of Alaska entitled
‘An act to create, establish and provide for liens in favor of laborers and
material men, and repealing all acts in conflict herewith,’ approved
April 13, 1913, and declaring an emergency.” The act is an endeavor
to remedy the defects of the former law, which was held by Judge
Tucker of Nome not to apply to the product of dredges. The act seems
to have been carefully drawn with the apparent object of protecting
the wage earner, and it is to be hoped that it will accomplish its pur
pose; but the fact that so much language was necessary to elucidate
its meaning gives rise to the fear that, like its predecessor, it may be
found to contain a loophole by which unscrupulous employers may de
fraud workmen. Considerable interest will attach to its application.
The territorial legislature requested Judge Bunnell to remove Com
missioner Dillon of Fairbanks from office because he had not complied
with the territorial statute in regard to collection of fees which con
flicted with the federal statutes on the same subject. Attorney Gen
era! Gregory, in a finding dated April 15, addressed to Commissioner
Dillon, said: “It is therefore requested that where the fees prescribed
by territorial statute are different from or inconsistent with the fees
fixed by regulation of the department, made pursuant to federal statute,
the federal fees be charged.” As Commissioner Dillon is responsible
to the United States department of justice, and receives his compensa
tion through that agency. Judge Bunnell is placed in a rather peculiar
predicament—whether to comply with the request of the legislature
and remove Dillon, or to discharge him for complying with the wishes
of the cabinet official and the federal law.
In the general interest in the world war, the English militant suffra
gettes almost have been forgotten. A newspaper of March 24, 1914.
contains an interesting dispatch from Berlin which aptly illustrates the
difference between German and English methods in the conduct of de
tails of government. No one will doubt that the German method is by
far the more effective:
While praising the promptness of British justice in punishing last week’s suffragette
“martyrs,” German jurists condemn the public sentiment which permits “wild women”
to cheat the law by hunger strikes. Privy Councillor Josef Kohler says in the Lokal An
zoiger that recent events in England prove that society can defend itself only in one way
by preserving absolute calm and cold indifference. All false sympathy must be put aside.
Anybody who commiserates a hysterical woman is her slave next day. He who succumbs
to sympathy for wholesale hysteria sins against humanity. If suffragettes try to starve
themselves, society is entitled to prevent it in the same manner as it prevents other pris
oners from committing suicide. If the prisoners are weakened, he suggests that they be
placed in the prison hospital, hut not released. Only hy showing entire unconcern over
such abnormalities, he says, can society retain the upper hand.
A JUNEAU COMEDY
(Fairbanks Citizen)
In the political comedy that is taking
lace at Juneau, wherein “full territorial
form of government” and statehood are the
chief jokes, a new scene is being enacted.
The opposing factions have suddenly
changed places, and the change was sudden
enough to make one dizzy if he were trying
to grasp its rapidly-enacted details.
For more than a year the Juneau Empire,
formerly owned by Governor Strong, has
been advocating “a full territorial form of
government,” though just what that in
volved was never made plain.
Previous to the election last fall the little
political faction down at Juneau succeeded
in getting into the local Democratic plat
form a plank supporting “a full territorial
form of government” for Alaska. The Em
pire made its strong tight against Delegate
Wickersham on the grounds that he was
not favorable to the enlargement of terri
torial powers.
In his speech in Fairbanks, just before
election, Mr. Wickersham declared that
Alaska had a “full territorial form of gov
eminent,” and made a joke of the fight
against him on those grounds.
It seems that since that time Mr. Wick
ersham has determined to silence thi6 talk
about more territorial powers, and when he
reached Juneau recently he declared him
self in favor of statehood for Alaska, going
a little stronger than the Empire and the
machine at Juneau.
The Alaska legislature is controlled by
Mr. Wickersham, as the majority of the
members were on the tickets that elected
him. So the members jumped at once into
line for the statehood plan. The Juneau
Dispatch, a W’ickersham newspaper, which
had previously been opposing the “full ter
ritorial form of government” idea, made a
sudden flop, too, to conform to Mr. Wick
ersham’s opinion.
This is when a new scene in the political
comedy opened. This sudden change of
front on the part of its enemy almost caused
the Juneau Empire to die of nervous pros
tration. The idea of the WTickersham people
stealing the Democratic machine’s policy
and making it still stronger by advocating
statehood left the Empire without any
steam.
it would nru oo ior cue Diupuc 05*
with the Wickersham faction, so there was
nothing left for it to do but to oppose state
hood. Now the Empire is declaring that
Alaska does not have the population and
the sources of revenue to justify statehood,
using in this way the arguments presented
by the Citizen for more than a year in its
opposition to the plan of harnessing on the
people of Alaska unnecessary taxes by cre
ating more offices.
The Empire has arrived at the conclu
sion that Delegate Wickersham has set a
trap for the Juneau machine, and that his
plan for statehood is really for the purpose
of putting an end for the present to further
talk about more territorial powers. Perhaps
this is true.
To express its contempt for the proposed
statehood plan, the Empire, in a recent edi
torial, says:
“It is so absurd, so utterly foolish, that it
makes one sorry for its perpetrators.”
‘ One might well wonder what will be the
next scene in this comedy.
SPORT OF TROUT FISHING
IS NOW A POPULAR ONE
The warm weather of the past week or
ten days has reduced the streams in the
vicinity of Iditarod to mere brooks, but
it has likewise made fly-fishing possible, and
in spite of the swarms of mosquitos and
iorse-flies that infest the tundra and woods,
many Iditarod men have been taking ad
vantage of the opportunity to enjoy the
pport immortalized by Izak Walton. Cari
bou creek, about four miles from the city,
is the favorite fishing ground, and some ex
cellent catches have been reported there.
(Both trout and grayling are caught, and
the fish are said to be of the true game
quality. Among the most enthusiastic of
the anglers are Manuel Gularte, Dick But
ton, Earl Byers, Henry Weir and “Smithy”
Bembroke, all of whom have had excellent
strings to their credit.
Dave Stranberg, W'ho is one of the busi
est men in the district at this season, was
in the city for a couple of days this week,
ile reports that water is becoming scarce
at the head of Flat creek.
Job Printing at Pioneer office.
A. G. M'LEOD STARTS
FOR THE OUTSIDE
A. G McLeod, the well-known prospector
who arrived at Flat City on last Christmas
eve from the Kuskokwim river suffering
from frozen feet, which were amputated by
Dr. Auringer of the Flat hospital, left this
city last Tuesday for Seattle, where he will
; be outfitted with artificial Trilbvs.
! Mr. McLeod’s long detention indoors made
( serious inroads on his resources, so Mrs.
t George Mutchler (who is always to the
: good) took upon herself the task of raising
funds sufficient to take the old prospector
; Outside in comfort. By placing subscription
lists in various parts of the district and mak
: ing trips to all the big mining plants in the
camp, Mrs. Mutchler within two or three
i days secured the sum of SI.308.50 for the
■ worthy cause. By equally good financiering
she reduced Mr. McLeod's obligations to
'249.50, which was paid by her, and sent
the unfortunate old-timer on his way re
joicing with SI,059 in his inside pocket.
Mrs. Mutchler left the subscription lists,
receipts, vouchers, etc., at The Pioneer office,
where they may be examined by anyone
desiring to do so.
Cara of Thanks
Flat City, June 7. 1915.
I Editor Pioneer, Iditarod:
j Through the columns of your publication
I I desire to express my heartfelt thanks to
i a'l who in any manner aided in providing
i the means by which I am enabled to go
Outside. During the long months of dis
ability I had ample opportunity to receive
! and appreciate countless acts of that splen
; did and magnanimous spirit of sympathy
[ and helpfulness so prevalent in the North
i land. Again, I sincerely thank one and all.
A. G. McLEOD.
WELL-KNOWN SEATTLEITES
MEET DEATH IN ACCIDENT
The death of four prominent pioneers of
Seattle in an automobile accident in that
First-Class Accommodations
COMMODIOUS LOBBY
LARGE, AIRY ROOMS
YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED
MRS. N. P. GILMORE_
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1919
Kentucky, 1891
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 Building
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Lav/
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. MOORE,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DRUG STORE
DR. H. E. AURINGER,
Office: Gold St. Flat City, Alaska
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR H. BEHLA,
DENTIST
Will arrive from Chicago on one of the
first boa.s this spring and will be at hts
office in Flat City for about two months.
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Day and Night
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
DISCOVERY
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK & DURAND
Bet. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE NEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
city on March 31 last caused a shock to
the residents. The dead are: Thomas W
Prosch, sen of Charles Prosch, the founder
of the Seattle Post-Intelligenccr. and him
self editor and publisher of that paper for
many year.-; Mrs. Thomas W. Prosch; Miss
Leonora Iienny, daughter of the late Arthur
A. Denn>, one of the founders of Seattle,
and memaer of one of the leading families
of the city; Mrs. Harriet Foster Beecher,
i wife of Captain Herbert Foote Beecher, son
| of the late Dr. Henry Ward Beecher, a lead
I ing Seattle artist and pioneer. Mrs. M. J.
Carkeek, whose husband was a pioneer Se
attle contractor, and whose son. Vivian Car
keek, is 1 leading Seattle lawyer, was seri
ously injured.
The accident occurred in the Duwamish
river, in o which the car dashed from a
bridge near Allentown The car was owned
by Mrs. Carkeek, and was driven by her
Japanese chauffeur.
Captain Beecher, whose wife was among
the victims, is well known in Alaska. He
has ma<e many trips to the North as a
Pacific Coast Steamship Company pilot.
AN ODD REMINDER
The new clergyman was sent for by ail
elderly lady.
“Oh, sir? she said, “I hope you will ex
cuse my asking you to call, but when I
heard you preach and pray last Sunday
you did so remind me of my poor brother
who was took from me that I felt I must
speak with you.”
“And how long ago did your poor brother
die?” asked the clergyman, sympathetically.
“Oh, sir, he isn’t dead, was the reply;
“he was took to the asylum. “Philadelphia
Public Ledger.
Job Printing at Pioneer office.
GROCERIES FOOTWEAR
Tom McMahon,
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
FLAT CITY
MINERS'OUTFITS HARDWARE
VL _ (g Gold St., Flit City
I HO Q rand ^Ge°-Mutch,er' pr°p
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Pegs Baths in Connection
Fresh Meats
Beef, Fish
s«5ondst.IDITAROD MEAT GO«phonei5