Sip Sailg $ roBprrtnr
PUBLISHED BT
STEWART A SELBY, Proprietor*
VALDEZ, ALASKA
Published Dally Except Sunday
Entered ns Second-Clase Mall Matter,
July 23, 1912. at the nostoffloe of ▼ aides,
Alaska, under act of March 8, 1878.
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1917 FEBRUARY 1917
■f MOW! TUE iWEDfTHUl FRI SAT I
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 111171
MEXICO’S NEW CONSTITUTION, j
IF American or British radicals
were to draft a new Constitution for
a country controlled by them they
would produce a document resemb
ling in many respects that which has
lust received the approval of the con
vention at Queretaro.
'.ho ou.ic principle "f the law, that
Mexico is to be reserved for Mexicans
with all its- ramifications in relation
to ownership and use of public lands
and natural resources ami opportuni
ties for employment, has found ex
pression at one time or another in the
policy of various American States.
Eight hours are to constitute a day's
work and there is to be compulsory
arbitration of labor disputes, where
in barbarous Mexico is a step ahead
of the Baited States. In the admin
istration of criminal justice all court
costs are abolished.
Pol.t.cally the most important pro
vision is that which ielate? to the
Presidency. There is to be no vice
president and no other designated
successor to the President. When for
any other reason there is a vacancy in
the Chief Magistracy, Congress nlom
is eniDJ vered to act, pending an elec
tion. Recent events such as the ele-1
vntion of Huerta by assassination and j
enforced resignations by which he I
gained the title of President, explain I
this departure.
Excepting some narrow enactments
which will inevitably be modified aft
er the heat of the revolution haB sub
sided in some degree, the summary of
the Constitution received here vindi
cates the Judgment of such Americans
as have held with President Wilson
that the Mexican people were work
ing out their problems and were in
the way of progress. They have come
thus far through great travail and if
the memory of the price that they
have paid for liberty survives, they
are only at the beginning of their ad
vancement.
THE BOY PROBLEM.
NOBODY can tell how a boy is go
ing to perform when he has become
a man. There is plenty of consolation
in that for the parents of boys who
seem bent on going to the bad despite
the exercise of parental authority,
good home surroundings and constant
coaching. One can watch them go by
and yet does not understand them.
They will give the authorities and
teachers daily troubles for twelve to
sixteen years of school life, worry
their fathers and mothers half to
death, sow a thousand acres of wild
oats, then settle down and make a
business success, become active
church members, be sustantial men
of their community and try to train
their own children in the way in
which they should go, and find that
they are trying to solve the same old
puzzle for which nobody has ever yet
tound a clear, reliable solution.
Some raised right go wrong, some
iaised wrong go right, and there you
are. Watch these boys for awhile and
you will find that their outcome has
the age of Ann beaten by at least five
city blocks. Older fellows have gone
to school with boys who were simply
devlisb chumps and you have lived
to see them make good and help the
mental progidies they associated will
when young. You have gone to school
with minister’s sons and little angel
fellows who sent the teachers Into ec
etacles of delight, ana right now they
are maturing fuel to feed the flaraeo
of evil.
Nobody knows how a boy will turn
out. Most of the good ones stay
good. Many of the bad ones stay bad
Enough of the good ones go wrong
and enough of the bad ones make
good to keep every one guessing.
There is only this thing to do—do all
you can for your own boy and for
other boys; give them help, encourage
them at every opoprtunity, and let
the boy do the rest.—Odd Fellow Re
view.
ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
The foreign situation has been
further complicated by the sinking of
Hie Laconia and this will probably
sever liie last tie of friendship be
tween Germany and the United
States. President Wilson has appear
ed before congress and asked for the
power to arm merchantmen with gun
ners and guns from the American
navy, and to take whatever measure?
be deems necessary to protect Ameri
can life and property on the high sens.
While the Laconia was a British ves
sel sailing under the British Hag and
loaded with munitions of war and oth
er contraband, there is little doubt
but that peremptory measures will h?
adopted by the administration to call
8 halt to the German submarine j
blockade.
Obviously such a move will nrng
the country one step nearer to the
brink of war if not actually bringing
about a conflict, hut there is still ?
■ light ray of lie pe in the situation for
the reason that an actual state of war
fare does not yet exist. The termina
tion of diplomatic relations was aj
measure but little short of war, and j
the proposed use of the navy in pro-:
tocting Americana on British ships |
.an be construed as a step so near war ;
that the distinction is indeed hard to J
define. It is a situation somewhat
analogous to that which obtained
when the American fleet made a dis
play against Huerta at Vera Cru::.
This was not actual war, notwith
standing that a number of Americans
and Mexicans were killed in the con
ilict involving the seizure of the cus
toms house at Vera Cruz.
Evidently it is the intention of the
President to use warships to protect
Americans from German submarines.
The possibilities of such a measure
are far-reaching. Should an Ameri
can gunner sink a submarine Ger
many will declare war on the United
States; and if a submarine should
sink a vessel with representatives of
the American navy upor. it the United
States will undoubtedly declare war
on Germany. In fact the arming of
vessels and sending them into the war
zone under duly accredited represen
tatives of our navy is a virtual decla
lation of war.
However, the refusal of the Presi
dent to wage war over technicalities
and its policy in waiting for a eleai
cut issue before taking a step which
will embroil the country still deeper
in a situation it would gladly avoid
will be approved by all but the most
ardent jingoists. For the more the
country thinks about war with its at
tendant horrors, the greater the ab
horrence of war become-. If it must
Fight it will light only when eve '
other method of obtaining peace lias
failed.
ONE of the greatest problems con
fronting this country is what to do
with our ex-presidents. Shal' we al
low them to roam the country alter
their terms of office have expired
bellowing rhetoric and bombast to en
eivated audiences, as in the case of
Taft and Roosevelt, or would it better
for the country to Oslerize titem?
At any rate there must lie something
done. The strain on the American
people with Taft and Roosevelt roam
ing the land and advising the people
how “they" would handle the situa
tion is becoming too much for our
population to bear. A vice-president
should take oath to keep still aim
go way hack and sit down whet ho
leaves the White House.
CHINA has announced her inten
tions to stand behind the United
States in connection with the Ger
man submarine campaign, and will
•reak off relations with Berlin in case
she commits any "overt acts" on
shipping. Now’ what has T. R. got
:o : :;y about China having been “chi
na lied?”
THERE is hope that the war will
end ultimately but the outlook for an
adjustment of the differences Between
Anchorage and Seward over who is
entitled to be called the terminal to
the government railway is dark in
deed.
STEAM HEAT i < NEWLY FURNISHED« t
SEATTLE HOTEL
MRS. K. MILL, Propr.
VALDEZ ALASKA
MISSISSIPPI HAD CAMELS.
Whan It Waa a Sandy Daaart With a
Tropical Climate.
The geology of mountain regions Is
generally mors difficult to master than
that of plains, because the rocks have
been more broken and tilted about,
but the geology of certain parts of
Mississippi is almost as difficult aa
that of a mountainous region, because
certain widely distributed formations
bear fgw definite identification marks,
particularly remains and impressions
of plants and animals that lived at tbe
time the deposits were formed.
A peculiar sandstone, which geolo
gists have called the Catahoula suud
stone, has l»een studied with care by
G. C. Matson and E. W. Berry of tbe
United States geological survey, de
partment of the interior, who have
tioeu able to identify and follow the
sandstone by means of the remains of
plants.
Among the plants found were pines,
ferns, leaves of date palms, tropical
myrtles, figs, and a tree closely related
to the present day Mexican and Cen
tral American sapota, from which
most of the material for chewing gum
is obtained. These fossil plants show
that at the time tbe sandstone wus
formed—perhaps 5,000,000 years ago—
tbe climate of this region was tropical,
and bones of camels found by other
geologists in tbe region and the simi
larity of the suud composing the sand
stone to certain tropical desert sands
have a similar Implication.—Geological
Survey.
JHE KNOTTY FOOD PROBLEM.
A Scientist Find* It* Solution In m
Nutty Propooition.
Leave It to the liewbiskered old boys
of science, they of the square specta
cles ami ear muffs, and this world will
be pulled through Its rather precarious
existence. Some time ago somebody
who needed the money wrote an
alarmist article for a inagaziue, stat
ing that in a very short time—In fact,
within 8.WRMK10 or 9.000,000 years—the
earth’s food supply would he entirely
exhausted.
This set all the scientists goiug like
cytoscopes, and In the dizzy whirl of
investigation some very Interesting
things came to light. It was up to the
scientists to find something for the
people to eat 8.000,000 or 9.000,000
years hence. It was not wholly a new
problem. Scientists long ago evolved
the scheme of sawing up timber into
breakfast fond mid said that a man
could go forth with a bucksaw and get
enough sawdust out of a fence rail to
keep himself and his family supplied
for some time.
One learned scientist thinks that he
bus solved the problem for all time,
lie says that the nut trees could in a
pinch supply food /or the entire world.
This knotty question has become a
nutty question and one which he lias
apparently solved. Those who are on
earth now should lie of good cheer.
They will not have to starve 8,000,000
years lienee.—Topeka State Journal.
Lik* a Scene From th* Middl* Ag**.
The oldest and largest university in
the world Is Kl-Azbar at Cairo. Found
ed in 975, It lias beeu from the start a
national Institution, the khedive lieing
the rector. The minimum age of en
trance is fifteen, aud the applicant
must know half the Koran by heart—if
blind, the whole Koran—and be able to
read and write. The curriculum con
sists of virtually nothing but theology
and canon law, the fiual examination
fifteen years after matriculation being
upon these, together with traditions of
the prophet: JJranimar, etymology, rhet
oric and logic, it Is the same Instruc
tion which lias prevailed for centuries,
and one who goes into the great court
where the circles of students are sit
ting at the feet of their Gamaliels looks
iilion a scene preserved from the mid
dle ages, “a |ierfect specimen, living,
breathing and entire.”
A Request.
‘‘I shall never forget." says the emi
rient man of wealth during the course
of his little speech on “How to Become
as I Am," “I shall never forget how 1
saved my first hundred dollars.’’
At tills Juncture a weary iudividual
in the audience, who has heard this
story many times aud has read it many
times more, interrupts:
“Well, if you can’t forget it, for
heaven’s sake give the rest of us a
chance to."
Why Hs Did Not Know.
"Papa, what is a bricklayer?" asked
Harry.
"Now, what a silly question!" said
his futher. "What makes you ask
questions like that, son? Any fool
would know."
“Yea; but, papa,” said Harry. “I ain't
a fool.”—Philadelphia Ledger.
Individuality.
To each intellect belongs a special
power. We belong to ourselves, aud
we lose control of our owu when we
try to be some one else. The original
mind is a magnetic center for the at
traction of other minds. But the lode
stone loses nothing by attraction. It
remains the same.
Raya and Raiaa.
"Everybody emits rays. An angry
man emits violet rays; a contented
person emits pinkish rays."
"Sounds interesting. I wonder if my
boss would emit a ten dollar raise of
salary!”—Exchange.
Opposites.
Wlgg—I suppose we should all marry
our opposites. Wagg—Yes, but there P
no reason why a oian with a future
should marry a woman with a past.
Phlladelphla" Record.
FIRST SHOWING
.of.
STETSON—MALLOR Y
1917 Spring Hats
in all the latest popular styles
and shades are now on display at
our store in the former Ingram &
Bush Building-come in and look
them over.
Stetson $5.00 Mallory $4.00
S. BLUM & CO., Inc.
GOOD GOODS
VALDEZ probably has more happy,
bright, healthy children than any oth
er town of her size along Alaska’s lit
toral. Their happy laughter is one of
the best advertisements of Valdez as
a home town that could be brought
forward. Nothing makes a home so
homelike as a family of children. It
is one crop that is a success in Alaska.
TO ARM or not to arm, that is the
question that is bothering the Presi
dent in connection with the problem
of sending American sh'ps into the
new naval zone. It is feared that to
arm will be a step nearer "to aims,”
ACCORDING to the Boston Jour
nal the President was resolved to get
Pershing out of Mexico, dead or alive.
WARM WAVE (STRIKES
THE INTERIOR SECTION
Every station between Valdez au 1
Fairbanks reported higher temper
atures this morning than yesterday
except Paxson and Thompson Pass,
the former remaining stationary at
10 helow zero and the latter report
ing a drop of 8 degrees to 8 below.
Fairbanks reports the greatest change
55 degrees, from 30 below to 25
above. Salcha reports a rise of 32
degrees. Richardson 21, McCallum
22, McCarty 20, and Donnelly 10, all
reporting above zero temperatures.
Gulkana and Tonsina report a rise of
to degrees to 10 and 14 below zero
and Copper Center a rise of A de
grees to 18 below. Beaver Dam re
ports 10 below, a rise of 7 degrees
and Wortmans 5 below, a rise of 5
degrees. The local weather report
shows a maximum of 8 degrees above
zero during the 12 hours ending at
7 o’clock this morning, and a mini
mum of 1 below. The barometer 's
jr.till slowly rising, indicating contin
j ued fair weather.
In every lino or manufactured ar
ticles there is usually one maker who
i sets the standard of excellence. The
! Rexall Products set such a standard
for the United States in Drugs, Per
fumes, Toilet Articles and in fact, for
every article which they manufacture.
The OWL DRUG CO., exclusive agent 3
f'r Yaldes. , ft
Unfailing
Satisfaction
In one of the many reasons
why
CRESCENT
BARING
POWDER
Is increasing in popular favor.
SOLO BY OBOCKRS
POUND TIN 25c
CRESCENT MEG. CO.,
Seattle. Wash.
Opca Day sad Night McKinley Htreet, Below Otebta OBcf
Fresh Bread, Pies, Cakes,
AllfKinds of Pastry for Sale.
BWBYYHING THB SHOT ANDY MAROVICH, Prtrpr.
Candy Kitchen
E. W. MUTT—hM Orm Star*.
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
HOT- -COLD
ATLAS JUNK CO.
WkliiibMdBadtubah
.ILL KINDS OF JUNK
Buyers of Metal, Rabbet, Ma
nila Rope. Sacks, Machinery.
Pipe., Hide* Furs and Battles.
1043 Railroad Arena* M.
BRATTLE), WASH.
The Best Place in Valdes to
Stop at fie the
Arctic Hotel
7m, U*t Isms—Its Ham* rf Caarfaf*
RATH tURHURU
BATH ROOM Syeid Rata By tW Mmtl
PHONE 133 MRS. STROK, fra*
VALDEZ CAFE
AND BAKERY
Frak Broad and Pastry always os haad
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
BERGSTROM A ROGSTAD. Prop*.
PHONE 17 - TVs. dosn Mso 0«< Dn«
Many Airplanes Lost.
BERLIN, Feb. 28.—The Germans
lost 34 airplanes in‘January and the
British and French 55, the war office
announced today.
Aim Blow at Cigarettes.
SALEM, Ore., Feb. 28.—A bill
prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to
minors in Oregon was passed by the
House of representatives here today.
Immediately following the house took
under consideration a bill aimed to
prohibit the use or sale of cigarettes
or cigarette papers entirely.
For Sale.
Lop-Eared Malamute Dog, 16 mos.
old, weight 103 lbs.; price f. o. b. Val
dez $76.00. Address, Box 232,
Douglas, Alaska. k3-l-17
Hot drinks are in full swing at the
Candy Kitchen t*
A new stock of A1 Fruit Tablets
Candy Kitchen. *7
Have you tried our Boston Mints
in bulk at the Candy Kitchen. tf
PROFESSIONAL CAROS. *
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
OBm aver TaMn Drag Co.
Phase ’IK KeKSlay »rw t
Contract .Surgeon, V. S. Array
A. A. Surgeon. U S. Public Health Serv
(Karla* Hospitalt
--•#
JOS. 4 SH.VEBMA4 P8. 6. It, •
FTOKIAS AMD SUBOBON ^
•a* Owl Drag Ct>
OFFICE HOURS".
i «• 4 p. ». i to « p a
Sunday l»y Appointment.
Hot. Phone 1M Ofke Phone U*
ROBERT SIMPSON Opt. B.
JVNMAV, ALASKA
«
Glwaw Fitted lemi Ground
DR. R COCKERILLE
Gaaianta lattaul Intwadu
DENTIST
PHOMB 110
Ottee Room In Whnttn* BalkUn*
DONOHOE A DIMOND
jrrTORMaYR-AT-I.A w
ue>« tnaaih Caart Haas
Phase M VALDHL M.ASty
joh.n i.r^sNs * * kitch;*.
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTORNBVII-A1.I.A1I
UBcn In » Hating Building
Phnar 1*1 VALDRZ. ALA>^A
VALDEZ LOIKJK
NO 108
Fnt nd Accepted Macons
Regular Communications flret Wed
nesday in each month In McKinley
Hall. Visitors always welcome.
F. M. BROWN. W. M.
ED WOOD, Secretary.
Valdez Miners Union No. 188
Western Federation of Miner* ^
W. H. GARNER. President. :
Granite
GUST WUNG. Secretary.
Valdes Alaska.
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE1
GEORGE ’SEXTON. POOR
SlRICTLV FIRST CLASS
Fourth At8, Seward. Alaska