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_ IDITAROD PiOWEER ;
Published Every Saturday Evening at Iditarod, Alaska.
*2 Geo. M. Arbuckle. Publisher No. 40
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MAJOR STRONG AND THE DELEGATESHIP
"When Maj. J. P. A. Strong left Iditarod a couple of weeks ago
it was pretty generally talked that he was going to seek the Demo
eratie nomination for delegate to congress. Many of the Major’s
staunchest friends looked on all such assertions as idle gossip, for
they considered him too astute and prudent a man to make of him
self a voluntary and certain sacrifice. They know he cannot be
come delegate, but have hoped that an office more suited to him
would claim his services in good time. Major Strong would grace
the goveruer’s chair as no man has done since Swineford. Should
the Democrats win in the States next year nothing but bad politi
cal mistakes on his part between now and then can keep him out
of the place which he is so eminently qualified to fill. It is to be
hoped the mistakes will not be made.
The account of the Nome primaries, printed today, will result
in Major Strong's name receiving further mention in connection
with the delegates!)ip, but there will be plenty of time for him to
practice discretion and instill it into the minds of his well wishers
_ i
BE OF GOOD CHEEK
Optimism is one of the world’s most valuable assets, for
wherever it abounds progress, prosperity and a large meas
ure of happiness are sure to abide. The mental attitude
is the determining factor in the affairs of individuals and
communities. It is especially potent in its bearing on the
destiny of mining camps.
In the lditarod a large number of people allowed them
selves to get in a morbid state of mind, and straightway
left all their real and imaginary troubles behind while they
went where to a certainty more difficult physical problems
await them. If they have managed to elude for good and
all the devil of pessimism which drove them away, then
they have bettered themselves by going—they will as a rule
eventually become successful as individuals and will accom
plish good things tor the territory. Good luck to them,
every one.
Now that they are gone we who are left find ourselves
in a situation unique in the history of the North. We are
in a highly productive camp which is to the reverse of over
crowded. The output of upward of $3,000,000 this year
will assuredly be increased to within the neighborhood of
$6,000,000 next. If no more men come into the district
than are now here that will be far and away a record per
capita production for any mining camp. We will go into
the winter with no broken men, with a field of tremendous
possibilities for the prospector crowding us and stretching
far away on three sides. Our environment includes proven
territory of exceptional richness with an untried vastness I
calculated to appeal to the most prosaic mind. The freeze
up will find us secure from want—beyond the possibilities
of a recurrence of the unfortunate conditions of last winter.
Every circumstance justifies a feeling of optimism:
therefore let us relax into one unanimous smile.
THE CANADIAN ELECTIONS
The campaign which preceded the Canadian elections
was so short and mail facilities are so defective that in this
part of Alaska but a poor conception of the issues other
than reciprocity is possible. The dissolution of parliament
the first of August was a surprise to Laurier’s adherents as
well as to the opposition, and there was little time for se
lecting candidates and formulating the lines on which the
fight was to be conducted. The plan of battle on either
side had scarcely been definitely fixed a fortnight before
election.
There was a serious defection from the government by
the Quebec French, who opposed the Canadian navy and
turned against Laurier on that account, but were not par
ticularly hostile to reciprocity. Purely local issues proba
bly had some bearing on the result. But when the new
parliament, to meet in October, will have a Conservative
majority of 58 against the former Liberal majority of 45,
the significance of the change can be construed in but one
way—the people of Canada are overwhelmingly opposed to
reciprocity in trade between their country and the United
States. Laurier himself insisted that the election should be
made a test of the popular feeling with regard to reciproc
ity and will attribute to his stand on that question the sole
cause of his defeat. At the beginning of the campaign the
opposition let it be known that no assault would be made
upon the long record of the government.
Looking at the matter from this distance, it is hard to
see wherein the Canadians imagine their inteiests would be
injuriously affected by closer trade relations with the United
States. It is easier to conceive that the annexation talk
indulged in during the campaign furnishes the key to Can
Haley & griffis, General Merchants,
I,ate Jonn Morrow & Co. 7
DSSKAKET MINERS' SUPPLIES A SPECIALTY
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Eastman Kodaks #T™«E $20 to $75
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HEADQUARTERS FOR
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I. G(>GI)STEIN 30
C. J. Hurley. President J. P, Gleason, Vice President A. Bruning, Cashier
Corner First Ave, and Richmond St., Iditarod
CAPITAL $50,000,( .LY PAID IN CASH
General Banking Business Transacted Upon Libera!, Eut Conservative Lines
GOLD DUST PURCHASED UPON ASSAY VALUE
And we guarantee our assays against any of the government assay offices.
Clippings from your gold furnished you for tlie purpose
of obtaining cheek assays if desired.
We solicit your business, and assure you of our courteous, prompt and
careful attention combined with fair treatment, whether
your account, may be large or small.
First Class in Fact First Ave., Kditarod j
BEATTIE HOUSE |
Furnished Rooms, Bath Roams, Spring Cots Good Stables Adjacent |
Short Orders and Ideals |
; MOdBi RESTAURANT....
Willow Street
I DAN RAN! K LX. PROP.
Don’t Get Lonesome
'Manuel Gularte, F. B. Fontas^
) Proprietors (
There Are Still a Few of Us Left
ada’s attitude. It is said President Taft’s utterances on
reciprocity covered several acres of billboards previous to
the election, and it may be that our good neighbors sus
pected he had a joker hidden somewhere about his ample
garments. Could we view the whole surroundings through
Canadian spectacles we might conclude that Canada’s sus
picions were not wholly unjustified by the circumstances of
the case; but that is a matter profitless to go into.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in his fifteen years as prime minis
ter, has been a persistent but not radical worker for tin
development of a spirit of nationalism in Canada. It may
be truly said that his leadership has brought the Dominion
into a more progressive state and given it more respectful
consideration by people throughout the world. His return
from England last spring was the signal fora great ovation
by his people, and everywhere it was declared his attitude
in the imperial conference had put pillars of strength and
respect under the Dominion. In the conference he had
stood for lasting loyalty to the British empire, yet laid down
the unswerving principle that Canada must have a measure
of autonomy which would leave her unbound. He stood for
the principles of home rule, and his undoubted genius and
fine mental qualities did much to advance the opinion that
his country was worthy of it. Weighing all these things,
the thought occurs that Canada has faced about in the
march of progress. Whether that is so or not, Laurier’s de
feat can scarcely detract from his standing as a broad
minded, liberal and brainy man who has served his country
honorably and well. When the new parliament is opened
by the Duke of Connaught, the new governor general, Pre
mier Laurier will be succeeded by R. L. Borden, the Con
servative leader. Prominent in the new government will
probably be Clifford Sifton, former minister of interior un
der Laurier; Robert Rogers, minister of public works in the
Manitoba government and head of the Conservative organ
ization in the Prairie West; Richard McBride, premier of
British Columbia, and Premier Hazen of New Brunswick.
Henri Bourassa, head of the opposition at Quebec, through
his paper at Montreal, Le Devoir, worked against Laurier
and the Canadian navy, but was not opposed to reciprocity.
It may be that his services will also be rewarded.
FUNNY WAY TO BRING UP A BOY
The baby Emperor of China lives secluded from the
world, even his mother being allowed to pay him only occa
sional private visits. He is not quite six years old and is
named Pu-Yi, although he is addressed in the palace as
Wan-Sui-Yeh, which means Lord of Ten Thousand Years.
As soon as Emperor Kuang-Hsu died little Pu-Yi was taken
from his mother and placed in the Forbidden City in the
hands of the empress dowager, who was henceforth regarded
as his mother. Every morning he is awakened at 6 o’clock
by the singing of eight eunuchs, and he has three meals a
day, at 8 a. m., noon, and <3 p. m. He retires to rest at 8
p. nr. His diet is simple, the only rule observed being never
to put any article of food upon his table which cannot be
Positively the Best Grades
at the Lowest Prices
in Iditarod,
SMfiL. APPLEBAUM,
Wholesale Groceries and Outfitting
procured immediately at any time of the year; for the em
peror is supposed to get anything he asks tor, and if this is
impossible the official who is responsible is liable to have
something happen to him.
This strikes one in the Western world as a funny way
to rear a boy. One, too, can’t help feeling sorry for poor
little Pu-Yi, who wakes to a matin chant from a bunch of
eunuchs and through the day and night is denied the sym
pathetic love that only a mother can give. But it is an em
peror the Chinese are building out of baby Pu-Yi. and the
heathens are probably doing the job according to what they
consider modern scientific principles.
In America the rulers are the people en masse, and it
is the aim to fit them by early training for the duties which
will devolve upon them. Perhaps the Chinese think we
are the ones who are curious in the way we equip our fu
ture sovereigns. The following from the Chicago Tribune
about the training of children in certain schools would at
least furnish interesting reading to people in the Forbidden
City:
The schools are conducted entirely' out of doors and are called
outdoor vacation schools. A program taken for a day at random
gives an excellent impression of the aims and the accomplishment
of the work.
At 8:15 o’clock each morning the children assemble at the
school, walk to Sherman park and take a warm shower bath. At
9 they return to the school and on the route each child stops at
the butterfly fountain for a drink. When they reach the schooi
they all clean their teeth, then eat breakfast slowly under the
supervision of teachers. They listen to incidental bilks on table
manners and hygiene. They are taught to serve the meals, and
two of the children assist at each service. At 9:45 o’clock they
gather up the dishes, march in line to the diet kitchen and deposit
them carefully in the sink. Then they clean their teeth again,
wash their faces and hands and prepare the tent for the morning
work. From 10 to 10:45 they' practice constructive work adapted
to the age of the child. From 10:45 to 11 they take breathing ex
ercises and play light games, such as tossing rubber balls and bean
bags. From 11 to 11:45 they resume their constructive work, read
stories and sing. Then they prepare for dinner. From 12 to 12:35
they eat a hot dinner slowly, with a little pause between courses.
They indulge in an incidental discussion of hygiene and manners
based on the observation of the teachers. After that they' again
gather up the dishes and march to the kitchen. Then they again
wash their teeth and hands and take out their cots for the rest
period. They lie flat on their cots and the teachers watch to make
sure that all remain quiet. At 2:30 they get up and have a lunch.
At 2:45 the nurse takes their temperatures and their pulse, while
the teachers entertain the children in the tent. After that there
is construction work or story telling in the tent, and at 4 a general
washup for supper. Supper is over at 4:30, v.'hereupon car fare is
distributed and they all go home.
Delegate James Wickersham re
turned from Washington to his home
in Fairbanks about the middle of
the month, when he expressed himself
as quite satisfied with the turn things
Alaskan had taken during the past few
months, and is very hopeful regarding
the future.
As to his possible candidacy for re
election, Mr. Wickersham will probably
consent to run again if the exigencies
• if tiie time demand such a course; but
nothing definite will be decided until
the delegate returns to Washington.
Much depends upon the attitude of the
Administration toward Alaska next
session.
The delegate was very anxious to
visit his Iditarod stronghold, but time
and the chances of being caught in the
freezup made the trip impossible, as
Mr. Wickersham must leave again for
the capital about the middle of Novem
ber. __
Old Lacey, Tyler, Monogram, Ather
ton and Gedarbrook, also fine old Port
Sherry and Clarets at Empire Com
mercial Co.
PREACHING AT FLAT
There will be no religious service in
Iditarod tomorrow, but there will be
services at the house of Charles Strand
berg on Flat creek at 3 p.m. and in
the A.B. Hall, Flat City, at 8 p.m.
Everybody invited.
S. HALL YOUNG,
General Missionary.
Warmth, comfort, cleanliness.
Spring beds including bath $5 per
week. Elite Bathhouse, Caribou st.
Our Work
Is First
Class in
Every
Respect ,
Up-to-Datel
Suits \
Made to
Order
All kinds
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FURS
Gleaned and
Repaired.
THE PIONEER
Tailor
Second Aye, Phone 68_
AH Hours Alike in This House
GOME ONCE AND YOU WILL GOME AGAIN
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Were Open for Business
AT THE
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CARRIES THE BEST BRANDS
MILLER & JERMAN'i PROPS.