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THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published E*«ry 8«turd«y Morning «t Iditarod, AI«»U
Vol. 8 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. HI
ARBUCKLE & DERRY, Publishers
Subscription Rates
One Year . $10.00 | One Month. $1.00
Six Monthe . 6.00 | Single Copy .28
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THE TAKOTNA-OPHIR ROAD
The news that the Alaska road commission has started work
on a road from Ophir to Takotna, and that an appropriation of
substantial proportions has been made therefor, will be received
with much satisfaction throughout this entire section. The road
will traverse a region hitherto entirely devoid of anything in the
nature of transportation facilities, other than a winter dog-sled
trail, and one whose development has been much retarded by rea
son of tho high cost of transportation. It is for the relief of just
such situations that the federal road commission was created, and
no better service could be done for the territory than the construc
tion of roads in these undeveloped and richly-endowed districts.
The Innoko has been a steady producer for many years, and
the tardy recognition by the government officials of the sturdy
pioneers of that section in their efforts to secure a means of
transportation which would not consume the lion's share of their
gold product is to be commended. It was not to be expected that
with such enormous sums being spent annually in Alaska for road
construction the commission could much longer ignore the needs
of the Innoko.
With a trunk line road from Ruby to Long creek, Poorman,
Colorado and Cripple creeks, and through the Innoko country to
the Kuskokwim, and thence to the coast, and with a connecting
link from Iditarod to Ophir, this section of Alaska would see an
area of development that would astonish those who have been
led to believe that gold-mining is on the wane in Interior Alaska.
It should be the aim of the citizens of this district to concentrate
their efforts for the consummation of this [dan of road construc
tion.
•-v
THE FADING GLORY OF KINGS
la a recent speech delivered before members of the two houses
of the British parliament. General Smuts, the famous Boer leader
and conquerer of the Germans in South Africa, gave a plausible
argument why an hereditary ruler was necessary for the British
empire instead of a president elected by the people. In the read
justments that undoubtedly will be made after the war there will
be a change in the political processes by which the vast terri
tories of that empire are held together, but it does not appear that
there is any great demand for the dethronement of the king
emperor and the substitution of the elective system. As the South
African soldier and statesman points out. it would be a difficult
process to elect a man who should be satisfactory to all the vari
ous portions of the empire; whereas the hereditary ruler cen be
said in a measure to represent not only Britain, but its farthest
possessions.
Nevertheless in these days of the awakening of democracy
throughout the world the “divine right” advocates are receiving
some hard knocks. The most autocratic dynasty in Europe has
been overturned almost without resistance, and the kaiser may
well be shaking in his boots in apprehension of the fate reserved
for him. It is not at all likley that after the war there will be
much patience displayed toward kings, emperors and such. That
the leaven is at work in England is proved by General Smuts’
utterances, and also by some broad hints of Lloyd George as to
changes which are to be inaugurated after the war. While royalty
may not be displaced, there is little doubt that its privileges and
prerogatives, along with those of the house of lords and its mem
bers, will receive a severe check.
A little incident which shows the direction of the political wind
recently took place in the house of commons. Of course it was
an Irishman who started it; but it is safe to say his remarks were
appreciated by scores of Englishmen, Scotchmen and Welshmen
who have felt their gorge ‘ rise at the mention of “my” loyal
subjects, “my'’ army, “my” navy, etc. It put on the defensive,
probably for the first time in those surroundings, a custom which
grates on the ears of all true democrats, whether they be British
born and bred or not. In the sitting of the popular branch of the
British parliament on June 19, Mr. Lynch, Nationalist, asked
about the use of the expression, “my empire,” in a recent royal
pronouncement. The press dispatch gives the colloquy which en
dued as follows:
Rt. Hon. Bonar Law replied that the earliest statutory author
ity he was able to find for the use of the words was an act of
Henry VIII.
Mr Lynch: Does that apply to the dominions, seeing they
were not then existent'!
Rt. Hon. Bonar Law: I think the use of a word which has
been continued for 500 years can be continued until some recom
mendation is received ffom the dominions.
Mr. Lynch: I will raise the question again. In the meantime,
Mr. Speaker. I appeal to you as protector of the liberties of this
house to counsel the king to renounce this usurpation.
There are many things about the Britishers, and particularly
about the British government and British traditions, that1-Ameri
cans admire; but the humbug of royalty and nobility as com
ponent parts of a democracy is not one of them.
—-»
AS TO INDEMNITIES
Already fear is expressed in certain quarters that in the peace
treaty at the conclusion of the war Germany will be mulcted of
an enormous indemnity. There is more than a hint that there
will be opposition in the United States to such a peace condition.
That is to be expected. The same element which endeavored to
prevent the United States from doing its duty in the matter of
resisting Germany’s assaults upon this country will be lined up in
her defense when the time for a settlement arrives. But let us
consider what Germany’s attitude on this question would have
been in the event of the success of her war plans.
While there has been no official announcement of Germany’s
terms, even in the heyday of her military successes, the German
press often has boasted of the immense indemnities which were to
be wrung from her enemies, and which were to compensate her
in a measure for the terrible cost of the war. And taking the
peace terms exacted at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war
an example of what to expect, there is no doubt that the en
tente allies would have been financially ruined. At that time, it
will be remembered, Germany exacted from the French people the
enormous sum of $1,000,000,000, and German troops remained on
French soil until every dollar was paid.
Recently the former German chancellor, Von Buelow, one of
the most influential men in the German empire, made the public
statement that he "hoped this year would bring to the German
people the long-looked-for peace, with compensation for their suf
ferings and sacrifices, and an indemnity which would permit Ger
many immediately to resume the position she occupied before the
war.’’ This is as near to an official view on the subject as has
been given publicity. Anyone whose imagination can picture how
much money would be required to place Germany in “the position
she occupied before the war” will be able to give some idea of the
magnitude of the indemnity that Germany would have demanded
in case of victory.
Americans may as well become reconciled to the fact that in
demnities will be demanded by the entente allies, and that they
will demand that guarantees be given to guard against such an
other world holocaust. The blood and treasure they have expended
and the sacrifices they have made cannot be compensated for in
money. But money will go far toward rehabilitation of the devas
tated nations. And furthermore, such penalties may act, as a
deterrent when military autocracies (if any such shall survive the
present war) determine to “take their place in the sun” at the
expense of smaller and weaker nations.
THE MAKING OF CITIZENS
Early'in the year congress passed the immigration bill, con
taining the literary test, over the second veto of President Wilson.
The fight for this measure has been waged for more than twenty
years, and the bill had been vetoed by two former Presidents,
Cleveland and Taft. Their arguments against the measure have
rung with true Americanism, urging as they did that education
was not the true test of citizenship, and that the immigrants
themselves were not responsible for their illiteracy. Furthermore,
the traditional policy of furnishing an asylum for the poor, ignor
ant and oppressed of other nations held a strong appeal to the
liberty loving American.
But things have changed. The persistence with which con
gress pressed this measure in the face of executive opposition, and
in spite of humanitarian sentiment, indicates that a stronger argu
ment has been brought to bear, and that argument is self-interest
sdi-preservation, one might truly say. Time was when the intro
duction of foreign immigrants by the millions annually was looked
upon wdth complaisance, and even welcomed. The country was
large and undeveloped, and labor was greatly needed. With no
thought of the morrow, all sorts and conditions of men were
dumped on our shores and allowed to become part of the body
politic. In recent years these immigrants, contrary to the rule
in the early life of the republic, came from countries whose ideals
and culture were antagonistic to our own, with none of the tradi
tions of the Anglo-Saxon theories of self-government and personal
liberty ingrained in their souls. Eventually this was bound to
react upon the political aspect of the country; and today, when
the country is taking its part in a great war for humanity, we
find that a large element is not in sympathy with the government
nay, is brazenly antagonistic to it. The reason for this is not
difficult to find. Millions of men, ignorant of the meaning of
American institutions, have come from foreign lands, have been
made citizens irrespective of their adherence and loyalty to their
home governments, and have never become imbued with the spirit 1
of Americanism—are ignorant, in fact, of what it means.
That illiteracy is largely responsible for this condition no one j
will doubt. In the busy life of American cities an immigrant who j
cannot speak nor read English stands but a poor chance to gain }
a true insight into American life and customs, and to learn to |
love and revere its principles of government, unless he be particu- |
larly ambitious and energetic, and acquire some sort of etluca- ;
tion. But the herding together of large numbers of foreigners in
our crowded cities, where each different nationality lives its own ,
life, perpetuates its own traditions uid love of and loyalty to the I
fatherland beyond the seas, is not calculated to make a good Amer
ican of the foreign immigrant. In other times, when immigration j
was absorbed by the agricultural communities, attracted by cheap 1
land, they readily became assimilated, and by association with |
Americans became thoroughly Americanized.
One of the greatest dangers to the United States lies in the fact
that political doctrines entirely foreign to our frc-e institutions j
have been inculcated in the minds of these foreigners * I rough ;
blatant End demagogic orators and irresponsible and un American 1
publications. Socialism, anarchy, syndicalism and like subjects
are all daily preached to diseati.-fied foreign workmen, and as this
is practically the only class i f publications which many of them
see and read, with strides denunciatory of American official .
American laws and American institutions, the foreign laborer gel
very little chance to acquire a true knowledge and insight into the
spirit of Americanism. He rapidly loses sight of the fact that he
is living in a land of equality of opportunity, under the most lib
eral government in the world, with an opportunity for himself
and his descendants to reach cut and grasp anything in the gift of ;
the nation merely by the application cf industry, honesty and in- j
tclligence. His mind is poisoned by being tcld continually that he
is being “robbed” by capitalists, and he is instilled with hate of
everything American. Under such conditions it is no wonder that j
in the recent registration in the great cities of the country in con
nection with the draft law, the great bulk of those who attempted
to defy the law were foreign born, and that under the cloak of
Socialistic opposition could easily be detected the hand of the j
Orman agent, who is using this element to further the interests !
of the Hohenzi.llern dynasty in the United States.
I-overs of liberty will desire always that America shall remain
the haven of the oppressed of all nations. But self-interest teaches
that those who enjoy that haven shall be obligated to maintain
its free institutions by loyal service and devotion. It is probable
that the lessons of the present day will prompt the still further
restriction of immigration after the war.
The President appeals to the women to preserve all the fruit
possible. Which is a reminder that the season of the luscious J
blueberry is now' at its height in Alaska. Full use should be made
of this valuable food product.
-♦
A Paris dispatch of July 5 anonunces that Major Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr., and Captain Archibald Roosevelt, sons of the for
mer President of the United States, have arrived in F'rance to join
the American expeditionary force.
—--—♦
The sight of Russia’s regiment of women soldiers going to the
front, each with a tablet of deadly poison for use in case of cap
ture by the modern Huns, should bring the blush of shame to the
cheeks of the disruptionists in Russia.
-♦
A London dispatch says that Dr. George Michaels, who suc
ceeds Bethmann-Hollweg, is a bureaucrat of the old type, whose
appointment scarcely can be regarded as promising much in the
direction of the parliamentization of Germany.
-♦
We are apt to forget that unusual weather conditions are ex
perienced in other sections of the world than Alaska. The an
nouncement that frost injured crops in Eastern Washington and
Northern Idaho on July 29, while deplorable, may reconcile some
Alaskans to the climatic conditions here.
---»
The man who seeks to evade service to his country in its hour
of need by rushing into matrimony would be expected to likewise
desert a wife in the hour of need. As a recent speaker said, one
does not know which to pity—the woman who would wed such
a man or the man who would wed such a woman.
-♦
The new German chancellor speaks even more contemptuously
of the entry of the United States into the war than did his prede
cessor of French’s gallant little army. But that same army grew
until it was capable of dislodging the flower of the German mili
tary machine from its supposedly impregnable positions.
Young Genet of the United States, who has met death in the
air service of France, was a great-great-grandson of the minister
from France to this country in Washington’s administration, whose
political activities resulted in his recall. Instead of returning to
France Citizen Genet remained here and married a daughter of
George Clinton, first governor of New York and later vice presi
dent. In the brave aviator now lost in early youth there must
have survived in a heroic degree the revolutionary spirit of his
American and French ancestors, says the New York World.
OUR COUNTRY’S FLAG
It has been said of Americans that few
know the words of their national anthem,
and that when it is sung in public the tune
is carried to an accompaniment of “Turn
te-tum-tums.” It has been urged that all
should memorize the words of the stirring
song. Here they are:
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say, can you see by the dawn’s early light
What So proudly we bailed at the twilight's
last gleaming? —
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight
o’er the ramparts we watched, were so
gallantly streaming!
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs
bursting in air.
C.ave proof through the night that our flag
was still there;
o say. does that Star-Spangled Banner yet
wave.
O'er the land or the Tree and the home
or the brave?
On that shore, dimly seen through the
mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dead si
lence reposes.
What is that which the breeze, o’er the
towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now dis
closes ?
Now it patches the gleam or the morning’s
tlrsf beam,
In lull glory reflected, now shines on the
stream;
'Tis tiie Star-Spangled Banner! O long may
it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of
the brave!
\nd where is that band who so vauntingly
swore
That the havoc or war and the battle’s con
fusion
A home and a country should leave us no
more ?
Their blind has washed out their foul
font steps’ pollution.
No refuge could save til*- hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom or
the grave;
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph
shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of
the brave
o thus be it ever when freeman shall stand
Between their loved borne and the war’s
desolation!
Blest with viefry and peace, may the
heaven-rescued laud
Praise the power that hath made and pre
served us a nation.
Then eompier we must, when our cause if
is just.
And this be our motto, “In find is our
trust";
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph
shall wave
o’er the land or the free and the home of
the brave.
Francis Scott Key.
Something About the Emblem
The Smith cnian Institution, on Flag clay.
June 14. issued the following:
“Today probably several miT.on American 1
flag? are wiving serenely in the varied!
breezes of our spacious land, significant of
the calm and dignified, yet deep and lasting,
patriotism of tiie American people. Be
this our native land or adopted country, we
I ledge allegiance to that flag, uncover a~ j
we pa-' and wear it in miniature as a token '
of our loyalty. And yet what do we know j
about it* origin, it* meaning and its his
tory? A lecture trip to the United States
Museum in Washington, the national de
pository nf American relics, will teach much
concerning the flag.
Naturally there were many form* of early
flags, especially colonial types used by the
individual colonies and militia regiments,
before the flag of the United States was
e*tabli'hed by the Continental congress on
June 14. 1777, now celebrated as Flag day.
This act required that the flag of the United j
Stales be of thirteen horizontal stripes,
alternate red and white, and that the union
be thirteen white stars on s blue field, rep
resenting a new constellation, but it did not
define how many points the stars should
have, how they shou'd be arranged, nor
make provision for additional one'.
Flown at Sea by John Paul Jones
“One of the first occasions for public
display of the ‘Stars ?nd Stripes’ is said to
have been on August 6. 1777. when the
new flag was hoisted over the troops a* '
Fort Schuyler, Rome, N. Y. John Paul
Jones is said to have been the fir-t to fly 1
the ‘Star* and Stripe.*' over the high seas,
on tlie Ranger, in November, 1777. The
National Museum has an early naval 12-star
flag said to have been flown by John Paul
Jones during the war of the revolution.
“From the time of the revolution the stars
and stripes in the flag have varied. There
were 13 in the war of 1812, 29 in the Mexi
can war. 33 to 35 in the civil wrr, 45 in
the Spanish war, and 48 today. The stripes
were changed first from 13 to 15, and then
back again to 13. It may be surprising to
know that our national flag is among the
oldest flags of the nations, being older than
the present British Jack. the French tri
color and the flag of Spain, and many years
older than the flags of Germany and Italy,
some of which are either personal flags or
those of the reigning families.
Original “Star-Spangled Banner"
“The American flag of the highest his
toric and sentimental value to the whole
country is in the National Museum collec
tions. It is the original ‘Star-Spangled Ban
ner’ which flew over Fort McHenry, in Bal
timore harbor, during the bombardment on
September 13-14, 1814, and was the in
spiration of Francis Scott Key’s immortal
poem, now sung as our national anthem.
It is of the 15 star and stripe type, adopted
after the admission of Vermont and Ken
tucky by an act approved by President
Washington, January 13, 1794. The ‘Star
Spangled Banner’ measures about 30 feet
square, though it was probably somewhat
longer, and is much battered and torn, with
one star missing, possibly shot away.
“From 1795 this form continued as the
standard flag until President Monroe’s ad
ministration, when congress enacted that it
should thereafter be of thirteen stripes and
twenty stars, with the addition of a star
for each new state, commencing July 4,
1818.
Not Carried by Army Until 1846
“It seems that for many years the army
did not carry the Stars and Stripes in bat
tle, though it had been in general use as a !
garrison flag. The land forces during this
period and before carried what was known
as national colors or standards of blue, with
the coat of arms of the United States, com
prising an eagle surmounted by a number
of stars, emblazoned thereon, W'ith the des
ignation of the body of troops. In 1834
war department regulations gave the artil
lery the right to carry the Stars and Stripes.
The infantry and cavalry still used the na
tional standards, which remained the colors
of the infantry until 1841 and of the cav
alry until 1887, when that branch of the
army was ordered to carry the Stars and
Stripes. From its adoption in 1777, how
N. C. CO. N. C. CO.
Armour’s “Star”
Cudahy’s “Diamond C"
Dry Pack Golden Stale Butter
GOLDEN
STATE
BUTTER ’
The “Best Butter”
is only expensive
when you do not
get it. To be sure
order by name —•
Golden State.
k California Central
CreaMcriea__
HAM
AND
BACON
Shipped to Us in Cold Storage This Season, and Now Stored on Barge
Lithgow. Once tried Always Used
ever, naval vessels universally displayed the
national flag.
“The history of our Hag thus indicates
that the Stars and Stripes was not "officially
carried by our troops in battle until the
period of the Mexican war -1816-47. In
that war a flag of 13 stars and stripes was
carried by the battalion of volunteers from
Maryland and the District of Columbia, and
the flag of Company I. Fourth regiment of
Indhnu infantry, of 13 stripes, with an
eagle in the field. Ten flags of the National
Museum collection pertain to the civil war.
“Other flags include some of the Spanish
American war, a flag used by Admiral
Charles Wilkes, U. 8. N.; a miniature flag
carried by Captain C. F. Hall in the Arctic,
1864-09; the American colors carried by
Admiral Peary in his Arctic explorations in
1909; the flag carried by the Smithsonian
African expedition under the direction of
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, in 1999-10, anti
numerous examples of the national ensign
which has flown in notable engagements
and during countless worthy achievements.”
--o
SUPERSENSITIVE
“What are you worrying about?”
“If I eat eggs I think about the chickens
they would have produced, and if I eat
chickens I think about the eggs they might
have laid; and it’s becoming difficult for
me to enjoy anything.” Washington Star.
--♦
MAKING IT MUTUAL
“Do you think a man ought to forgive his
enemies?”
“Ye-.” said Senator Sorghum. “But he
ought to make the score near enough even
to let the enemy do some forgiving on his
side.” Washington Star.
A HOT ONE
She- I was thinking of you last night.
Mr. Sapleigh.
He (flattered) —Aw, really?
She—You see. we had Professor Hvpnit
at our house and during one of his tests
he bade me think of nothing.—Boston
Transcript.
—♦—
NOT NECESSARY
“Why don’t you make some more
speeches ?”
“Because,’’ replied Senator Sorghum, “the
subject is not one which I desire in any
way to render obscure to the public mind.”
-Washington Star.
♦—
Job Printing at The Pioneer office.
Tub and stesm baths at all hour- Sny
dor House, Mat.
Professional
Michigan, 18SI Alaska, 1919
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. MOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DRUG STORE
DR. H. E. AURINGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital. Flat Oily
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
FLAT DRUG STORE
DR.H.BEHLA
Physician
Surgeon
Will open his office in Flat City
about Aug. 2 for the practice
of medicine and surgery
DENTISTRY IN CONNECTION
Front Street, Flat City Formerly the Bagoy Premises
Flat City Hotel Bci,i'°mZ:u
Mrs. J. E. Gunning, Prop. _Special Rates by the Week and Month
Open at All Hours The Old Reliable Place
Discovery Cafe
HENRY DURAND, PROP. Front Street, Flat
FINNEGAN & CAMERON
FLAT CITY
Agency for Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records
TOBACCO CIGARS STATIONERY
CONFECTIONERY AND BILLIARDS
C. R. Cameron Jas. F. Finnegan
THOS. McMAHON
DEALER IN
General Merchandise
FLAT, ALASKA