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THE ATTITUDE OF MR. BRYAN
When W. J. Bryan resigned recently as secretary of state because
of difference of opinion with the President with regard to foreign rela
tions, the country generally seemed willing enough to accord him credit
for at least moral courage and honesty of purpose, in the face of what
appeared to be a lamentable desertion of duty under fire. To those
who have followed the career of the Nebraska statesman during the
past twenty years there was nothing of tire unexpected in the action
which placed him in the full glare of tne limelight, even to the embar
rassment of his party co-workers and official colleagues. To pose as a
martyr to conscience—a man who would rather resign the position of
secretary of state than coincide with the President’s views in a time of
national excitement, and even peril—was a temptation too enticing foi
Mr. Bryan to deny himself. It was a typically Bryanesque action. It
has been well said that Bryan is at his best when fighting m the minor
ity ranks. And the reason is not hard to find. He never has been con
sidered a statesman of constructive ability. His forte is in finding uev.s
in the enemy's armor and making fierce assaults upon undefended posi
tions. He reached the zenith of his glory when in that Chicago speech
nineteen years ago he secured a presidential nomination by his theat
rical denunciation of plutocracy, which sought to crucify the people
on a cross of gold and to press down upon the brow of labor a crown
of thorns.”
Since his retirement from the cabinet of President Wilson he has
devoted his entire time, apparentlv. not in advocating peace, but in
an endeavor to put himself right wfith the American people. But in his
so-called campaign in favor of American neutrality it looks as though
Bryan is allowing himself to be used by those whose purpose is the very
antithesis of neutrality for America.
On June 23, at Madison Square Garden, New York, Mr. Bryan
addressed a meeting of /0.000 persons on National Honor, under the
auspices of the Friends of Peace, “an emergency organization or the
German, Irish, Austrian and Hungarian societies of New 3ork. co-oper
ating with the Socialist party.” A newspaper account says that the pro
portion of German-Americans present was about nine to one. The list
of those who occupied the platform with Mr. Bryan reads like the roster
of a Turnverein, and the remarks of the speaker were punctured with
cries of “Jawohl,” whatever that may mean. The enthusiastic recep
tion accorded him by the immense audience revivified the old Bryan, he
of the flashing eye, the passionate gesture and the ringing voice of years
ago. He was radiantly happy. His speech was a tirade against the
press of the country, and especially that of the metropolis, which he
designated as “treasonable.” He sooke of the duties of citizenship,
'he rights of neutral nations, and of “irresponsible editors who have no
regard for sacred duty. Now I am ready, he said, with an attempt
at his old-time habit of phrase-making, “to meet them, and they shall
not assassinate me.” But the phrase sounds a trifle stale compared with
his memorable “cross of gold.”
Resolutions were adopted by the meeting which had been pre
pared beforehand, and had been “printed in handsomely-bound
pamphlets.” The main feature of the resolutions was, of course, the
demand that the government of the United Slates place an embargo on
the exportation of arms and munitions of war,” as an “exhibition of
practical wisdom, of humanity of spirit, and of the cornpletest fulfill
ment of perfect neutrality.” The irony of the latter is apparent when
we read that among those who occupied the platform with Mr. Bryan
were Dr. Constantine T. Dumba, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador;
Captain Bov-Ed, naval attache, and Captain Von Papen, military at
tache, of the German embassy, and Djelal Bey, the Turkish consul at
New York. At a dinner tendered Mr. Bryan by the promoters of the
meeting were the following: Major O'Rourke, Morris Cuker, Hugo
Schweitzer, Bernard H. Ridder, Rudolph Pogen Speicher, Dr. Baruch,
Henry Weismann, Dr. Schoenfeld and Henry Vollmer.
The New York World, in discussing the demand for the embargo
on arms and ammunition “on the grounds of humanity,” says that an
appeal on these grounds is not often made in vain in this country if
those who subscribe to it can show that they have clean hands. How
many of the promoters of this movement have ever asked Germany to
prohibit the exportation of arms?” it asks, “and how many of them
have ever questioned the morality and humanity of the Krupp indus
try? If Germany should gain even partial control of the seas next
month, how many of them would object to selling her anything that she
wanted to buy, from picrid acid to chlorine gas?” In the event that
Germany were in position to buy war munitions from the United States,
would Mr. Bryan’s platform companions join in the passage of resolu
tions such as were passed at the New York meeting? It is not at all
likely.
If Mr. Bryan desires the American people to have faith in his
protestations of a desire for peace, he must associate himself with lov
ers of peace, not partisans of militant nations who may at some near
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period be our national enemies. “A man is known by the company
he keeps.”
But all appearances indicate that the altitude of Mr. Bryan soon
will cease to be a matter of public interest. The idol of the common
people” has failed them when put to the test. The orator has again
failed in statesmanship. When the present natural curiosity to hear
from the man who resigned an exalted position his reasons for so doing
has subsided, Mr. Bryan will have been completely obscured as a factor
in American political life. __
WHO STARTED HOSTILITIES?
Not with a view to opening up once more the controversy as to
who was responsible for starting the great world war which is devastat
ing Europe and which has its effect upon the entire world, some inter
esting information which has just come to light is placed before our
readers as part of current history. It is presumed that no newspaper
would dare to misstate facts of so much moment as those here quoted,
and the high standing of the publications mentioned is Warrant of their
truthfulness. One story relates to the manner in which the kaiser trans
ported troops and otherwise prepared for the great conflict several days
before his first declaration of war. This is perhaps unintentionally
revealed by a German newspaper published at Hamburg on May 18.
This revelation is contained in an article by Frederick William Wile, late
Berlin correspondent of the London Daily Mail, and is taken from that
journal’s issue of May 27. The article follows:
Truth will out. The Hamburger Fremdenblatt has just disclosed a bit which I
reproduce for the benefit of future historians. It will be recalled that Germany’s plea of
self-justification for the war insists that the peace-loving kaiser only drew the sword
“forced” into his hand by the bellicose czar—in other words, that Germany was goaded
into war by the “menacing mobilization” of the Russian army on her frontiers during the
last two or three days of July. Up to that hour—according to German protestations- -
the Fatherland had made no military move of any kind.
The Hamburger Fremdenblatt of May 18, in the course of a flamboyant panegyric
on the achievements of the German state railways in connection with mobilization,
obligingly states:
“the German railway system proved that it was at the zenith of capacity when,
on nine different lines, 384,000 troops, with their full equipment, were transported to the
frontier during the ten days between July 24 and August 4. The systematic employment
of railways for the deploying of great armies therefore occurred for the first time in this
war.”
The second item is of equal interest. It will be remembered that
during the discussions of the "German White Book, issued by the Ger
man government to explain how that nation was forced into war, and
which was supposed to contain all the official correspondence leading
up to the declaration of war, it was charged that certain telegrams were
suppressed in order to mislead the reader. A recent issue of the New
York World contains the following, under the heading, “A Suppressed
Telegram”:
The following telegram was sent by the Russian to the German emperor on the
evening of July 29 last year:
“Thanks for thy conciliatory and friendly telegram, whereas the official
communications made today by thy ambassador to my minister were framed in a
very different tone. Pray explain the difference. It would be more correct to
submit the Austrian-Serbian problem to The Hague conference.”
This telegram did not appear with other telegrams passed between the two sover
eigns and printed in the German “White Book” issued after the outbreak of war. The |
world knew nothing of it until weeks later it was given out at Petrograd. Now that it
cun no longer be suppressed, it is included in a German “Blue Book just published.
The kaiser in his reply ignored the czar’s suggestion of a reference of the Austrn
Serbian problem to The Hague. The German government evaded England’s suggestion of
arbitration, supported by France and Italy. Serbia, after yielding to all of Austria s de
mands save two, offered to arbitrate these two. The offer was rejected by Austria, and Ger
many backed up Austria in the rejection. All wanted arbitration except Germany and
Austria The record here is now complete.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT ON ALASKA RAILROAD
The Seattle Centra! Labor Council is interesting itself in labor con
ditions on the government railroad in Alaska, on v/hich work some
rather discouraging things, from the laborer s standpoint, are taking
olace. Not only are miserably low wages being paid, but the eight-hour
day, which is in universal operation on government work throughout the
United States, is apparently being ignored. The most surprising thing
in this connection is the attitude of certain Alaska newspapers on this
matter, notably the Juneau Empire. Why any Alaskan, and especially
an Alaska newspaper, should excuse the introduction of low wages and
long hours, with the consequent lower standard of living, into this terri
tory is beyond comprehension. The Empire says:
There are two sides to this question—particularly during the early stages of the
railroad organization, before plans shall have been developed to a point where more
people can be employed. Speed in the construction of the road is as important to the
laboring classes as any other. Laboring men are interested in seeing that work shall be
provided for as many as possible. The date when great numbers of men may be em
ployed depends in a large measure upon how quickly the preliminary construction work
can be got out of the way, and room made for men to work. And yet. further, every
mile of railroad that is constructed will add to the work that there will be to perform in
other lines than railroad construction. It could very well be that longer hours at this
particular stage of the railroad operations would add to the number of men who will be
given simultaneous employment rather than otherwise. It is said to be the purpose of the
railroad engineering commission to intioduce the eight-hour day at the earliest date prac
ticable.
Speed in the construction of the road is desirable, no doubt, but
why ask the laborer to sacrifice himself for this purpose? The govern
ment of the United States surely has not arrived at the stage where it
requires such a sacrifice in order to provide transportation for a rich ter
ritory. The statement that longer hours are conducive to employment of
more men is on a par with the statement of the governor of Alaska to
the legislature in behalf of the eight-hour day, that a man can do as
much work in eight hours as in ten. As to the statement that the eight
hour day is to be introduced at the eprhest date practicable, it is certain
that the earliest date practicable was the date of the commencement of
operations.
It is to be hoped that the action of the Seattle organization will
have the effect of opening the eyes of the officials to the apparen fact
that the government of the United States is taking advantage of the
necessities of stranded workmen to impose conditions which would be
impossible elsewhere. _
PITY THE POOR EDITOR MAN
The readers of the Seward Gateway no doubt will sincerely sym
pathize with the editor of that newspaper, who thus relieves his mind
anent the hardships of his social duties:
Invitations to dinner are a remarkable institution. They are usually given by
friends, but they can sometimes result in the most acute torture. Eating dinner at a strange
table and eating it at home or in some “joint” where you can sprawl all over the chair
are two different pastimes altogether. Go to some restaurant on Fourth avenue, and if
you don’t like the coffee you can kick. In the house of a host, if you didn’t like it any
more than castor oil, you must take your medicine. Sitting down to dinner with several
strangers is the most exhilarating sport. One brilliant person tells you the day was fine.
The landlady explains how she spoiled the dessert for the first time in her life. Then
comes the polite genius that always likes just that sort of soup and his wife follows up
with the most ingenious of all forms of flattery—asking the hostess for the recipe for the
salad. The baby of the house comes in handy sometimes when the flow of oratory is at
low tide. He reminds you so much of your own in the many beautiful qualities that dis
tinguish him from other kids. You consider this the Very acme of flattery, and his mother
thinks it an insult, so the conversation lags again until the raconteur, or whatever they
call him, asks if you ever heard the story about the Indian that swallowed the spoonful
of mustard. People who invite others to dinner are heroes and those who accept the invi
tation are martyrs. __
H. T. Marshall, an attorney who was aligned with counsel for
Charles Becker, recently executed at Ossining, on his second trial for
murder, has come out with a statement that he knew absolutely
that Becker had nothing to do with the murder of Herman Rosenthal.
The statement was said to haVe been made on the authority of Bridgie
Webber, one of the self-confessed accomplices in the plot, who escaped
punishment by turning state’s evidence. Mr. Marshall declared that
professional ethics alone prevented him from going on the witness stand
and stating what Webber had told him. Webber had refused to release
him from his ethical obligations. Of course there is a possibility that
Marshall may be telling the truth; but it is more probable that in his
efforts as attorney for the prisoner he would not stick at a lie that would
have the effect of enhancing the chances of his client to escape the exe
cutioner. At any rate, if ‘‘professional ethics” permit an innocent man
to go to his death rather than have the truth told, the sooner common
humanity and common sense succeed ethics the better for the profes
sion and mankind. _
The attempt of the widow of the recently-executed New York
police lieutenant to make a martyr of him and perpetuate a libel on New
York’s governor suggests that there may be wisdom in the practice in
vogue in some states and foreign countries of obliterating the remains
of executed criminals and thus preventing public funerals and holding
the law up to scorn. __
German Admiral Von Truppel suggests the abandonment of the
submarine warfare against merchantmen, and the use of the under
water craft against hostile war vessels. But he evidently loses sight
of the fact that warships, unlike peaceable merchantmen, can fight
back. _
A year of the most terrific warfare the world has ever known has
passed, and so far as present appearances go, there is little reason to
believe that the end is in sight.
AMERICAN WAR INADVISABLE
SAYS GERMAN ADMIRAL
BERLIN. July 5.- Admiral Oscar Von j
Truppel, at one time governor of Kiao- I
chau, contributes an article to Dor Tag
warning his compatriots not to underesti
mate the danger of a breach with the United
States, and asking them to weigh seriously
the question whether the value of Germany’s j
submarine warfare against British commerce |
is great enough to justify a continuance of i
its present form at the expense of a rupture
with the transatlantic nation.
The article is remarkable not only for its
open statement regarding the wide-reaching
effects which the participation of America
in the hostilities might exercise on the
future course of the war—effects which Ad
mial Von Truppel says are greatly under
vsiimated in Germany—but also as a con
tribution from a naval officer.
All the naval publicists of Germany
hitherto heard from have been devoting
their energies to accelerating public opinion
against any modification of the submarine
campaign, and endeavoring to prevent or
to limit concessions to American demands
in the negotiations with Washington.
Admiral Von Truppel, in his article in Der
Tag. writes:
A uerman-American war, cr even a rup
ture of diplomatic relations the effects of
which would virtually be as great, would
injure German prospects more seriously than
any believe. Though America at first, would
he able to contribute little to the military
strength of the entente allies, except by
an acceleration of the munitions supply, it
could in time co-operate with con-iderable
[and and .^ea forces and with first-class sub
marines and aeroplanes in the complete iso
lation of Germany. It also could exercise
such pressure upon the few remaining neu
trid countries 1 hut these would probably be
arrayed actively or passively in the ranks
of our enemies.”
Admiral Von Trupnel discounts the stories
of earlier existing American agreements with
Great Britain against Germany, explaining
that this is most improbable, owing to Amer
ican diplomatic traditions.
“But it is undeniable,” he t-ays “in spite
of President Wilson’s unquestionable desire
to reach a peaceful solution of the prob
lem.', that the sympathies of a majority of
Americns are on the side of England, and
that only a spark may be necessary under
certain conditions to kindle this feeling into
a hostile outbreak.”
The kernel of the problem, from a Ger
man standpoint, concludes Admiral Von
Truppel, is contained in this question:
“Can we hope so far as we are able to
foresee to force England to her knees
through submarine warfare against her com
merce ?
“If the answer is negative, our submarines
can find better employment against hostile
warships, particularly in the hunting
grounds of the Mediterranean, the Darda
nelles and the Suez canal. Submarine war
faee against merchantmen in that case could
be modified or abandoned to obtain a more
favorable neutrality from and the friend
ship of America, which would be of great
value to Germany after the war.
“If the answer is in the affirmative, then
the law of self-preservation would justify
us in the situation which England has forced
upon us in using to the fullest extent our
superiority in submarines, and \ve can
calmly accept all the consequences of i..”
The Kreuz eitung, in its weekly review,
asvs that limitations upon submarine oper
ations would cause widespread and deep agi
tation among the German people. It is
probable, however, the newspaper adds, that
in the forthcoming note to America a form
will be found which will open a prospect of
settling the question so far as passengers
are concerned.
CHAIRMAN OF ENGINEERS
^EXPLAINS WAGES AND HOURS
SEWARD, Alaska, June 27.—William C.
Edes, chairman of the Alaska engineering
commission, on his return from an inspec
tion trip today, issued an answer to the
criticisms which have been leveled at the
commission, to the effect that the Alaska
wage scale has been cut and that the op
portunities for earning money were unnec
essarily curtained. He said:
“While I have no desire to enter into any
controversy, I feel that it is necessary to
make some reply to criticism of the com
mission regarding wages and men employed.
We have been criticized for employing what
is referred to as foreign labor and for cut
ding the so-called Alaska w'age scale.
“The men gathered here to secure station
work are above the average. Many came
here from the railroads just completed in
Canada, and we are fortunate to get such
experienced help.
“The commission is handicapped by the
federal eight-hour law, because the season
is only seven or eight months long, and the
men would prefer working longer hours for
more pay. The wages paid are 37% cents
an hour, which, after deducting SI a day
for board, leaves $2. With twenty-four
hours’ daylight, the men could work ten
hours with case. With this in mind, the
commission is letting contracts to groups of
men and contractors so that they may work
us long as they wish.
"This is not intended as a criticism of
Alaska laborers, who are above the aver
age themselves, but it is an answer to those
who expect soft snaps at the hands of the
government. We are employing about 1,000
men at Ship Creek now. About 1,000 more
are idle, whom the commission will put to
work as soon as the equipment arrives.”
The criticism referred to has not been pub
lished. so far as is known, but has been in
dulged in generally at Ship Creek and at
Seward by the unemployed, many of whom,
it is believed, have written letters to the
States on the subject.
Preparations for the opening of the town
site of Ship Creek are being rushed. Sani
tary conditions in the temporary camp are
very bad and many of the residents are
complaining of stomach trouble.
ACTIONS OF WOODCHOPPER
NOT EVIDENCE OF INSANITY
(Ruby Record-Citizen, July 171
Examined by a Fort 4 ukon jury con
vened to determine the question a
to whether or not he was insane, Frank
Reinosky, a woodcutter located twenty
live miles below Beaver City, emerged
from the court room with a clean bill of
neaith mentally and a commendation from
the jury for the action which had led to
his arrest. All Frank did was to hold up
the flagship of the Alaska-Yukon Naviga
tion Company with a businesslike-appearing
Winchester and keep her tied up until his
terms in regard to the payment of a bill
owing to him for wood were agreed to.
The first chapter of this nautical drama
was written about the middle of last month.
The Alaska was proceeding peacefully up
the Yukon when Hollis Looney, her genial
pilot, noticed a flag at Reinosky’s camp.
In the belief that a passenger wished to get
aboard, the boat was brought to the bank
and Reinosky snugly tied her up. Then,
surrounded by about a score of (logs, the
woodchopper produced his trusty little gun
and assured the assembled officers and crew
that there would be nothing doing in the
way of any further progress up stream until
a voucher calling for $450 had been set
tied in favor of himself. Naturally, there
wasn't that much money on any one boat,
and diplomacy was necessary. This, fortu
nately. was at hand, and Hollis, by the ex
ercise of that tact for which he is famous,
was soon able to calm the excited man and
avert bloodshed. Promised that his bill
would be paid as soon as possible, Reinosky
graciously permitted the boat to proceed,
insisting, however, that he would take the
same action with the steamer Yukon if he
had not been settled with before that boat
arrived.
This program he carried out, and as he
seemed to have developed the hold-up habit,
the marshal at Fort Yukon went down to
his camp and arrested him on a warrant
charging insanity. As before stated, the
jury found that he was perfectly sane and
added a rider to their verdict to the effect
that his action had been perfectly proper.
For Working Clothing, see Boas, Flat
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska. 19 10
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 Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. SVIOORE,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DRUG STORE
DR. H. E. AURINGER,
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and Ly
Appointment
DR. M. EEHLA,
DENTIST
Appointments by Telephone
FLAT CITY
Best of Everything
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DISCOVERY
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THE KIND JUDGE
A man had been convicted of stealing and
; was brought before Judge Perkins. The
! judge was noted for his kind heart and his
light sentences.
; “Have you ever been sentenced to im
. prisonment before?” asked the judge, not
i unkindly.
“No, never! exclaimed the man, sud
| denly and dramatically bursting into tears,
i “Never!”
“Well, well, don’t cry, my man,” said
the judge. “It needn’t trouble you. You
are going to be.”- Lippincott’s.
Fire in a Pennsylvania coal mine was ex
tinguished by exploding dynamite in the
airway, the concussion blowing out the
fl ames.
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on short notice, a! hlitarod Pioneer omce.
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