THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Idltarod, Alaska
Vul. S CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. 30
ARBUCKLE & DERRY, Publishers
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ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR
Today is the third anniversary of the great world war. On
July 28, 1914, Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary de
clared war on Serbia, which was followed by- similar declai ations
by the German ruler on Russia, August 1. and the seizure of Lux
emburg and the invasion of Belgium; On August 4 Great Britain
and Germany declared war. In those three years it is claimed that
more than ten million human beings have been killed and maimed,
thousands of prosperous communities have been destroyed, the
great nations involved have reached the verge of bankruptcy, and
the end is not yet in sight. When Lord Kitchener, early in the
war, declared that the conilict would last three years, it was
thought that the great soldier had seriously erred in his estimate.
Now we are told by a man supposedly of sound judgment and con
versant with conditions as they really are, that the war has but
started.
Since that fatal July day three years ago, the aged Emperor
Francis Joseph, the willing tool of the German emperor, who gave
the signal which started the world conflagration, has been called
t his fathers. The weak Nicholas of Russia has been dethroned;
gallant Albert of Belgium, his country destroyed, holds his court
on French soil; Peter of Serbia holds but a corner of his dominions
by the grace of the armies of his allies, and the crafty and servile
Constantine of Greece also has been deprived of his crown. The
world is momentarily expecting the dethronement ol the aren
criminai in this great tragedy, and indications are that it will
no; have long to wait.
Predictions as to the outcome of the contest time and again
have been shown to be futile. But the hope may be expressed
that out of the struggle democracy shall emerge triumphant and
autocracy and the “divine right of kings” be relegated with other
relics of the dark ages to the oblivion they merit.
GERMANY’S CRY FOR PEACE
The announcement that a large majority of the German reich
stag is demanding that peace be proposed on the basis of the
status quo ante bellunt comes not unexpectedly, notwithstanding
the boastful attitude of the German militarists made known from
time to time through the press of the stricken empire. Despite
the insincere “peace” proposals of last winter, the refusal of which
was taken as the excuse for the resumption of unrestricted sub
marine warfare by Germany, resulting in the entry of the United
States into the conflict, no peace terms ever have been put forth
by the German government. The entente allies and the United
States have defined their war aims, but Germany, while urging
her enemies to do so, has not yet incorporated her demands in a
public announcement. If the really wants peace —and there can
be little doubt that the German people do—now is the time to an
nounce her program.
But it may as well be understood that peace on the terms pro
posed by the reichstag is unthinkable. That the German empire
should be allowed to resume her national life where she so uncere
moniously interrupted it in 1914 will not be thought of for one
moment by the nations which have made such gallant sacrifices
in a war of self-defense which was brought about designedly for
Germany’s aggrandizement. To terminate the war on the basis
proposed by the reichstag would mean that Germany would be
allowed to rehabilitate herself for the purpose of again attempting
to carry out the program in which she has so signally failed at
this time, and that future generations will be called upon to repeat
the awful sacrifices which have been made during the past three
years. Peace upon such terms would be but an armistice in which
the wot Id would remain an armed camp. In the words of Presi
dent Wilson, “it was the status quo ante out of which this iniqui
tous war issued forth. . . . That status must be altered in such
fashion as to prevent any such hideous thing from ever happening
again.”
If the action of the reichstag should result in real peace pro
posals being made they will be met by the counter proposals of
the allies, and it is assured that they will not contemplate the
ie.-toration of the status quo ante bellunt. “We can afford to be
generous, but we cannot afford then or now to be weak or omit
any single guarantee of justice and security,” says the President.
The maudlin sentimentalists no doubt will be in evidence to
echo the slogan of the Russian idealists, of “No annexation, no in
demnities.’’ Even the bitterest enemies of the C-erman nation will
not wish to crush that people, nor to impose burdens too severe
for them to bear. But no sensible man will expect that the na
tions which have been afflicted during the past three years with
tlie bloodiest and most devastating warfare in the history of the
world will agree to allow this unspeakable crime to go unpunished.
Ruined Belgium, helpless Luxemburg, gallant Serbia, even selfish
Roumania—each cries out for the rehabilitation of her domains.
The United States, Holland, Norway and other maritime nations
will demand reparation for the indiscriminate murder of their
citizens and the destruction of their property. Enslaved small na
tions such as Poland, Bohemia, the Trentino and Alsace-Lorraine
will demand freedom from Teutonic rule. And there is little rea
son to believe that war will cease until the map of Europe has been
rearranged in such manner as to grant the wishes of these op
pressed peoples. Yes, it is quite likely that there will be both an
nexation and indemnities.
But above all, it is probable that when peace is finally pro
claimed the forces of autocracy will have been thrown into the
scrap heap. No more will the nations of the earth tremble for
fear of devastating war for the sole purpose of carrying out the
imperialistic plans of some self-designated partner of God. The
British premier has plainly intimated that peace terms made with
the German people will be more considerate of Germany’s inter
ests than if negotiated with a dynasty that cannot be trusted; and
i; is evident that the intention of the United States government
is not to negotiate with representatives of our imperial enemy. We
are not at war with the German people.
---+
From Three Lakes, Wis., comes the following story: “Bur
banking has been tried on the mosquito, with questionable suc
cess. So avers a fishing party here in reporting the results of an
effort to duplicate the Californian’s stunt of making a spineless
cactus on the spine of the mosquito. Two young collegians in
camp where the fishing was good found that the mosquitoes were
biting as savagely as the bass, and also the honey bees were busy.
The theory was that by breeding the bee with the mosquito the
effect of smallpox vaccine might be achieved, and the virility of
the bee sting and the mosquito’s bloodsucking proboscis nullify
each other. The interbreeding worked, a mosquito was developed
on the lines of the mosquito but with the appearance of the bee.
The experiment with the sting, however, was an utter failure. The
amateur Burbanks discovered that instead of developing a mos
quito without a sting they had bred a mosquito with sting at each
end of its anatomy.” It is needless to say that the efforts of these
young scientists would not be popular in this section of the world.
Just imagine the myriads of Alaska mosquitoes offensively and
defensively armed fore and aft!
As we understand it, a retreat to victory and beating it while
the beating is good are so much alike you can’t tell 'em apart.—
Macon Telegraph.
Those passengers who have just come down the river are
loud and emphatic in their condemnation of the river service.
In the language of the poets, it is particularly rotten. One
man remarked that in all his experience he never ran up
against such an impossible service. One company having
things all its rwn wav, with no one to interfere, and the people
supporting th n of things by the election of Sulzer,
the candidal of . the transportation companies, there was
little hope any improvement could be expected. —Nome
Industrial Worker.
Transportation conditions on the Yukon probably are no better
or worse than they have been for several years past.. The long
waits that passengers have had to endure at transfer points have
been a source of annoyance for years. But the rather peevish in
sinuation that Delegate Sulzer is in any way responsible is un
worthy the Nome newspaper. Surely it does not expect Sulzer to
remedy in a few short months (if at all) abuses which the valiant
Wickersham was unable to correct in eight years!
---«
Marshal L. T. Erwin of the Fourth division, whose reappoint
ment has not yet been confirmed by the United States senate, is a
man who believes in keeping his name before the public, and never
loses an opportunity to break into print. It may be, However, that
he, like the fabled parrot, may yet talk too much. Regarding hi.
confirmation, Mr. Erwin expresses not the least doubt, and recently
told a Fairbanks newspaper that “there was nothing to it but to
wait for the new commission.” For a long time he has been in
poor health, and unless his condition shows improvement he
doubts whether he will care to serve out his term. “Had it not
been for the fact that some of his political enemies made such a
fight on him before he even decided to try again for office, he
might have quit.” it is reported, "but he decided to show them
how inconsequential the complaints were.” The flouting of pub
lic opinion has cost many a mai^his official head.
There is trouble in the copper mines throughout the West am!
in Alaska. The men claim they are not receiving an adequate
share of the prosperity brought about by the more than doubling
of the price of copper by war conditions. A well-organized attempt
seems to have been made by the operators to show that the
strikes have been engineered by enemy spies. It is unfortunate
that there should be labor troubles in that industry at this particu
lar time, but the attempt to evade the responsibility on the part
of the employers by casting aspersions on the motives of the
miners should not succeed.
The suggestion has been made that our new army should be
organized on the French, or democratic, model, rather than on
the Prussian, or aristocratic, model. Universal military service,
in which every boy in the country must serve in the ranks, pro
motion to officership to be through merit, irrespective of whether
the soldier be the son of a bricklayer or a banker, of a brakeman
or a railway president, should appeal to democratic America. Add
to this the abolition of social distinctions between rank and file,
and much of the prejudice against army service will disappear.
The referendum just taken by the national Socialist party de
clares in favor of sustaining the hands of the government in the
war. It declares also in favor of the conscription of wealth as
well as of men. The decision shows that Americans are. after all.
in a majority in that party, and that (he agents of the kaiser who
have been using tire doctrines of Socialism as a cioak must come
out into the open.
-«
In other words, if a man break into your house, kill your wife
and children, and confiscate and destroy your property, but
bankrupt and cripj le himself in the endeavor to inflict murder
and robbery on others and to escape the consequences of his acts,
you must pity his sufferings and refrain from demanding repara
tion or punishment. That is Germany’s position.
—--♦
Colonel Richardson states that he hopes to finish work on the
Valdez-Fairbanks road this year. At any rate this will be welcome
news. For the mad commission may look for other fields to con
quer. And who knows but that they may eventually discover
the Iditarod district?
- -<*--- —
Colonel Roosevelt has the “conscientious objector" “sized up"
about right. “Only a few of them,” he says, “really are conscien
tious in their objections to military duty. A man who won't risk
his body in war would not be allowed to vote in peace if I had
my wav.”
—- <>
THE COLONEL’S AMBITION
(Anchorage Times)
Colonel Wilds P. 1 lichardsi'ti. president of the board of road
commissioners of Alaska, tells the Seattle people, in an interview
in the local papers, that he proposes to “make the Valdez-Fair
banks road the most scenic in the world.” To this end it will be
necessary to expend on this road this season the greater part of
the $500,000 appropriation, gained from a reluctant congress, for
road and trail building in Alaska. We really hate to disturb the
colonel’s dream of a monument to himself in the wilds of Alaska,
as represented by an automobile road leading from a coa-t town
to the Interior, hut we are persuaded that the time has not st
rived in this territory to build such comprehensive pleasure boule
vards, when there is such a crying need for roads anti trails de
voted to the development of the resources of this vast undeveloped
country.
We are frank to confess that it is our unqualified opinion that
every nickel of this $500,000 appropriation should be expended
on road and trail building that is essential to the opening of the
agricultural and mining industries of Alaska. When our nation,
as officially stated by those in high authority, must cultivate every
acre of available agricultural ground in the country, to avoid a
food shortage, it occurs to us that it is a gross lack of judgment,
to say the least, for the president of the board of Alaska road
commissioners, himself a soldier of the United States army, to
even talk of building pleasure roads, when the same money, prop
erly applied, would open hundreds of acres of agricultural lands in
the Matanuska, Susitna and other fertile valleys of the Northland.
Further, this big appropriation was obtained from congress on
the theory that the funds were needed to build feeders to the gov
ernment railway project.
What this territory most needs at this time is a permanent
population. To encourage the settlement and development of
thousands of acres of good agricultural lands in the fertile valleys
of the territory passable roads of ingress and egress are needed
above all else. We like to see pleasure seekers come to Alaska. And
in time we would like to see a boulevard from the coast to the
Interior. But this boulevard is not a pressing need; it may well
be deferred until a later date, or until roads and trails of more
material and urgent need are supplied in other parts of the terri
tory.
We express the hope that the colonel will see the light.
-♦
GERMAN THOROUGHNESS SURPRISED
(Chicago Herald)
The authentic story of German efforts at the last moment to
induce Ambassador Gerard by a species of duress to agree to a pro
tocol reratifying the treaties of 1799 and 1828, with certain impor
tant extensions, proves beyond question the surprise caused by
President Wilson’s prompt decision and action after receiving the
note of January 31.
For the first time, apparently, it seems to have dawned on Ger
man officialdom, not that something might happen, but that some
thing had happened with equal quickness. The situation revealed
the fact that it had neglected to make certain desirable agreements
in anticipation of trouble. So it tried at the last moment to do its
best to repair the omission by a procedure as extraordinary as it
was futile.
The treaty for which it wanted ambassadorial indorsement was,
in part, that which Germany has persistently violated from the be
ginning of the war; that which the proclamation of "barred zones”
and of a ruthless submarine campaign promises to violate on a
gigantic scale. Not far from the section which Germany now re
gards with such affection—that regulating the treatment of the
citizens of each country resident in the other in case of war between
the two nations—is one guaranteeing American vessels the right to
“navigate freely to and from the ports and coasts” of even a nation
with whict Germany is at war!
And not far away is another provision declaring that in case of
war between one of the contracting parties and another power, the
neutral party’s vessels, even if carrying contraband, shall be allowed
to proceed safely on their voyage if the master will deliver over
the said contraband. It even goes so far as to declare that this con
traband shall not be regarded as such “so as to induce confiscation
or condemnation end a loss of property for individuals,” but the
same shall actually be paid for.
In the light of these guarantees so ruthlessly violated by Ger
many, it is not strange that she did not appeal to the treaty directly
but proposed a reratification of it. If ever a treaty was torn up
as a scrap of paper by a belligerent, it is that of 1799 and 1828.
In point of fact, what she proposed was practically a new treaty.
The additions and extensions urged made an entirely original
proposition, with which Mr. Gerard properly declined to have any
thing to do.
THE SLACKER
He sees the soldiers march away
And hangs his head in shame;
For he must lag at home, while they
Go forth to war and fame,
To battle for their native land,
Whose call they answer now—
While he must bear the hateful brand
Of “coward" on his brow.
He tarries for another's sake,
Though his the slacker's part.
A bond top strong for him to break
Has chained his patriot’s heart.
He forces back the rising tears;
Ah ! How the bugles blow!
And how the streets resound with cheers
To speed them as they go!
He knows that he is young and strong;
The heart within his breast
Is brave as any in that throng
In warlike khaki dressed.
But though we know it fills his mind
With agony untold,
We think he’d better stay behind -
He’s only eight years old!
New York American.
LLOYD GEORGE ON PEACE
The entente powers nnwt fi rht on until
they have reached the col t set out to
attain when they accepted Germany’s chai
huge to civilization, declared David Lloyd
George, the British premier, in a speech at
Glasgow on June 29. To permit the war to
come to an end a single hour sooner would
be “the gravest disaster that ever betel man
kind,’’ he added.
These utterances possess notable signifi
cance at this moment, when there have been
suggestions that the allied (lowers fighting
Germany might agree to some revision of
their previously declared war aims, and at
a time when hints have been coming out of
Germany that the present session of the
reichstag might put forth some new state
ment on the subject of peace.
What Are German Peace Terms?
“No doubt we can have peace now," said
the premier, “at a price. Germany wants
ncace -even Prussia ardently desires it.
They said, Give us some indemnity for the
wrongs we have done, just a little territory
here and a little there, and just a few privi
leges in other directions, ami we will clear
out. We are told that if we are prepared
to make peace now Germany will restore
the independence of Belgium. But who
ha- said so?
“No German statesman has ever said he
would restore the independence of Belgium.
The German chancellor came very near to
it, but all the junkers fell or, him cud he
received a sound b -x on the ears from the
mailed fist.
“The oily terms on which Germany lias
suggested restoring Belgium are not those
of independence, but of v: -salage. dhen
came the doctrine of the status quo and no
annexation and no indemnities. No Ger
man statesman has accented even that.
“But what'did indemnity mean? Indem
nity is an essential part of the mechanism
of civilization in every land and clime.
Otherwise what guarantee have we against
a repetition? Then this is not what you
are after. You are after our colonies and
probably Palestine and Mesopotamia. If
we had entered into this war purely for the
German colonies we would not have raised
an army of three or mur millions. We cold 1
have gotten them without adding a single
battalion to the army.
Mads Desert of Garden of Eden
“Our greatest army is in France. We are
there to recover for the pcopl' who have
been driven i ut their patrimony, the land
which belonged to them. As to Mesopota
mia, it is not and never has been Turkish.
You have only to read the terrible reports
to see what a wilderness the lurks have
nude of the Garden of Eden. What is to
happen in Mesopotamia must he left to the
peace conference, and there is one thing that
will never happen to it. It will never he
restored to the blasting tyranny of the
Turks.
“The same observation applies to Ar
menia.
“As to the German colonies, that again is
a matter which must he settled by the great
international peace conference. When we
come to settle who must be the future trus
tees of those uncivilized lands we must take
into account the sentiments of the peoples
themselves and whether they are anxious
to secure the return of their former masters
or whether they would rather trust their
destinies to other and juster and gentler
hands. The wishes, desires and interests of
the people themselves of all those countries
must be the dominant factor in settling
their future government.
Germans Must Reverse Their Philosophy
“Peace must be framed on so equitable a
basis that the nations would not wish to
disturb it. It must be guaranteed by de
struction of Prussian military power, so
that the confidence of the German people
shall be put in the equity of their cause and
not in the might of their armies. A better
guarantee than either would be democratiza
tion of the German government.
“No one wishes to dictate to the German
people the form of government under which
they should choose to live. But it is right
that we should say that we will enter into
negotiations with a free government of Ger
many with a different attitude of mind and
a different temper and different spirit and
with less suspicion and more confidence than
we should with a government with whom
we feel today to be dominated by the ag
gressive and arrogant spirit of Prussian mili
tarism.
Russian Revolution Exalts Conflict
Speaking of Russia, the premier added
that there were many hearts filled with
gloomy anxiety, contemplating the prospects
of a peace conference to settle the future
of democracy with representatives present
of the most reactionary autocracy in the
world. But now Russia is unshackled and
free, and her representatives at the peace
conference would be representatives of a
free people fighting for freedom and arrang
ing a future democracy on the lines of free
dom. Not merely would the Russian revo
lution insure a more complete but a higher,
more exalted victory than ever was contem
plated.
“Russia will regain her strength with a
bound and become mightier and more for
midable than ever,” Mr. Lloyd George con
tinued. “Although these distractions had
the effect of postponing complete victory,
they made victory more sure than ever,
more complete than ever, and what is more
important, they made surer than ever the
equality of victory.”
BUNCOING BROADWAY
“I bunked Broadway for a week, and
Broadway liked it and liked me. And now
because the town has found out it’s been
bunked I suppose it’s sore.”
Thus laments Manhattan’s newest celeb
rity, but yesterday the “Alaska Queen” and
Maid of the Midnight Snows, and now re
vealed as a Kansas City park watchman’s
daughter and telephone girl. Hers was a
brief reign but a lively one, and one threat
ening the eclipse of other Broadway stars
had not a premature publicity blighted it.
The young person has indeed buncoed
Broadway, but why does she infer that it
is “sore” for that reason? New York
exists to be buncoed and enjoys the ex
perience. Buncoing the town has almost
been raised to the status of a legitimate in
dustry, and when the operation is not be
ing performed in Wall street or Fifth av
enue. it goes on among the white lights.
What would become of Tammany Hall if
New York were not susceptible to the wiles
of the bunco artist, and how long could
Broadway do business on any other basis?
The point about this latest performance in
the bunco line is the neatness and finish
with which it was executed. Many try the
game but few have the luck to become a
Broadway celebrity in a day. There must
| be a future in the city for a slip of a
| gill who can both Lawsonize it and Roose
j veltize it so completely and artistically.
New York World.
y.
“REAL” RAILROAD TRAIN
A special to the Fairbanks Ciii’en from
Nenana, dated 25. says that Interior Alaska
now has its first “real” railroad train. That
is, a locomotive of standard gauge and five
tint cars have arrived for use on the com
pleted Alaska railroad when standard gauge
track shall have been constructed. There
is a short section of the track already com
pleted, and the standard gauge equipment
is being placed on it. And it is now prob
able that more standard gauge track will
be constructed immediately and the train
of ears and locomotive put into commis
sion. The Hat cars are to he used in trans
porting equipment out on the line as fast
as the track is laid. They are each forty
feet in length and of forty tons’ capacity.
The locomotive is of a type commonly used
in switching work.
- ♦
Tub and steam baths at ail hour*. Sny
der House, Flat.
I ^rofessiona I
Michigan, 188 1 Alaska, 19 10 ;
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht i
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney or Iditarod
-- -- i
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. EVsOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. H. E. AURINGER
and Surgeon
Office: Elat City Hospital. Flat City
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
Like Good
Things to Eat?
Then trade here. You’ll
find staple groceries of the
time-tried, superb-quality
kind always in stock—
mouth-watering fancy gro
ceries just as soon as the
market offers. Our aim is
“Quality First.” Among
other first-class goods, we
recommend
Pillsbury’s
Best Flour
It’s rich in food
i value, and gives
a large yield per sack of
especially fine-flavored bread.
It’s good for pastry, too.
No need to buy two flours—
Pillsbury's Best is enough.
WE ALSO SPECIALIZE i
FANCY PATTERN
Linoleum
and Rugs
ALE KINDS OF
Fish Nats,
Salmon and
Seine Twine
Lang Stoves
and Ranges
Tru Blue
Busouits
NONE BETTER
Classy
GasolineLamps
and Lan tarns
WITH A GUARANTEE
PI anJ smaI1- printed on
i paper, cardboard or cloth,
on abort notice, at Idnarod Pioneer omce.
Front Street, Flat City Formerly the Bagoy Premises
Flat City Hotel ^'^Z^
Mrs. J. E. Gunning, Prop.Special Rates by the Week and Month
Open at All Hours The Old Reliable Place
Disco very 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 J«- F. Finnegan
THOS. McMAHON
DEALER IN
General Merchandise
FLAT, ALASKA