V it
Sailij flrnapertar
PUBLISHED BT
STEWART « SELBY, Proprietors
, VALDEZ, ALASKA
Published Dally Except Suaday
Entered as Second-Class Mall Matter,
July 23. 1912, at the postofflee of Valdes,
Alaska, under act or March 3, 1879.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER O, 1)»10
ABOLISHING THE ELECTORAL
COLLEGE
Following every presidential elec
tion where the contest has been close,
there has been a temporary demand
for the abolition of the electoral col
lege system and the substitution of
a method providing for the expres
sion of a choice by direct vote of the
people. The argument offered in fa
vor of the direct method is single and
obvious, while that against it is
somewhat more complex, but, in the
opinion of most Republicans, is much
sounder.
The possibility that a president
may be elected by a minority vote of
the people under the present consti
tutional system cannot be countered.
In fact, two presidents in compara
tively recent years, have failed to re
ceive a plurality of the popular vote
—Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1876, and
Benjamin Harrison, in 1888. Tilden
received a plurality of 260,395 over
Hayes and Cleveland a plurality of
98517 over Harrison.
The existing system was elaborat
ed by the founders of the govern
ment after the most thorough consid
eration and was based on the theory
—which runs through our constitu
tion—that “checks and balances” are
needed, as in the manner of repre
sentation in congress; that each state
shall have an equal representation,
according to its population, with ev
ery other, and yet that the smaller
states shall not be overshadowed by
tlie more populous. The wisdom of
this system as it applies to the senate
and house of representatives must ap
peal to every person Interested In the
preservation of our government. The
electoral college is constituted of
representatives from each state equal
in number to the congressmen and
senators from that state, and conse
quently it is based on population to
the same extent that __our national
congress is based on population—no
more and no less.
Two very important advantages of
the present electoral system are
pointed out by William B. Giteau,
Ph. D., superintendent of schools of
Toledo, Ohio, in his “Government and
Politics in the United States,” pub
lished in 1911. Prof. Guiteau has
this to say on the subject:
“In spite of its serious defects,
this method of indirect election has
at least two advantages: (1) No
president can be chosen who does not
have support in about half the
states, thus decreasing the danger ot
a sectional choice; and ft}, It les
sens the temptation to perpetrate
election fraud; in states which have
large pluralities in favor of one of
the political parties. Thus if the
president had been chosen by direct
popular vote in the year 1908 there
would have been a tempation to in
crease by fraudulent manipulation
the republican plurality of 123,537
in Pennsylvania, or the democratic
plurality of 151,135 in Texas; but
no amount of manipulation could
give the republicans more than 34
electoral votes in Pennsylvania, or
the democrats more than 18 electo
ral votes in Texas.
“Another powerful argument to be
I directed against the election of pres
ident by popular vote is to be found
is a lack of uniformity of the suffrage
and election laws of the various
states. In order that all states might
be placed on a parity it would be
necessary for the government to as
sume control of laws defining the
[qualifications of electors.
“For instance, it is clear that
Washington, which has granted the
ballot to women, would wield as
much influence in a popular election
as an eastern or southern state with
double its population which limits
the privilege of voting to men. Simi
larly, in some of the states educa
tional qualifications of a drastic na
ture are required, while in others
the requirements are less stringent.
Of course, the federal government
might eliminate this objection by
granting equal suffrage throughout
the United States and then defining
the qualifications of a voter, but that
would involve some trouble as the
suffragists in the East and particu
larly in the South, can testify. More
over, this brings us to one of the big
gest stumbling blocks of the whole
reform of the electoral system—the
supposedly “Solid South.”
It should be kept in mind that the
South is ruled by the whites and the
negroes, in spite of the Fifteenth
amendment, have no voice in the gov
ernment in most of the Southern
states; but it is also not knowii
whether these negroes, if they had a
voice, would vote the Republican
ticket. If the government granted
equal suffrage it would mean that
negro women as well as the men,
would be given the ballot; and if it
fixed the qualification of electors it
would mean that the negro man and
the negro woman would De granted
every privilege enjoyed by the whites
in other states—and it might be tak
en for granted that, the North would
demand that those negroes should be
come voters in fact as well as in the
ory, which would be no more than
just. It is certain that the whites of
the South, with their racial preju
dices, would not view such a situa
tion as this with any degree of equan
imity. The Southern educational re
quirements are also so stringent that
the North would never consent to
adopt them, and if the Northern
states were content to work under
these drastic laws, the Western states
would undoubtedly refuse to adopt
them.
However, it is hardly to be ex
pected that the Republican North,
which holds the balance of power
under the present electoral system,
would relinquish control without a
bitter fight, for the reason that it ap
preciates the fact that with a direct
THE EMPRESS
TO-NIGHT AT 8:P.M.
SIX BIG ACTS
“Police Dogs
To Rescue”
Cartoon Comedy
Edith Taliaferro
In the Beautiful Ro
mantic Drama in
Four Acts,
“Young Romance”
“Levey’s Seven Daughters”
Comedy - - A big laugh
CIVILIZATION on the next boat.
■ — —■ ■ ■ — mf m, ■ i « ■ ■ — — — » — — »
vote for president It would lessen its
chances to combat the South and
West. Also the fact that the South
votes solidly for the democratic par
ty, regardless of that party’s princi
ples or its platform and thus might
at times exercise an undue Influence
on the popular vote if the vote in the
Northern States were close, has al
ways been a thorn in the side of the
Republican Northern states.
Admittedly the constitution meth
od has serious defects. If a constitu
tional amendment changing the elec
toral vote to a direct vote for presi
dent, it is known that it must come
through a Democratic House and
Senate. To initiate a movement for
the direct election of president at the
present session of congress would be
to have the effort fall on unreceptive
ears.
KHK1MOS’ ORIGIN.
A pioneer of the Northern land,
who now resides at Juneau, says
Alaska was tropical.
There has been at different times
considerable discussion by eminent
men as to the origin of the inhabi
tants of this country, known as .Es
kimos. The general theory is that
these people have descended from
some Asiatic race. I have given this
question some little study. I find
that three theories as to the origin
of the Eskimos are extant. First,
that they are descendants of an Asi
atic people. Second, that along with
the Indians of North America they
sprang from the Aztecs of Mexico,
migrating northward. Third, that
they originated in this country. This
last theory appears to me to be the
most plausible and I shall proceed
to state my reasons.
Let us Consider first the theory of
the origin of man. Evolution teaches
us man is the product of ages; per
haps aeons, of the operation of the
law of natural selection on organic
life. Like conditions will produce
like results. It is reasonable then
that man can have come into exis
tence in different parts of the world,
wherever the conditions were right.
There can be no question that Alaska
was at one . time a tropical clime.
Hence these deposits of coal and car
boniferous substance* that can follow
once a great vegetable life, on what
other grounds can the presence of
mastodons be explained, than that
this was a warm climate where plant
and animal life developed very rap
idly. Why is it not possible then,
that animal life developed to the hu
man stage in this land.
Again, let us look at the habits of
the Eskimos themselves. They are
not naturally adapted to life in the
barren, frozen land. The food they
eat gives them vile diseases. They
have practically no conception of how
to prepare their food to make it
either palatable or healthful. Their
abodes have been of the very poor
est until improved upon by more in
telligent people, who have come
among them. Now a people coming
either from Asia or some other coun
try would have advanced only as they
were able to conform to conditions.
They would have adapted them
selves to existing climatic conditions.
The Eskimos are primitive people or
iginating in their country, when it
was a tropical climate, and where1
concept by the geological or metero
logical changes that of Arctic condi
tions.—Chas. E. Gordon, Juneau,
Alaska, in Daily Dispatch.
ONE RESULT OF ELECTION.
I
It is better now for both sides to con
sider the result of the fight between
the Republican party and the Demo
cratic party as a square and fair one.
and everyone should accept the inev
itable in a kindly spirit, forgetting
and forgiving the animosities which
have cropped out during the contest
and be encouraged by the prosperity
now prevailing throughout the nation
and the strong prospect for its con
tinuance for some time to come. That
is something that no other nation
can boast of in anything like the same
degree and should be enough to make
the American people happy and con
tented, especially when they compare
their lot with that of the sufferers
throughout Europe. Many people
think that our present campaign ter
minated in a muddle owing to the
votes of the electors being so close.
1 think, however, that is a cause for
rejoicing rather than otherwise, as it
will serve to compel both of our great
parties to put up, as they have done
in this election, high grade men for
their candidates hereafter, and not
merely demagogic politicians. It
marks a new era for our country,
which I firmly believe is the best ever
devised by the brain of man, espe
cially for our cosmopolitan popula
tion—a government of the people, by
the people and for the people. The
result of the election goes to show
that there are but few vital issues
at stake between the two great par
ties; besides, we are almost sure to.
have in the field hereafter candidate^
both learned, capable, and highly rep
resentative men, similar to those
who have competed in the present
Ilughes-Wilson contest. Hence, it is
to be hoped that it will lead to the
Another Department At The Big
Store For Your Convenience
We Will Carry at All Times,
WHITE BREAD
RYE BREAD
GRAHAM BREAD
PULLMAN BREAD
WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
FRENCH BREAD
DOUGHNUTS
COFFEE ROLLS
VIENNA ROLLS
PARKER HOUSE ROLLS
CINNAMON ROLLS
JELLY ROLLS
CUP CAKES
LADY FINGERS
MACAROONS
FRUIT CAKE
ANGEL FOOD CAKE
COCOANUT CAKE
POUND CAKE
SUGAR COOKIES
GINGER COOKIES
LOAF CAKE
FRUIT BARS
SPECIAL PIES A Ad cakes to order
BLUM’S BAKERY
Successor to Rudolph Schmidt.
conclusion that both sides will recog
nize the absolute necessity of put
ting forward their best citizens, then
no serious harm is likely to happen
to our people or country, whoever
may be the winner. If that fact be
comes recognized as it should be. by
our voting population, then the best
all around men will be selected for
nomination on both sides and all will
be well now and forevermore. — Ex.
JOE SPENAUD sends the Pros
pector a large calendar advertising
his now famous lake resort. Joe is
doing well over at Anchorage,—but
Joe would do well any place, for he
is a live wire, with an eye for busi
ness. He has had a large force of
men at work cleaning the snow off
his lake and runs special trains out
on Sundays with skating parties He
also serves hot lunches, takes care of
picnic parties, looks after the pulchri
tudinous bathers, and works while his
neighbors sleep.
REWARD a good servant well; and
rather quit than disquiet thyself by
employing an ill one.—Wm. Penn.
From a Needle
to an Anchor
i
There isn't anything that
the merchants in this town
can't supply.
give them a chance.
THEY ARE HERE TO STAY.
THEY WON'T ABUSE YOUR
'CONFIDENCE.
Veep the dollars in
t^own.
LOUIE’S CAFE
Everything First class
Open Day and Night
ANDY MAROVICH, Prop.
LAUNCH N & S
l-e«ve» every Wedneaday at 9 a.
m. from Valdea 1 lock (or Eella
oaar, I.andlock, and Fldalfo.
I.eavea every Saturday at T a. ni.
from Valdea Doek for Cedar Bay,
Wella Bay, Port Wella aad Gran
ite Mine. ; t. u
PORTAGE BAY AND OTHER
POINTS BY CONTRACT
W. J. CALLAGHAN
OWNER AND MASTER.
Gandy Kitchen1
E. W. HUNT—In Owl Dr>( Store. |
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
HOT-COLD j
PIONEERS OF ALASKA
IGLOO NO. SEVEN
Meets every Tuesday evening at S:0o
o'clock in their hall over U. S. Com
missioner’s ofQce. Visitors are always
welcome.
T. H. HUNT, President.
E. G. AMES, Secretary.
VALDEZ LODGE
NO 168
Fite aad Accepted Mason*
Regular Communications first Wed
nesday in each' month in McKinley
Hall. Visitors always welcome.
F. M. BROWN, W. M
ED WOOD, Secretary.
Stop that Infernal Racket
Show your wife how much you
love her and send that noisy old
pump to the Valdez Iron Works and
let them remove the peace disturber,
your neighbors will appreciate it. tf
The Home of the Pat-a-Cake. At
I.ove-Wh:;)ey Co. tt
A new assortment of toilet water'
and perfumes. Owl urug Co. tf
See our Hand Painted Xmas Cards
and Booklets. Valdez Drug Co. tf
Location notices, both quartz and
placer, for sale at the Prospector of
fice.
PROFESSIONAL CAROS.
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
OfllrrM over Yuliler. Drug Co.
Phone •IS McKinley Street
Contract Surgeon, U. S. Army
A. A. Surgeon. U S. Public Health Serv.
(Marine Hospital)
DR. H. COCKERILLE
DENTIST
Fourteen Years In Valdez.
PHONE 110
Offlce> Rooms In Whaling Building
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
OOlce Opposite Coart Koase
Phoae M VALDEZ. ALASKA
JOHN LYONfc A K KlTCHiH
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTOKNEYS-AT-LAW
OHires In Whaling Building
Phone 101 VALDEZ. ALASKA
ASA C. BALDWIN
CIVIL ENGINEER
U. S. Mineral Surrey or
McKinley Street opposite V. M. Store.
Valdez, Alaska
A. M. DIERINGER
Valdez Transfer
Company
Office on Alaska Avenue, in
George C. Treat Building
Telephone No. 60
Genet al Trucking and Freighting
to all Interior Points.
LIVERY and FEED STABLE.
STORAGE,
Teaming of All Kinds
Positively No Coal Delivered Un
less Paid for in Advance
Furnished rooms at Mrs Ogland's.
Prices reasonable. •
The Owl Drug Store can furnish
you with a 1917 Dairy. tf