Why Wall Street
Demanded Firing
of Ben B. Mozee
REINDEER STATISTICS UPSET THE
LAUNCHING OF BIG STOCK SALE
In 1930 Ben B. Mozee, supervisor of reindeer for
the Bureau of Biological Survey, supplied estimates of
the number of reindeer in Alaska. Here are his figures:
Total number of deer . 640,000
Owned by natives . 459,638
Owned by the Lomens c ... 78,905
Owned by the Lapps .:. 63,930
Owned by the government . 10,387
In that year the Lomen Corporation placed a stock
issue on the markets of the States said to aggregate
$40,000, claiming, it is alleged, that this stock was back
ed by 250,000 reindeer and an investment of $2,500,000.
The State of Washington ordered the Lomen stock
taken from the mark under laws provided for protect
ing the public against being victimized by corporation
inflated stock sales.
THE BOMBSHELL
This was the bombshell Mr.
Mozee inadvertently tossed into
the ranks of Wall Street high
financiers.
And, judging by what has re
cently happened when Mr. Mozee
was given the choice of stepping
from a commanding position to
that of a subordinate or resigning,
this is how Wall Street takes re
venge. '
With-the same courage he had
shown in fighting the battles of
the natives of the Arctic and pro
tecting his trust as a federal offi
cial, for 13 years he refused to be
come a party to what appears on
its face to be a steal of a big gov
ernment institution established
for its wards.
Coming to the official report of
the reindeer hearings of 1931-32
we find these figures supporting
Mr. Mozee’s estimates:
In the general roundup on the
Seward Peninsula in 1932 a total
of 125,773 reindeer were found.
These were owned as follows:
Native . 88,673
Laps . 615
Lomen . 34,235
White and misc- .2,500
Total . 125,773
Referring further to the report
of the special committee compos
ed of Senator Jno. B. Kendrick of
Wyoming, Rep. Scott Leavitt of
Montana and former Assistant
Attorney General Chas. P. Sis
sons, it states:
“This committee held public
hearings in Washington. D. C„
during Febuary and March, 1931,
and heard witnesses from many
^sections of Alaska and the United
States whose interests would be
touched on some phase of the
subject!”
These “witnesses” were the of
ficers of the Lomen Corporation
and members of the Reindeer Ser
vice, the latter being under the
gag rule which compels him to
take due consideration of wrhat
a United States Senator desires
him to testify to if he would hold
his job.
Mr. Mozee appears not to have
been one of this character.
In conclusion this report makes
this observation:
“Your committee considers that
it is neither practicable nor ad
visable for the government to es
tablish competitive marketing
agencies, but firmly believes that
existing facilities should be used
under conditions of mutual equity.
Private capital has already greatly
contributed to the development
of the industry and it should be
afforded every proper encourage
ment. We feel that the Council
and its representatives can do
much toward establishing and
continuing on the Peninsula an
attitude of friendly mutual depen
dence on each between the natives
and those whose faith in the in
dustry has been proven by the
capital invested. Their common
welfare requires it.”
In other words the establishment
of a source of sustenance and rev
enue by the Federal government
on funds from the Federal treas
ury, for wards of the Federal gov- J
ernment and maintained at Fed- j
eral expense from the year 1892,
involving many millions of tax
payers’ money, should be surren
dered to a Wall Street corporation
because, by what appears to be
sharp practices, the Lomen Corp
oration shoved the thin edge of
the wedge into this purely phil
anthropic industry by purchasing
a herd of deer loaned to a church
mission for the benefit of Eski
mos.
The following letter will reveal
some interesting history:
DRIVING IN THE WEDGE
“Nome, Alaska, July 14, 1915
“Lomen & Company.
“Nome, Alaska
“Gentlemen:
“tjpon return from a trip on
the Bear on the second of this
month I was informed that your
company had entered into nego
tiations with the Lutheran Mis
sions at Golavin and Unalakleet,
thru their head board in the
States, for the purchsae of a part
or all of the reindeer held by them
under the contracts with the gov
ernment.
“We had two informal interviews
and I notified you both times that
as far as I was officially informed,
the Mission Board could not dis
pose of their female deer without
violation of their contracts with
the government. If not the let
ter of the contract, at least its
! spirit- I also told you at the time,
as I had done when this matter
was referred to me at an earlier
date, that in any case before the
negotiations of any kind should
be entered into either by the mis
sion or the holders of the deer,
or by yourselves as intended pur
chasers, it would be well for both
parties to take up the matter with
the department and learn the
exact status of the herds held by
the missions. The contracts under
which the deer were secured from
the government are on file in
Washington, so it is neither possi
ble! or proper for either your com
pany or the mission to discuss the
status of the mission herds with
me at Nome.
“I am informed that you have
sent representatives to Golovin
presumably to take over certain
of these deer which are held by
; the mission under contract with
the department. As far as I am
officially informed this action will
be taken both by yourselves and
the mission without first consult
ing the department.
“As far as I can see there is not
one actual reason why there
should be this extreme haste in
attempting to take up any propo
sition that may have been, made
you by the Mission Board. The
matter could easily have waited
until the department had render
ed • an opinion' on the status of the
deer held by the mission. It has
never been the practice to ‘cut
out’ new herds at ^hjs time of the
year.
“I therefore have tp inform you
that in my opinion you are taking
a step that is improper both as
(Continued on Page Two)
TENSION IS INCREASED
IN CHINESE CITIES AS
JAP TROOPS ADVANCE
PEIPNG, China, May 23. —Jap
anese troops advanced closer to
the Peiping-Tientsin area as ten
sion heightened following outbursts
of violence terminating negoti- j
ations for cessations of Sino-Jap- j
anese hostilities.
Peiping’s seizure s expected by
nightfall. Information received;
here told the capture of Tungchow,;
despite the fact that previous as- !
surances had been received from
Changchun, capital of Manchuko,
that there would be no further j
Japanese advance.
Tungchow was taken by regi-,
ments which passed on towards J
Peiping, with the Chinese defenders j
in full retreat. Chinese and Jap
anese residents of Peiping are now
virtually at dagger’s points.
INTERPRETING OFFER
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 23, —
Congress and official circles are
divided sharply in interpreting
President Roosevelt’s offer to sign l
a consultatives pact.
The division was along these two
lines, first; the practical results
mean the end of America’s tradi
tional policy of isolation from
European and world political en
tanglement and end of American
neutrality as well as the end of
the freedom of the seas
Second, while the United States
agrees to consult, it reserves free
dom in determining an aggressor
,and consequently full indepen
dence in taking, or refusing to
take punitive measures against the
guilty nation.
Secretary of State Cordell Hull
insisted the United States merely
offers to consult if Europe dis
arms, and its course will be deter
mined, not by any decision of the
powers against an aggressor, but
by itself.
i
BASEBALL
NATIONAL LEAGUE
New York 9, Cincinnati 0.
Brooklyn 3, Pittsburg 0.
Phillies 11, Chicago 4.
St. Louis 3, Boston 0.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York 3, Cleveland 0.
Washington 6, St. Louis 5.
Phillies 6, St. Louis 5.
Boston 3, Chicago 2.
No Pacific Coast games.
LOUIS SIMPSON IS
CULLED, HIS HEWNHD:
ILL SEVEHNL1EMS
After several years of ill health
and fighting a losing battle in his
efforts to regain his once good
health, Louis Simpson, 66 years of
age, a pioneer of Seward, died last
night shortly before 9 o’clock.
Born in Denmark, March 1, 1867,
he came to America when a boy
settling in Michigan and later at
Wisconsin. In 1901 he felt the Call
of the North so joined those early
day argonauts and came to Alaska
but not until 1904 did he arrive
and locate in Seward.
A highly esteemed citizen, Mr.
Simpson remained here constantly
until the end; he had never mar
ried and, as far as can be learned,
leaves two sisters, one of whom
Mrs. Lars Nelson, resides at Gray
ling, Mich.
A Past President of Seward Igloo,
Pioneers of Alaska, Mr. Simpson’s
funeral' services will be conducted
under the auspices of the Seward
Igloo, in the chapel of the Funeral!
Parlor, with Rev. E. E. Reisner offi
ciating; the services will be held
Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock
with interment following in one
of the beautiful Pioneer plots, Sew
ard Cemetary.
STAY OUT OF IT
INDIANAPOLIS, May 23, —
Dr. James A. Qrain, president of
the National conference of or
ganiaztions supporting the 18th
amendment, addressed to Presi
dent Roosevelt a plea to stay out
of the wet and dry controversy.
Dr. Crain urged the Presdent to
make no statement in favor of the
repeal, but to let the votevs de- j
cide the issue.
TEN YEAR PEACE
TREATY MAY BIND
EUROPEAN POWERS
- i
ROME, May 23. —A treaty bind
ing Europe’s leading powers to keep
the peace for 10 years awaited
formal initialing by diplomats
after aproval by representatives
of the contracting nations, Italy
Great Britain, France and Ger
many.
Benito Mussolini wrote the pact
months ago. He revised it last
week-end as an ideal and perhaps
essential, basis for agreement by
the disarmament conference at
Geneva and the world economic
conference which meets in Lon-,
don June 12.
MADE ONE SUGGESTION
TO JUDGE FIVE TEARS
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 23. —
Testifying in the Senate Chamber
from a wheel chair, W. S. “Sam”
Leake told the impeachment court
trying Federal Judge Harold Loud
eirback that he had made but one
suggestion in five years to the
Jude regarding the appointment
regarding the receiver of a bank
ing institution.
But wilihout raising his head
from his pillow he occasionally
found strength to answer firmly in
the negative question designed to
support the impeachment charges
against the Judge.
FIRST STEP TOWARD
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, —The
State Supreme Court refused to
block the murder trial of Tom
Mooney scheduled to commence at
10 a. m. today before Superior
Judge Ward.
As a result of the Supreme
Court’s finding handed down af
ter more than six hours of secret
conference among the justices, the
opening move of Mooney’s new
gamble for his freedom will be
made today. It is the first step
toward victory for Mooney.
NEW YORK, May 23, —Strength
and activity in the oils monopoliz
ed speculative attention in an
otherwise quiet stock market.
Buying in the petroleum lists
continued to reflect the adminis
tration’s efforts to help solve the
industries production troubles and
brought gains running to more
than two points.
Low priced issues were particu
larly active with pure oil a favor
ite. The rest of the market showed
a steadier tone.
NEW YORK SUITE
WILL BE THE STH
NEW YORK, May 23, —This
state will become the sixth state
to elect delegates to a prohibition
repeal convention Tuesday. And
there is little doubt it will make
a sixth wet state.
Voters will cast ballots for 150
delegates-at-large, one full slate
pledged to ratification of the Con
gresional resolution for repeal of
the 18th amendment
THREE FALLS
LAPORTE, Ind., May 23, —Joe
Savoldi, heavyweight wrestler and
one-time Notre Dame football
star, has entered a third matri
monial venture, it was revealed.
- * * * *
MOST SIGNED UP
WASHINGTON, D. C„ May 23, —
Bonus marchers who did not sign
up with the forest army were to
get free transportation home from
the government. Most of them
have enlisted.
* * * *
NOT COMPLETE
PARIS, May 23, —Contrary to
Rome dispatches implying com
plete agreement on the Mussolini
four-power pact, the foreign of
fice said that negotiations still
continued and the agreement was
not complete.
* * * *
ON THE JOB
MADRID, May 23. —Claud G.j
Bowers, New American ambassador
to Spain, arrived. Mrs. Bowers ac
companied him. *
• « • •
15 MILES AWAY
PEIPNG, May 23. —The Japanese
were 15 miles from Peiping, ad
vancing steadily, with prospects of
a battle for possession of the
Northern Chinese Capital.
* * * *
GOT MAD
KANSAS CITY, Mo.. May 23. —
Apparently incensed when sever
al nickels he placed in a slot
machine failed to bring results, a
man lifted the machine from a
bench in a drug store and fled.
* # * *
AIRWAYS INCREASE
NEW YORK, May 23. —The Am
erican Airways, a transport unit
of aviation corp, carried 3980 pas
sengers in the frst 15 days of May,
compared with 2830 in the like
period in the preceeding month.
• * * *
HORSES BURNED
BURLINGTON, Vt., May 23. —
Three enlisted men were injured
and between 90 and 100 horses were
burned as lightning set fire to
stables at Fort Ethan Allen. Loss
was estimated at $75,000. Many of
the burned horses were the private
property of officers of the post.
• • # •
SEVEN BOMBS
HAVANA, Cuba, May 23. — A
large bomb and six smaller ones
were exploded in Havana. The
largest exploded in the Lerrota sub
erb. In less than an hour the
six others were set off, three in
the Lucano, two in the Vedado resi
dential section and one in Cerro
suberb. No damage or injury was
reported.
* * * *
IGNITED FOREST
DURANGA, Colo., May 23. —
Carbon mountain, Colorado’s
pseudo volcano, has ignited a for
est. The Rocky Mountains peak,
which has atracted both curious
and scientific by its distintergra
ting over a period of months, threw
forth flames and gas and covered
the country side, with a heavy
blanket of smoke.
* * * *
BEGIN EVACUATIONS
PEIPING, May 23. — Chinese
forces, facing the threat of a Jap
anese invasion, began evacuating
southward last night. It was be
lieved a compromise had been ar
ranged, and the Japanese might
halt their advance and not storm
Peiping and Teintsin.
* * * *
WON WEEK’S DELAY
... NEW YORK, May 23. —Joseph
W. Harriman, who stabbed himself
when police found him hiding in
a Long Island Inn, lay recovering
in a hospital as his attorneys won
him a week’s delay on his fraud
trail in New York.
* * * *
ENTIRELY JUSTIFIED
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 23. —
Lieutenent Commander H. V- Wiley,
one of three survivors of the Akron
disaster, testified before a Con
gresional investigation committee
that Commander McCord skipper
of the big ship, was “entirely justi
fied” in declining the cruise which
ended in disaster.
The-U. S. S. Lighthouse Tender
Cedar left port this morning for
Ketchikan.
VIOLENT INDIGNATION
FOLtn COMMITTEE
ACTION ON TAX PLAN
WASHINGTON. D. C.. May 23, —
Higher income taxes on the “little
fellers,” an increased gasoline levy
and asrersments on corporation
dividends were agreed upon by
the House ways and means com
mittee, to raise $221,000,000 annu
ally to finance the administra
tion’s $3,300,000,000 public works
program. The vote was 13 to 9.
Since the powers that rule the
Democratic majority favor the
“soak the middle class” program
turned out by the committee, the
real fight was expected to be wag
ed in the Senate.
Violent indignation followed the
committee’s action, but the Dem
ocratic leadership made plans to -
jam the committee’s plan thru
the House under a rigid gag rule
shutting out amendments.
HITLER PUTS OUT TO
SEA TO REVIEW THE
FLEET MANEUVERS
KIEL, Germany, May 23, —After
declaring that Germany’s desire
for peace probably is stronger
than that of other nations, “be
cause we need to get bread for our
millions of unemployed comrades,’*
Chancellor Hitler put out to sea
at the head of the German fleetf
to participate in night maneuvers.
The Chancellor’s presence in the
Kiel recalled that in prewar days
the visits of the Kaiser were fre
quent. He received a rousing wel
come and flags appeared every
where.
IS LOSINS
ONE POUND I OUT
POONA, India, May 23, —After
completing two weeks of his pro
jected three weeks fast, Mahatma
Ganhi was found to be well. Doc
tors, astonished a this condition,
said it was almost a miracle that
he remained so fit.
But he is weakening some due
to the loss of a pound each day.
Physicians will double their atten
tion to him the next 10 days.
S. S. STARR ENROUTE
TO BRISTOL BAY ON
FIRSTVOYAGE SEASON
The SS Starr, Capt. Arhtur Ryn
ing, commanding, left port early
Monday afternoon on the first
trip of the year to Bristol Bay,
carrying a capacity load of passen
gers, freight and mail.
The next Westward sailing of
the steamer will be about June 12,
Captain Ryning said.
Captain Ryning also announced
that he will hereafter make a trip
to Seattle every 60 days, the next
sailing for the Queen City from this
port being scheduled for about
August 3.
Passengers included A. H. Mel
lick, Sand Point; E. P. Harwood,
attorney for the A. Grosvold es
tate, Sand Point; W. P. Erickson,
Mr. and Mrs. P. Proctor, Jr., M. An
derson, Frank Anderson, Ed Bent,'
,E. E. Miclue, R. Germaine, G. Ol
son, H. Hagen, W. Hiljie, John Z.
Vessor, George Mavaros, W. Burns,
J. A Nadre, Fred W. Wood, Mrs.
R. W. Silver, R. w. Silver, Verna
Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Holland,
John McNabe, George Kellez, Ida
Hilje, L. B. Hearty, W. Mackfor,
Mr. Snider, Ed Olson, Earling An
derson, Louis Smith.
Many fishermen were left be
hind because of lack of accomo
tions and the fact that 25 fisher
men have already made reserva
tions from Kodiak and others
along the Alaska Peninsula for
Bristol Bay.