BORING FROM WITHIN
Caranery Men Have Secure*
Jake Williams to Destroy A.
N. B. by Starting New Or
ganization
As long as the Natives of south
eastern Alaska could be used by cer
tain special interests, just so long
was there no objection raised to
their voting. But since the Alaska
Native Brotherhood has been organ
ized, having for its leaders returned
students who will not betray the
Natives, then the question of their
right to vote has been raised. For
tunately, in the test case of United
States vs. Charlie Jones, the right
of an Alaskan Indian to vote has
been upheld.
Now our enemies think to destroy
the BROTHERHOOD by “boring
from within” and as their instru
ment they are using a certain Jake
Williams, well known to the guards
of the Juneau jail, to the prohi
bition officers, U. S. Marshal, Dis
trict Attorney, and U. S. Judge.
While Jake is illiterate, he has a
perfect to work for what he con
siders right. It is very interesting
however to study his methods, and
so that others may do so, I publish
herewith a letter sent by him to one
of our strong supporters. We are
also willing to help him advertise
the grounds of his opposition to us,
and invite a careful examination of
his charges or insinuations. If what
Jake says is true, the Natives of
Alaska should not support or follow
the advice of William L. Paul. It
may be that the BROTHERHOOD
will give Jake a special invi-.r: n tu
j >in them, -rim a boat to take him
to the Hoonah Convention, and per
haps elect him for their lawyer. We
have heard that he is a sort of an
employee or something of attorney
H. L. Faulkner, of Juneau. Perhaps
not. Any way that is where Jake
takes his clients.
Juneau, Alaska, Feb. 23, 1924.
To the Mayor of Angoon,
Angoon, Alaska.
Sir:—
I was requested to write this let
ter in regard to what many people
have said about William L. Paul.
About a month or two ago we re
ceived a letter from William L. Paul
in which he asks all the natives in
Juneau and in Douglas to give him
$500.00 each to help Paul to go to
Washington so that we do not have
any more traps in Alaska. We have
talked this thing over among our
selves, especially the older people,
and they asked me what I think
about this matter, so I told them
they are old enough to know what
it is best for them to do, without
me giving them any advice. I told
them that he might make five or
six more trips to Washington, but
that he would not make things any
different than he made on the first
trip. According to the way I got
the thing sized up from the first
trip he make, he only made the
things worse for the poor natives,
especially the ones who depended up
on the Canneries for employment.
As to his promise as to the fish
traps, you people might just as well
forget it. No one will be able to
prevent the canneries from putting
in traps.
The people here agree that they
will not recognize Paul’s request for
more money.
Very truly yours,
P. S. Kindly write me letter as
regaid to how your people feel about
this matter.
J. WILLIAMS.
PERRY E HERN MAKES
STATEMENT TO VOTERS
To the Citizens of the First Division:
This is my first time in politics.
I don’t know much about politics,
but I have done a lot of reading and
thinking*. My taxes on my business
is over twenty-five dollars a month,
and I am just a small business man
living in Skagway. It is about time
for men like me, business men and
laboring men, to wake up, to get to
gether, and do something about our
own government.
The way I look at it is this: the
most important thing we have to
do is to make our country prosper
ous. There is no use trying to wreck
our country. We must build it up.
That is what 1 will try to do.
I will agree to work for fair taxes.
Taxes are not fun, and the burden
must be carried equally by all.
From what 1 can see, the federal
officials work hand in hand with the
big corporations who are milking
our country. Therefore I will agree
to work for Home Rule to the limit
of the present Organic Act.
I have talked with a lot of peo
ple about our fisheries. From what
1 have learned, every business man
who is not tied up with traps, agrees
that the trap system must go if we
are going to save our fisheiies. Not
only that, this move will also great
ly increase the income of our fish
ing population, and thru them, the
income of our business men. There
fore I favor the abolishment of the
fish trap.
The greatest drawback we have in
Alaska is our Transportation prob
lem. I intend to use all my power
to assist officers of this Territory
who are trying to reduce our freight
rates. There is no doubt in my mind
but what we are paying a great deal
more than we should. Every busi
ness man who compares his freight
bills knows that.
I am not in favor oi changing our
present school laws except that I
want to see a better compulsory at
tendance law.
I have always been a strong sup
porter of Dan Sutherland; 1 believe
in him, his policies, and will agree
to strengthen his hands as far as
I can.
Respectfully,
PERRY M. HERN.
-«
CHARLES B. FERGUSON
To the Citizens of the First Division:
I have been a resident of Alaska
for over 20 years. I am a fisher
man and small business man. I
appeared in the famous hearing at
Washington where Bishop Rowe,
William L. Paul, and I, fought the
fight of the common fisherman
against the unjust claims of the
trapmen. I still believe that traps
should be abolished. The result will
be that the fish will be saved and
the residents of Alaska will have a
chance to make a decent living with
out working any injustice to capital.
I have always been against carpet
baggers. 1 don’t believe that any
people should be ruled without their
consent, whether they are a state or
territory. This is fundamental in
our government.
The common people will get a
square deal from me if I get to the
legislature.
I have been a suporter of Dan
Sutherland. Let ’er go at that. I
could mention the transpoitation
question, fishery reserves, etc., but
you know where Dan stands. I will
agree to back him up.
• Respectfully,
C. B. FERGUSON.
THE HOONAH SCHOOL
In the January issue of the FISH
ERMAN, we stated that the Terri
torial school at Hoonah, organized by
the people there, including natives,
excluded these natives now that the
school has been granted.
Since I visited Hoonah, I have
talked with Mr. Hillman, one of the
directors, and he states that I am
wrong. The School Board take this
position: any Native child is wel
come to attend the Territorial School
providing that child comes up to the
requirements in respect to health
and sanitation.
This requirement is eminently fair
and right. It is the most advanced
so far taken by any school in Alas
ka. I think that the Natives there
should ta^ke advantage of the chance
offered. It goes without saying that
in time there will be but one school
system in Alaska, and the Bureau
of Education will not take offense
if Alaskans avail themselves of the
Territorial School system.