two combinations of Democrats
in Ketchikan being both united
in their effort to negate the in
fluence of the powers which
manipulated the territorial con
vention. As one candidate de
clares: “Like the Chinese citi
zens of Shanghai, they refuse to
‘ withdraw” just to please the
political Japanese of Juneau.”
The fight against the old gang
that has misruled the territory
for a number of years is being
waged with circulars appealing
to the women voters and others
to arise in force to defeat the
nefarious purposes of the old
‘ convention gangsters” of Ju
neau.
-x
Justice in Alaska
To the Hon. William D. Mit
chell, Attorney General of the
United States, The Hon. Cecil
Clegg, Judge of the District
Court of the Fourth Division, of
the Territory of Alaska, and the
Hon. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secre
tary of the Department of the
Interior:
Your petitioners, the under
signed, resident of the Bethel
Recording District, Fourth Judi
cial Division, Territory of Alas
ka, Complaining, do ask an in
vestigation be made by the
Department of Justice, in the
official conduct of the U. S.
Commissioner’s Court at Bethel,
Alaska, over our complaint stat
ing, to-wit:
1. That verdicts of guilty by
aforementioned commissioner’s
court are frequently excited oy
desire to build up a record or
successful prosecution, and
2. That aforementioned court
does not give the law duly ade
quate or careful interpretation
in the interest of social justice
and interprets the law to suc
cessfully prosecute, and
3. That many verdicts of
aforementioned court are not
impartial, unprejudiced and un
predetermined, to the undue
hurt of defendants, and
4. That no allowance is made
Ly the aforementioned court for
the ignorance of the native
peoples, that such native peo
ples are not made to understand
they have right to counsel and
a jury trial; that such native
peoples plead guilty through
total ignorance of their rights;
that verdicts of guilty are rend
ered by aforementioned court
against ignorant natives on in
sufficient evidence; that sen
tence to native peoples are over
ly harsh and without due allow
ance being made for first of
fenders, and
5. That the people of this
precinct lack confidence in the
integrity and ability of afore
mentioned court, and feel inse
cure in their honest pursuits
under the law, and
6. That it is comparatively
very expensive to appeal cases
from this remote precinct; that
the people are very poor, with a
vast preponderant native pop
ulation; and that it is therefore
important that confidence in
the justice of aforementioned
court be revived in the people.
Wherefore, we pray a full,
complete and impartial investi
gation be made of the truth of
the conditions herewith give?i
your attention. (Signed).
-x
REPUBLICAN MISFITS
SUSTAINED IN OFFICE
AT BETHEL, KUSKOKWIM
-x
Despite the protests of the
public, even though charged
with serious crimes as case m
point, Commissioner Link, well
known for a number of years as
a menace to the native popula
tion of this vicinity and who
was brought to your attention
come time ago by the conviction
of illiterate natives for raising
fox pups although not warned
by the Game Warden. Commis
sioner Link’s last effort to gain
noteriety was by assaulting my
wife who on advice of Depuiy
Marshal Wiseman called at his
office on business where she be -
came participant in a dispute
which resulted in her forcible
ejection after sustaining in
juries which may prove serious.
Her condition was such that it
became necessary for me . to
send her to the Akiak Hospital
for treatment.. On applying to
Marshal Wiseman for action 1
was grossly insulted and my
wife’s sanity questioned in the
presence of Reindeer Supervis
or, Sidney Rood. This action
should meet the attention of all
thoughtful Alaskans as a sample
of highhanded actions on the
part of public servants who have
forgotten their responsibility to
the people. This is a good argu
ment against all appointments
to Office by anyone not di
rectly responsible to the people.
Have applied to the District
Attorney for advice but so far
without results so have decided
re let the public be the Judge
in the matter. Hoping that you
will give this space in your
paper.
A. O. Hofsett.
-x
SEATTLE LICENSE FOR FISH
MEN IS DECLARED INVALID
Constitutionality of the state
lish Peddlers’ license law was
questioned by the attorney-gen
eral, Olympia, Washington.
Charles R. Pollock, supervisor
of fisheries, Seattle, asked if the
state statue was enforcible in
municipal subdivisions.
He was informed that a city
ordinance requiring fish ped
dling licenses from those who
caught and sold their own fish
was “void and unenforcible.”
County and state licenses,
however, must be required under
the act, it was held.