THE ALASKA FISHERMAN
Published the 15th of each month at Ketchikan, Alaska
WILLIAM L. PAUL, ATTORNEY FOR THE
ALASKA NATIVE BROTHERHOOD
Entered as second - class matter at the Post Office at
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
SUBSCRPTION PRICE $2.00 FOR TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
TERRITORIAL PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY PROPOSED
A number of the members of the last legislature
met informally one night and some one suggested that
a proposed Republican Platform be adopted for the
entire Territory.
We herewith print the result of this and other
discussions for the consideration of the Republican
Party in Alaska, to-wit:
1. Elective Territorial Officials for all major offices;
2. Separation of Territorial offices from federal offices;
3. Equitable taxation;
4. Trap-tax based on catch;
5. Discriminatory tax on non-resident fishermen;
0. Repeal by Congress of Section 27 of the Jones
Merchant Marine Act.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PEOPLE
Hundreds of residents who depend on fish are in the
situation expressed by the following letter. Does their
condition arouse your sympathy enough to make you
ask if there is not something the matter. Have you
wondered what will happen to Alaska if this condition
continues?
William L. Paul,
Ketchikan, Alaska; July 24. 1927
Dear Sir:-As you may have observed that in the
last few years, the salmon in the Sitka district has
been very late. Now it seems to have reached a
point so that we the fishermen of Sitka make a
plea for an extended season cf fishing.
There are thirteen boats fishing for this can
nery. Since the fifth of July with an average of
fifteen hundred salmon per boat.
As this i3 practically our only source of livlihood
we the undersigned make a plea that in your pow
er there be some arrangements made to extend the
fishing season as the run this year is fully ten days
later than the last three years.
The Icy Straits seiners go out the middle of
June and in our district the middle of July.
(SIGNED) RICHARD PETER
Acting Secretary
The cure for this situation is to ABOLISH THE SEA
SONAL CLOSED PERIOD. The principle is wrong. If
you protect late fish, you will Boon have nothing but
LATE FISH.
The second step is to abolish the cause of depletion,
namely, the fish trap.
You cannot have both fish traps and fish.
Take your choice—fiBhtraps or fish.
THE CONFIRMING TOWER OF THE SENATE
“The controller bill was alright except, it took away
from the Senate the confirming power.”—Dick Roth
enburg.
The Controller Bill in its final form provided that
the Senate should confirm all major appointments.
Editor’s note:—Considering the fact that w<> seem
always to have special interest servants in the Senate,
like Tom Jensen, John W. Dunn, Harry Pratt and Bart
ley Howard, it might be a good idea to take away their
power to confirm and let all major offices be elected by
the direct vote of the people. Special interest can buy
a few Senators, but they cannot buy all the people.
“THOU ART THE MAN”
A letter from our friend Dick Rothenburg says that
“Bobby Sheldon blames Paul, Ross and Johnston for de
feating the bill to increase the pension of the Pioneers/’
As a matter of fact. Mr. Ross and Mr. Johnston at
different times made motions to suspend the rules and
advance this very bill to third reading and final pass
age.
Robert Sheldon, Tom Gaffney, Joseph Murray and
their friends voted AGAINST the motion.
H. H. Ross, Fred Johnston, Ben Grier, Sumner
Smith, William L. Paul, Richard Sundquist, voted FOR
the motion. The motion was lost by ONE vote. If
Robert Sheldon or Tom Gaffney or any other one of the
MINORITY had voted for the motion, the bill would
have been advanced to third reading and final passage.
Sheldon and Gaffney will use the argument that the
motion was coupled with the motion to advance, the
bill to make the office of Treasurer elective and that is
the reason they opposed the motion.
The fact is, the Paul-Ros3-Johnston crowd only wish
ed the rules suspended (such a motion takes ten votes
to carry), and then let each bill stand on its own merits
as to flpal passage. The Paul-Ross-Johnston crowd