primaries this spring and the general election
next fall with their forces well organized, their
candidates “hand-picked” and the platform
clearly defined.”
The Young Republicans and the Young De
mocrats do not recognize the failure of the pri
mary system in any sense of the word except that
tne reactionary plunderbund has failed to rail
road its ticket into office because of the primary.
It is on this line of battle that much of the pri
mary election will be fought out.
We hold that in the Divisional convention in
Petersburg that A. H. Ziegler and N. R. (Doc)
Walker were absolutely correct in their repudia
tion of the attempt of the Juneau political rack
eteers to violate the spirit and letter of the pri
mary law and the spirit which guided the at
tempt to repeal the law. And while no defense
was made of the law in the conference of the
Divisional Campaign Club, still there were several
lawyers who should have pointed the illegality of
the endorsements out to the conference.
The people will make their wishes evident at
the primaries regardless of the action of the en
dorsing bodies.
VVE DID NOT NAME THEM
-x
A meeting of Republicans good and true of
th<* First Division was called in Ketchikan
the latter part of January. It was perhaps a coin
cidence that the court was in session in the First
City of Alaska, and the town full of federals just
at that time. There were delegates from Juneau
and Ketchikan. Petersburg and Wrangell were
not represented—not even by proxy. Hydaburg,
Craig, Klawock—representing the Alaska Native
Brotherhood, including Vice President Edward
Ridley of Ketchikan were also present. All
told, it has been stated that twenty-three were
present—court officials, federal office holders and
candidates—including a half dozen witnesses or
jurors from the three towns of the West Coast.
Howevej*, as the call was made for “Republi
cans” to meet in convention and only Juneau and
Ketchikan responded, it must still be called a Re
publican convention and such a fact should never
be hid behind the misnomer “Campaign Club.”
At this convention also were Frank Peratro
vich and William (Billy) Chuck of Klawock both
previously active in the Empire’s democratic
campaign not long since. Peratrovich was invited
to become candidate on the Republican ticket for
Ihe House—but declined with thanks. He had al
ready determined to file as a Democrat and could
not very well wear both political coats at the
primary. , ... ,
The Empire’s Candidate
In its effort to create friction, distrust, dis
satisfaction and disorganization in the ranks of
the Alaska Native Brotherhood, the official paper
o' the Juneau political racketeers and character
less morons, used several young men from the
West Coast in the past. Now, it will be noted that
the Dimond-Connors ticket in the Democratic
lme-up does not include many names outside of
Juneau—in fact, it has been slightingly remarked
by a prominent Petersburg Democrat that Juneau
has gone hog-wild on naming its own citizens for
elective office.
Which is an indirect way of saying that Mr
Frank Peratrovich is not a candidate of the Ju
neau pewees. We reprint from the “independent”
newsprint the faint praise with which it damns
the man it used and now ,who being on an oppos
ing ticket, it cannot use:
KETCHIKAN, Jan. 30.— Frank Peratrovich,
Indian mayor of the village of Klawock, to
day filed his declaration of candidacy for
nomination for the Territorial House of Re
presentatives on the Democratic ticket.
Mr. Peratrovich is engaged in the cannery
business at Klawock. He is a member of the
Alaska Native Brotherhood, and for several
years has headed the faction that is fighting
the dominating element of that organization.
He opposed political bossism within the Indian
group and under his leadership in the 1930
election, Klawock revolted and split between
the two parties.
_V_ •
“ALASKA FISHERMEN S UNION”
Peter E. Olson of San Francisco, secretary of
the “Alaska Fishermen’s Union” has been active
ly supporting or opposing legislation relating to
the Alaska fisheries pending before Congress.
Peter E. Olson of San Francisco, California
The Alaska Fishermen’s Union—of California.
Whether Mr. Olson has ever been to Alaska
or not, he did not state to the committee—and we
doubt that he ever even visited it. The Union is
composed of Californians who come to Alaska,
make a stake and return to the country where
Mabel Willebrandt rules the grape juice industry.
They are not Alaskans in any sense of the word—
they are impertinent in even appearing on Alaska
legislation, misrepresenting themselves to be Alas
kans, for the hurt of real Alaskans.
—-—x
A BILL TO PROTECT THE HERRING FISHERIES
-x
H. R. 495, introduced by Delegate James Wick
ersham is designed to prevent in the future, “the
&re preparing to enter the political battle in the