THE ALASKA FISHERMAN
Published the 16th 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
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 FOR TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
Good-Bye, Scott C. Bone
There is no reason why we should have the
slightest feeling of sympathy for His Excellency.
He made his own political bed soon alter his
arrival in the Territory. And yet we cannot
restrain a certain feeling of pity from this ven
erable failure when we think of what might have
been had he embraced the opportunity that was
given him to render service to the Territory and
to the Republican administration as well.
His duties as Governor of Alaska were clearly
set forth in this language from the Code: “To
see that the laws enacted are enforced and to
require the faithful discharge of their duties by
the officials appointed to administer the same/
This was the essential duty which he sadly
neglected. Instead of insisting upon perform
ance of duty by officials, he supported the worst
of them in their delinquencies. In our December
issue we said that Bone is the hub of the wheel
around which the law violators turn, and the
uncontradicted statements ol Delegate Suther
land’s speech on the deplorable conditions which
Bone has permitted to obtain by his support
of incompetent officials, confirms our position.
Had Governor Bone followed the course of duty
imposed on him by congress, how different the
tale might Le. Instead of following this course,
he elected to plunge into Territorial politics and
assume the place of a dictator over a people
with whom he had no acquaintance, and of whose
political issues he had no knowledge. His atti
tude aroused the antagonism of the people, and
in retaliation against them he made use of his
influence in Washington to nullify their will as
expressed at the polls.
The terminating spectacle of his political
career was his support of the Democratic ticket
at the November election. The people refused
to nominate his candidates, and, like a peevish
child, he refused to play the game and joined
the opposition. He claims to be a Republican,
was appointed by President Harding as a Repub
lican, but the last election found him hand in
hand with the Donohue, Troy, McCloskey aggre
gation who were shouting the praises of Democ
racy as represented by Davis and Bryan.
We know that the majority of the people of
Southeastern Alaska took little interest in the
Governor’s political antics, but they did take in
terest in his uniform support of the selfish busi
ness interests against the people. He was right
on hand to advocate the closing the the Prince
Rupert market to halibut fishermen. His most
offensive action was his support of Mr. Hoover
in his gift to the big packing interests of the
fishing grounds of Western Alaska.
There are a few residents of Alaska who will
mourn his departure, but they are the lickspit
tles who are largely responsible for his abject
failure. They are the ones to whose advice he
listened at all times, instead of investigating
personally. These are the same people who in
gratiated themselves with Former Governers
Iloggat, Clark and Riggs, to the political undo
ing of these three executives. The four careers
were similar so far as losing the confidence of
the Alaska people was concerned. We hold that
no governor of Alaska can associate politically
with Troy, Faulkner, Robertson & Company and
still retain the respect and confidence of the
Alaska people. Today Mr. Bone sadly realizes
this fact as he leaves the Territory. Governors
always have the option of supporting the people
in their struggles to build an empire where equal
opportunity for enterprise may be established,
or to support the interests who have no use for
Alaska beyond the exploitation of its resources,
the interests that are always represented by
Troy, et al. Governor Bone chose the latter
course, and future governors may possibly profit
by his example.
The Eldred Rock Trap
In the interest of conservation, Ilenry O’Mal
ley, head of the Bureau of Fisheries of the
United States, has closed all the waters in Lynn
Canal noith of 58 degrees 40 minutes north lati
tude to commercial fishing.
This means that the natives from two villages
must leave their homes, driven out by this order
of Ilenry O’Malley’s, and forced to go to other
districts, for these natives cannot catch any fish
below the line established, because the water is
too clear for gill net fishing, the only feasible
plan for the small fishermen in that district.
BUT THE TRAP AT ELDRED ROCK CON
TINUES TO FISH.
This trap is just below the dead line of 58-40.