Territory, nor can he be expected to give schools in
far scattered communities his personal attention.
That is work of local boards. But it is within
his official authority, and would be a reasonable
activity for him to give his attention to developing
a higner standard of instruction methods in the
high schools of the Territory, even if a few issues
of the periodical bulletin have to be omitted and
even if the periodical treks to all parts of the Ter
ritory are curtailed. In other words, if the Com
missioner would devote a considerable part of his
time to elevating ihe high school standard, refrain
ing from issuing propoganda, curtailing lengthy
voyages as much as possiole, eschewing all expres
sion of political opinion, and allowing all Indians,
Progressives, Radicals and even Bolsheviks who are
outside of school jurisdiction to follow their na
tural hell-bent proclivities without molestation
from him, I am inclined to believe that improve
ment in the educational standard may result.
The new Commissioner of Education has be
fore him an excellent held for service. He has
probably been in a position to observe and learn
just where the trouble lies. He is certainly in a
position now to profit from errors or failures of
the past in standardization of our high schools.
Dated November 10, 1029.
ETHICS OF A PUBLIC SERVANT
The following taken from, the Congressional
Record sheds light on two subjects—the decrease
in liquor consumption since the days before the
Eighteenth Amendment and the ethics of a public
servant as a guest where liquor is served:
Senator Smith W Brookhart said:
“Mr. President, in 1896, I visited Washington
for the first time. At that t;me there was a bar in
the restaurant of the House of Representatives. In
one week in Washington I then saw more drunken
Congressmen than I have seen drunken people in
the whole city of Washington during the last sev
en years. So conditions have improved over those
of the old days.
Medicine
“In the last few days the Presbyterian Hospi
tal of the city of Chicago, the largest hospital in
that city, has reported that since the prohibition
law went into effect it has not used one quart of
alcohol as a medicine, and it has had 12,000 po
tients a year. The famous Mayo Hospital, in Min
nesota, perhaps the most famous hospital in the
country, if not in the work, long ago adopted the
same rule.
“Every hospital in the city of Des Moines years
ago refused to use it as a medicine.
“Confidence
“Now, as to the reporters of the Washington
Times. I think that tne Washmgoon Times very
properly pointed out that there was a discrimina
tion; that United States Senators had not been
summoned, and therefore a Times reporter cught
not to be compelled to disclose what he knows;
but I am going to appear and answer every ques
tion as truthfully as I can. I want further to say
to the Times that it is up to them to advise
their reporters to do the same things. This the
ory of personal confidence cannot obtain when it
comes to crime. We cannot afford secret societies
of crime in high society or anywhere else.
A LESSON IN LOGIC
The Nome Nugget wrote a curious editorial
praising George A. Parks, Governor of Alaska. The
part we call attention to does not relate to the
governor, but merely to the logic that condemns
the “opposition” and their motives.
“The fight was made on him by men who tried
to dictate to Alaska Governors but who have fail
ed generally. * * * The Second Division of Alaska,
several years ago was the stamping ground of
Governor Parks, he knows our needs and we can
rely on him to advance the best interests of the
country.”
In plainer words, the Nome Nugget is for the
Governor because “he knows our needs” (or shall
we put it “He knows what we want.”)
Suppose, howe/er, the Governor should op
oppose the “needs” of the Second Division, would
the Nome Nugget be as strong a defender?”
When the Governor begins to advance the
“needs” cf the First Division, then we will come to
his support. While we consider him a fine man
in every way, still he personifies the non-resident
federal interests who govern Alaska not for Alas
kans but for non-residents.
-x-—
WHY WAIT
Sixty-five years ago Jacob Swartz, told his
sweetheart Freda Schmidt that when he made his
fortune he would return to Germany for her. He
is now returning to Germany to keep his promise
and finds that she has kept hers.
They were both foolish.
The first impulse of an idolizing lover is that
everything (home, bankroll, good income, etc.,)
must be at hand for “the best girl in the world.”
Later we learn (after we have passed through the
rock pile) that nothing equals the joy of having
gone through the wilderness of anxiety together.