THE LITERACY TEST
(From The Verstovian, Sitka)
A recent editorial in the Empire
contains two expressions which at
tract the attention of the Verstovian.
It is charged that the “Indian
Herders’’ are proposing “literacy test
laws without teeth in them,’ with
the implication that such law's to
be effective, must show teeth. That
is what fierce canines do with the
purpose of intimidation. If this is
the meaning of the editor we are
against it.
The Verstovian favors a literacy
test for voters. But the question
as to what constitutes a fair literacy
test is not a simple one. It is only
necessary to consult the table of
“Voting Qualifications” in the
World’s Almanac to ascertain that
there are about as many concep
tions of the term as there are
states in the Union. They vary all
the way from “the good moral
character” of Connecticut to the
property ownership of Alabama, and
the persons specially disqualified
range from “Chinese” to “U. S. sol
diers and sailors.”
Certainly prejudice and selfishness
are not fair criteria. Between a
lenient suffrage law and one de
signed to discriminate against the
Indian we must choose the former.
It is greatly to be regretted that
the discussion in Alaska of this im
portant question should be tinctured
w'ith race prejudice and based upon
the caprice of partisan politics. No
proper literacy test can emerge
from such a conscienceless and il
logical source.
It is also stated that “the whole
history of the West has shown that
about the least competent people in
the w’orld to judge the Indian or
decide upon Indian policies have
been missionaries and their teach
ers.”
The editor, we believe, will con
cede the value of missionaries and
teachers in bringing education to
people and districts not attractive
to politicians. Long before the fed
eral government had moved towrard
the establishment of schools in
Alaska, Mrs. McFarland, at Wran
gell, and Miss Kellogg, at Sitka,
had opened their schools under the
auspices of a mission board. For
a number of years following, the
only educational facilities offered in
Alaska, aside from those maintained
by the Russian church, were the day
schools of the Presbyterian church.
The Verstovian is willing to con
cede that a regard for a needy peo
ple so seriously entertained as to
lead to sacrifice to relieve it will
probably be followed by a prejudi
cial affection for such people. But,
on the other hand, wre must also
content that a mind swayed by bit
terness and selfishness is not likely
to render a more equitable judgment.
We are quite willing to leave to
the minds of those who must adjust
this matter the consideration of the
claims of these two extremes in na
tive attitude. We are compelled to
add that the road to a just settle
ment of the issue is not that of
epithets, sneers and vituperation.
HERRING REGULATIONS
The fast changing herring regula
tions promulgated by the Bureau of
Fisheries seem at last to be stabil
ized. Summarized they are as fol
lows:
In Southeastern Alaska, the closed
season for herring begins March 1st
and continues till May 1st of each
year.
In addition thereto it is unlawful
for herring to be caught in any
area which is closed to salmon fish
ing.
The text of the new regulations
is as follows:
“In Southeastern Alaska area,
commercial fishing for herring
opened except from March 1 to
April 30, both dates inclusive.
“The waters near Sitka within a
line from Halibut Point to Cape
Baranof open also from March 15
to April 15, both dates inclusive.
“Kanalku Bay on Admiralty island
closed throughout year to herring
fishing.
“In Prince William Sound area
open season extended 15 days to
November 10.
“In all areas except during her
ring close seasons and except from
June 1 to October 1, both dates
inclusive, herring may be taken in
waters closed throughout the year
to salmon fishing.”
This is quite a change from the
first rulings wherein the Bureau
of Fisheries permitted herring fish
ing only during July 1st to Septem
ber 15th.
The correction of this blunder was
the result of protests made by
Alaskans. If the Bureau of Fish
eries would listen to other protests
against their regulations which are
just as much a blunder and more
hurtful to us commercially, there
would be some hope for this Terri
tory.
John Rys, nineteen; John Emelito,
twenty-one, were killed in the elec
tric chair night before last for mur
dering a Chinese. Their notion that
a Chinese didn’t count did not save
them from the electric chair.
When, if ever, and where and
how will those three meet again,
the Chinese, and two white men that
killed him. Will the Chinese look
like a Chinese, and the white men
look like white men, on the other
side of the river of death ? Is there
any race prejudice there ? Do they
all look alike, or how?—Brisbane.
HOW “THE AMERICAN
CREED” WAS MADE
One of the features of the ob
servation of the American Legion’s
“Americanization Week” was a re
cital by school children, * all over
the country, of a brief creed, com
posed four years ago, in the course
of a nation-wide competition. The
city of Baltimore offered a thousand
dollars, as a prize, to the successful
contestant. The winner was William
Tyler Page, and his brief creed has,
since the day of its acceptance by
the contest committee, become fa
miliar to thousands of school chil
dren throughout the country. It is
sometimes abbreviated, but in its
authorized version, it runs as fol
lows:
“I believe in the United States of
America as a government of the
people, by the people, for the people;
whose just powers are derived from
the consent of the governed; a de
mocracy in a republic; a sovereign
nation of many sovereign states; a
perfect union, one and inseparable;
established upon those principles of
freedom, equality, justice, and hu
manity, for which American patriots
sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
“I therefore believe it is my duty
to my country to love it; to sup
port its Constitution; to obey its
laws; to respect its flag; and to de
fend it against all enemies.”—Digest.
ALASKA RAILROAD
DEFICIT $1,605,000
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.—A sup
plemental budget estimate of $300,
000 to enable the Alaskan railroad
to round out the current fiscal year
without incurring a deficit was
transmitted today to the house. The
road’s revenue for the year is esti
mated at $1,000,000 and its expenses
at $2,005,000.
A total of $1,305,000 already has
been appropriated for the railroad
this year.
Jackson came tripping merrily in
to his tiny hall one day, and almost
spoiled his manly beauty by tripping
over some one’s shoes left lying
about.
“Whose ferryboats are those in
the hall?” he asked later when he
entered the drawing room.
“Ferryboats?” his mother-in-law
cried angrily. “Why those are my
shoes!”
“My dear, good Ma,” jackson said
hurriedly, “who said ferryboats? You
misunderstood me. Fairy boots, you
know—fairy boots!”
—Office Cat.
-♦
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