AND COOK INLET PIONEER
■ »;>-r
.. —. "! . 1
VOL. 2. NO. 112. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1917.
PRICE TEN CENTS,
PERSISTENT RUMORS IN WASHINGTON
SAY GERMANY WILL REPLY TO BREAK
IN RELATIONS BY WAR DECLARATION
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Reports are persistent in the
national capital today that Germany’s reply to the breaking
off of diplomatic relations, on the initiative of the United
States, will be a declaration of war against this country. The
reports cannot be traced to any official source, but they are per
sistent and cannot be headed off. Administration officials de
cline to discuss the reports. They neither deny nor admit the
truth of them.
PLOT TO DESTROY GOVERNMENT NAVY
YARD AT PHILADELPHIA REVEALED
PHILADELPHIA, March 13.—The destruction of the
great Philadelphia government navy yard was planned by a
hand-of Teutonic conspirators, but the plot has been nipped in
the bud by the arrest, last night, of the ringleaders in the ne
farious enterprise in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Adelbert K.
si • Fischer. Federal agents who have been probing into the mat
V, gay they have conclusive evidence against the activities of
Fischers and their colleagues will be rounded up before the
w<k ends. Details of the p1 were no* revealed by the fed
era*gents.
DELGATE WICKERSHAM’S ATTORNEY
FILES BRIEF IN ELECTION CONTEST
JUNEAU, March 13.—John Sundback, an attorney repre
senttig Delegate James Wickersham, has filed a brief with
Judg: Jennings, touching upon the jurisdiction of the court in
the telegate contest. Hellenthal and Winn, representing
Chares A. Sulzer, the contestant, have filed an additional brief,
giving further law and citations upon the questions, in- dygd,
Judge^fSHingdkb ^*%ting;his decision, but there is no ir^SST
vion a:- to wheri it^w’flt begiven out.
PROF. TAUSSIG OF HARVARD NAMED
CHAIRMAN OF NEW TARIFF COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, March .13.—Prof. Frank W. Taussig, o£
Harvard university, has been selected by President Wilson as
chairman of the new tariff commission to be named by him.
The other probable members of the board are Daniel C. Koper,
democrat, of South Carolina, former first assistant postmaster
general and one of the best-posted men in the nation with re
spect to the tariff' question, and W. W. Kent, former representa
tive from a Carolina district, a millionaire and deep student of
tariff' issues.
5 LANE APPOINTS BRADLEY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY, SUCCEEDING S. T. MATHER
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Secretary of the Interior
Lane today announced the appointment of E. ('. Bradley. of
San Francisco as assistant to the secretary, succeeding Stephen
T. Mather, who has been appointed director of the national
park service.
UNITED STATES BEGINS FIRST MOVE
AGAINST GERMAN PLOTTERS IN NATION
WASHINGTON, March 13.—The United States is taking
the first move in an effort to crush German intrigues in the
United States, by the publication, in book form, of a record of
the sinister moves of certain German officials, aided and abet
ted by German residents in America. T}i^ took will trace the
history, of German plots in this nation, which comprehended
the destruction of munition plans, the sinking of American
ships employed in transporting munitions of war and supplies
- to the allied nations, the creation of hatreds and discords with
respect to the national administration, and efforts to secure the
aid of Pan-American countries in a war against the United
States.
RUSSIANS ENTER GERMAN LINES.
BERLIN, March 13.—Russian divisions in the Champagne
district in France attacked the German lines near Prosnes and
succeeded in penetrating German trenches at some points. The
Slavs were later ejected, according to German official reports.
The French troops failed in Verdun attacks, says the German
report.
GERMAN ESTIMATE OF TONNAGE SUNK.
BERLIN, March 13.—The official report of the tonnage
sunk by German submarines March 11 is placed at 42,000 gross,
according to a German report issued today. From March 8 to
11, the total tonnage sunk was 114,000.
FIRST BOAT WILL ARRIVE IN
ANCHORAGE ON OR ABOUT APRIL 1
SEATTLE, Marcti 13.—The steamer Alameda, of
the Alaska steamship line, will sail for Anchorage and
way ports March 23, and arrive at Anchorage on or
about April 1, according to sji statement given out to
day at the head office of the steamship line. The steam
er Alaska will sail for Anchorage April 1. Both steam
ers have capacity lists for the railway terminus.
FEWER, BUT BETTER LAWS, IS CHIEF
POINT MADE BY GOVERNOR STRONG, IN
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE
JUNEAU, March 13.—Governor J. F. A. Strong read
his message before the house yesterday afternoon. It was
not possible to call a joint session of the legislature, as the
senate has not yet formally organized.
Fewer, but better Jaws as the chief need of Alaska, at the
hands of her third legislature, was the chief point in the mes
sage. “Members of the Alaska legislature can render no great
er service to the territory than by holding down new laws to
actual necessity. Many states and territories were so overbur
dened with laws as to become a handicap to them.” The mes
sage urged the necessity for a uniform aud adequate system of
schools throughout the territory^ He favored the appropria
tion of funds from the territorial treasury to provide for
schools in incorporated towns, because of the passage of the
federal Alaska anti-liquor law, tlje saloon license fees now be
ing about the sole support of schools in municipalities. The
election laws need revision, said the governor, to suit the vary
ing conditions in the territory and the duties of the official
canvassing board should be more clearly defined than now.
The governor asked the passage of an eight-hour labor law,
to satisfy the plebescite in the fall election. He urged the pas
sage of strong memorials to congress with respect to the fish
eries of Alaska and the care of the insane of AJaska. He sug
gested the. establishment of a hospital for the insane at some
‘'point in Alaska.
The governor said Alaska’s finances were in sound condi
tion. The balance in the territorial treasury January 1, 1917,
was $217,026. Expenditures, he said, had been kept well with
in the limits of the appropriations.
DEADLOCK IN SENATE MAY BE BROKEN,
DUE TO WEAKENING OF THE PRESIDENT
JUNEAU, March 13.—It looks like the deadlock in the
senate will be broken before the day js, done. Temporary
President Heckman, republican, is wavering, and it is believed
he will vote with the democrats. Last night, he issued an ulti
matum to the Wickershamites, informing them that they must
reach some settlement without further delay, or he would join
with the democrats and support Aldrich for permanent presi
dent. * i
Upon the convening of the senate yesterday forenoon,
Senator Hubbard withdrew his point of order, but said he j
would renew it unless the senate deadlock was soon broken, i
The withdrawal of the point of order rendered it unnecessary i
for the presiding officer to make a ruling on it. The 20th roll i
call showed no change'—a tie vote* as in previous roll calls. Sen-;
ator Sundbeck, of Nome, offered a compromise providing forj
Ihe election of Aldrich of Nome for permanent chairman; and j
the drawing of lots for the remaining offices at the disposal of!
the senate. The compromise was turned down by a tie vote.
Senator Gaustad, of Fairbanks, introduced a resolution
providing for the election of Aldrich for permanent president;
A. E. Maltby of Juneau for secretary;William Eddy of Nome for
sergeant-at-arms, and John S. Hecky of Valdez as messenger,
with a committee consisting of himself, Heckman, Ronan and
Sundbeck to name the senate committees. The resolution fail
ed to pass, a tie vote being recorded.
A committee was appointed to notify the governor that the
senate had failed to organize.
IN THE HOUSE.
JUNEAU, March 13.—After hearing the governor’s mes
sage, the house swore in Representative Joseph Murray, who
lias just arrived from the west. The governor transmitted the
reports of Terri toriaCTreasurer Smith and the territorial bank
ing board. Representative Norland introduced a memorial
from the Fairbanks city council asking the appropriation of
funds for the schools of that place. On motion of Representa
tiveJJurns, the matter was referred to the committee on educa
tion. Representative Day introduced the first bill, providing
for a permanent tax committee of three members, whose duty
shall include a general supervision of assessment and taxation
matters. Burns and Snow jointly introduced the second bill
providing for a uniform system for the schools of the terri
tory. Snow introduced the third bill, which provides for an
eight-hour day for underground miners in Alaska.
The house received an invitation to attend a Belgian re
lief celebration, to be held under the auspices of the°ladies of
Juneau.
BELGIAN RELIEF STEAMER IS SUNK
WITHOUT WARNING BY GERMAN DIVER
OFF COAST OF IRELAND YESTERDAY
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Consul Frost, of Queens
town, Ireland, cables the state department today that the Bel
gian relief ship Storstad was torpedoed without warning by a
German submarine yesterday, while off the Irish coast, en
route to a Belgian port. Frost wires that the ship carried nei
ther guns nor a wireless system and made no attempt to escape.
The ship was torpedoed from a distance of 400 yards. The only
American aboard was John Roy Christian, an American, of Se
attle, who was among those who escaped.
ANOTHER REPORT OF SINKING OF RELIEF SHIP.
LONDON, March 13.—The Norwegian steamer Storstad,
in the service of the American commission for the relief of Bel
gium, was sunk without warning by a German submarine off
the Irish coast yesterday. The crew was rescued.
CUNARD FREIGHTER SUNK.
WASHINGTON, March 13.—American Consul-General
Frost of Queenstown today cables the state department: “The
Cunard non-passenger liner Folio was sunk by a German sub
marine off Waterford, on the Irish coast, yesterday. The sur
vivors landed at Dungarron. The only American aboard the
liner was the ship’s surgeon, Dr. W. C. Core, of Nashville,
Tenn., who escaped without injury.”
GERMAN DIVERS COMING TO ATLANTIC
SEABOARD, THINK NAVAL AUTHORITIES
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Within six days, in the
opinion of naval authorities, German submarines will appear
off the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, ready to pounce
on American shipping that attempts to leave American ports,
en route to Europe. This is the explanation given for the sud
den cessation of the sinking of merchant vessels last week.
UNCI! SAM TO BUILD 100 SPEEDY
PATROL BOATS FOR COAST DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, March 13.—Preliminary steps have been
taken by the navy department toward contracting for the quick
construction ot 1U0 high-speed coast patrol boats, a new type
never before constructed, to be employed against German sub
marines, in the event of war between Germany and the United
States.
RAILWAY BROTHERHOODS PLAN GREAT
STRIKE UNLESS 8-HOUR DAY GRANTED
NEW YORK, March 13.—Information received by the
national conference committee, composed of the managers of
the great railway systems of the country, and made public to
day, is to the effect that the four railway brotherhoods have
completed arrangements for a progressive series of strikes, to
begin Sunday evening at (i o’clock, if the conference on the
eight-hour day question, to be held here Thursday, fails to
reach a satisfactory agreement, so far as the employees are
concerned.
“LEAGUE OF LIBERALS” NAME
OF NEW PARTY TO BE ORGANIZED
NEW YORK, March 12.—Announcement that negotiations
are under way with progressives, republicans, democrats, pro
hibitionists and socialists, as well as representatives of other
parties, to “meet with a committee of progressives and plan
for the formation of a ‘League of Liberals,’ ” was made today
by Matthew Hale, acting chairman of the progressive national
committee, in issuing a call for a convention qf enrolled mem
bers of that party, to be held at St. Louis April 12. Hale as
serted that “radicalism,” as represented by the progressives in
1912, now had largely become the law of the land. “The solid
south,” he declared, “would yield only to a third party.” He
urged that the progressives unite the liberal elements in all
parties into a “dominant power for good government.”
With Cook inlet open to navigation, we see no reason what
ever why the big boats should not begin to stick their noses in
our harbor any time now.
AMERICAN FORCES IN CUBA.
SANTIAGO, March 13.—Prom his base at Guantanamo,
Admiral Mayo, commanding the United States Atlantic fleet,
received reports today from five Cuban shore stations, where
American forces have been landed.
CHINA BREAKS WITH GERMANY.
LONDON, March 13.—A dispatch received in London to
day from Tokio, Japan, says that China has broken off diplo
matic relations with Germany because of the submarine war
fare.