THE BROTHERHOOD
IN POLITICS
-x
Certain interests have decried
the fact that the Alaska Native
Brotherhood took active interest
in political affairs in Alaska.
Their chief objection being that
the political action of the organ
ization has been opposed to the
objectors. Proof of which lies in
silence, almost painful on their
side, at the defection of Klawock
and Metlakatla and the joy they
express at counting those pre
cincts lost to the Brotherhood.
Heretofore, direction of the
political action of this organi
zation was in the hands of the
Executive Committee, composed
only of past-grand presidents.
This committee of seven turned
to William L. Paul for his re
commendations and findings.
This year, the convention ap
pointed, a committee or three—
President Frank Johnson, Kake;
F. D. Price, Juneau and Louis F.
Paul, Petersburg—which com
mittee is instructed to look into
the fitness, honesty and integ
rity and capability o f each
political candidate and report to
the camps their findings and re
commendations. There is no di
rection in their recommenda
tions—the camps are left free to
accept or reject the findings of
the committee.
Just where this is going to put
the organization in politics is a
matter of serious conjecture to
students of Alaska politics. The
political situation is more acute
now than when the leadership
of the organization was vested
in William L. Paul. For under
his leadership, the organization
was primarily Republican and
now under the amended resolu
tions, the organization may sup
port any candidate it sees fit.
And it will always support only
such candidates as are fit, cap
able and honest. So that in the
forthcoming primaries, regard
less of what politicians may
think or wish, the Alaska Native
Brotherhood is in politics, and
its weight, one way or the other
is going to be the final balance
of power. It has no ticket to ad -
vance and perhaps will advance
no candidates for any offici?.
But it will have considerable to
say at election times as to its
choice of the men running for
office. Perhaps, the old guard of
either party, will wish they had
left the political affairs of the
organization as it used to be
rather than under the new order.
For under the new order
many things may occur—and
now what do you think?
-x
Alaska Bills Introduced
In Congress
Two bills were introduced in
the House: One to require own
ers of canneries in Alaska to re -
port prior to canning operations,
tlieir location for the season;
the other bill would prohibit
salmon caught unlawfully from
being brought into the United
States. These are said to be
Bureau bills.
Bills introduced by Delegate
Wickersham are: To authorize
the town of Petersburg to issue
bonds not to exceed $100,000 t3
enlarge the city light, water and
sewer systems; other bills are to
revise boundaries of the Mc
Kinley National Park; to reim
burse Judge Frank A. Boyle for
injuries received while in the
service of the government as U.
S. Commissioner at Juneau; to
give 69 acres of land on the east
shore of Monti Bay to the Yaku
tat & Southern Railroad upon
relinquishment of its 60-arce
terminal also located on Monti
Bay.
In addition to many bills foe
pensions and private claims De
legate Wickersham has prepared
and sent to the Clerk of the
House for introduction in Con
gress many important measures,
among which are the following:
A bill to amend the Organic
Act and give the Territory great
er powers; providing that the
Legislative Assembly shall have
power to provide for the creation
and organization of counties
and county form of government,
that no county shall have less
than 500 legal voters nor less
area than 2.000 square miles,
and shall not be created until
the question is first submitted
to legal electors residing within
the proposed county and approv
ed by three-fifths majority of
the legal votes cast at such
election.
mat. me united, states snail
annually pay to the Territory a
sum equal to fifty per cent of the
amount received from the share
of the U. S. in the operation of
the seal fisheries of the Pribilof
Islands.
To repeal the Act of Congress
entitled “An Act to prohibit the
manufacture or sale of alcoholic
•iquors in the Territory of Alas
ka.”
To establish a Supreme Coure
for the Territory of Alaska, to be
composed of a Chief Justice and
the four District Judges.
To authorize the construction
of a Coal Bunker as a part of
the Alaska Railroad at Seward,
and appropriating $75,000 there
for.
To authorize the Secretary of
the Treasury to purchase block
? in the town of Juneau for the
site and better fire protection of
the Federal and Territorial
building, and appropriating $80,
000 for carrying out the purposes
of the Act; providing that the
town of Juneau shall first donate
$4,000 to assist in the purchase
of the land.
To authorize the entry of fur
farming homesteads, after a