THE ALASKA FISHERMAN
Published the 15 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 $‘2.0U FOR TWELVE ISSUES
OUR PLATFORM:
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.
FULL TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
ABOLISHMENT OF ALL TRAPS.
COMPETENT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
AN APPEAL TO REASON
In the political campaign for 1926 the entire
burden of the argument of the opposition is that
the “whites must vote for Tom Marquam and
certain others against Dan Sutherland and the
regular Republican ticket because the Natives ot
Alaska prefer Sutherland.”
Is there a single other reason advanced?
Not a single word about the policies which
they stand for. Not a hint as to what measure
they will vote for. They have no platform.
We have reprinted a few of the most rabid
appeals to race prejudice because we believe that
these appeals should get as much publicity as
possible. It will make votes for Dan Sutherland
and the regular Republican ticket. The reason
able citizens of Alaska cannot be stampeded by
an appeal to their passions.
The “Independent Tom Marquam9s Platform”
If Tom Marquam and his gang should win a
majority of the legislature, they will repeal our
primary laws. Is that your wish? They want a
return to the “convention system,” to the days
when proxies were bought and sold like butter
and eggs. If our charges are not true, “Johnny
Walker” Troy and His “Me Too” Morrissey
will deny it. But they are true.
The Regular Republicans
These men, Will Steel for Senator, Paul,
Ferguson, Benjamin and Worth, for the House
in the first Division, were elected by the Repub
licans in an open and fair contest and without
the need of “Indian votes.”
Their Platform
So far as we can interpret them, they stand
for a sane and conservative administration of
their trust, without regard to race or color, but
only in the public interest. Each man will be
glad to answer any question without equivo
cation or secret evasion.
Taxation
They believe that those who exercise a
monoply should pay a tax commensurate with
their privileges. They believe the burden of
taxation should not be placed upon the bona
fide resident of Alaska who at present is barely
making both ends meet.
They believe therefore that the present
system of taxation sponsored by Representa
tive Ross of Fairbanks should not be changed
unless it should be to tax the fish traps accord
ing to the catch instead of by a flat rate as at
present.
Home Rule
They believe that the present powers of
Alaskans to rule themselves should be exercised
to the fullest extent, and that the policy of
turning over the internal affairs of Alaska to
federal officers is wrong.
Primary Election Laws
They believe that the Convention System
of nominating candidates for public office has
been demonstrated to be corrupt and in Alaska,
where distances are so great that the proxy
system is inevitable, it necessarily results in
the “bargain and sale” system which was so
clearly demonstrated at the last convention held
under that system at Cordova.
Fish Hatcheries
They are not opposed to fish hatcheries
in principle. But they believe that until it has
been proven that such a system can bring back
commercial fish, it is a waste of the public’s
money for this Territory to continue the bus
iness.
The experiment of hatching fish in Alaska
has been one of proven failure for over thirty
years. Since the Bureau of Fisheries will con
tinue the two federal hatcheries in Alaska, it
is wasteful duplication for Alaska to tax its
business men for this purpose.
Fox Farming
The regular Republicans believe that fox
farming should be encouraged. To this end, they
would reduce the tax on fox farms, and favor
long leases at nominal rentals with privilege
of renewal where the business is bona fide and
not for the speculative holding of vast areas
of land. ' f:.
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