THE NOME NUGGET
Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday by The
NOME PUBLISHING CO
Nome, Alaska
Telephone: Main 125 P. O. Box 618
SI.50 PER MONTH 516.00 A YEAR
W. A. and EMILY BOUCHER .Editors
Entered as second class matter October 14. 1943. at the postoffice at
Nome, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Friday, September 27, 194G.
SUBTLE OPPOSITION FROM SEATTLE
Anchorage Daily Times
Opposition to Statehood for Alaska has long been ex
pected from sources in Seattle. It apparently came last
week in subtle form. Ross Cunningham published an
account in the Seattle Times seemingly questioning the
sincerity of the Statehood movement. He also belittled
the complaints against the forces and influences in Seat
tle that are obnoxious to Alaskans.
Mr. Cunningham lulled his Seattle readers with the
thought that Alaska had no complaints against their
city. He inferred that it is nothing but “agitation” by a
statehood “faction.”
Mr. Cunningham’s statements were soft soap for the
Seattle readers; only wishful thinking.
We would point out for the benefit of Mr. Cunning
ham, who recently turned down Northwest Airlines’ in
vitation to visit Alaska, that both the Statehood move
ment and the complaint against Seattle are very real
things. They cannot be disposed of by a few sweet words
in his newspaper column.
The two subjects are separate. At the same time, the
complaints against Seattle accentuate the need of State-,
hood. Sovereignty for Alaska would bring the libera
tion from the Seattle controls that have plagued so long.
The complaints against Seattle extend into the field
of capital, labor and politics.
Seattle capitalists have throttled the Territory for the
entire 80 years of American ownership, in the hope of
perpetuating the colonial system under which it enjoys
the fruits of Alaska with the minimum of regulation or
direction.
Seattle labor unions are fattening treasuries at the;
-expense of the unions in Alaska, squeezing out of Alas
ka laborers funds which should remain in the Territory
to build their own autonomous organizations.
Seattle politicians are using their power and prestige
to glorify the capitalists and labor unions in Seattle at
the expense of Alaska. They have found it possible to
be “liberal” as far as their constituents are concerned,
and at the same time protectors of the moneyed groups
as far as Alaska is concerned.
These activities have brought about many undesir
able conditions in Alaska. History shows that the cor
porate monopolies and absentee landlords have held a
throttling hand on Territorial development so that they
could line their own purses.
A steamship lobby succeeded in obtaining enactment
«of the obnoxious Jones Act which discriminates against
Alaska in the field of waterborne commerce.
The fishery lobby has succeeded in killing Territorial
legislation that woudd bolster Alaska and benefit Alas
kans.
The Washington State Democratic machine has, and
perhaps still is pressing for the ouster of Alaska’s gov
ernor so that one of their boys can be given the job.
Seattle groups opposed unsuccessfully establishment
of an inland route which would give Alaska a trade
channel direct of the Middle West.
Many more obnoxious activities and accomplishments
could be listed.
The complaints against Seattle are very sincere and
difficult for leaders in that city to answer.
Statehood would remedy them in that it would place
Alaska on a parity with any state in the union. The
otate of Alaska would have Senators for the first time.
Alacka would no longer be a “step-child” in the nation
al family. It would enjoy its rightful position.
Instead of asking for help from neighbors Alaska
SEPTEMBER MORN
■ ; ... >•.
met
/
I *VJ V'V
would help herself and be in a position to help others.
The powers in Seattle would no longer control the
trade, commerce, politics and development of Alaska.
We would control our own destiny.
Naturally the Seattle groups resent losing such great
power. Opposition to Statehood should be expected
from that quarter more than from any other.
But Mr. Cunningham must find a better explanation
to dispose of the two things that Seattle dislikes so bit
terly—criticism of its “dollar altruism” and the pros
pect of losing its precious colony when it becomes a self
governing entity as a state.
NEWS LETTER
By Marjorie Goding Neil
Assistant Secretary to E. L. Bartlett, Alaska's Delegate to Congress
RESERVED LANDS IN ALASKAj
[
All lands in Alaska withdrawn
from the public domain by the In- |
terior Department over the past (
years are being reviewed looking
toward their possible restoration. I
This is a procedure long urged by
Delegate Bartlett.
The Bureau of Land Manage
ment, under instruction from Sec
retary Krug, has requested the
War, Navy, Commerce, Agricul
ture and Treasury Departments
and its own agencies, including
The Alaska Raiload and the Alas
ka Road Commission, to analyze
all lands held by them to deter
mine continued necessity for with
drawal.
It is hoped the reviews will re
sult in action similar to that taken
by the Interior Department last
month when approx imateyl 18,
640,000 acres of land located on
the Seward peninsula and in the
Katalla-Yakataga region were re
I opened to public entry.
WAIVER OF JONES ACT
It is almost certain Canadian
vessels will be permitted to con
tinue carrying passengers between
Skagway and other points in
Alaska until December 31, accord
ing to information recently made
available to Delegate Bartlett.
Upon the request of Delegate
Bartlett, the Chairman ol the
Maritime Commission has recom
mended to the Treasury Depart
ment that waivers of the Jones
Act be continued for three months
beyond September 30, and it is
expected the Secretary of the
•% ____ t ________________
Treasury will comply.
FISHERY HEARINGS
The dates for hearings on pro
posed amendments to tha Alaska
Commercial Fisheries Regula
tions for the 1947 season have|
been revised, as fololws, accord- •
ing to a recent release of the Fish
and Wildlife Service:
Juneau .September 20
Sitka .September 23
Klawock .September 25
Wrangell . September 27
Ketchikan .September 28
Kodiak .October 3
Anchorage .October 7
Cordova .October 9
Seattle .November 14
ALASKA FLOOD
CONTROL PROJECTS
Public hearings will be held by
the Corps of Engineers at Juneau
on flood control of Gold Creek
and at Fairbanks on flood control
of Chena Slough.
Congress, acting upon Delegate
Bartlett’s suggesitons, authorized
preliminary examinations of the
two projects in July of this year.
The hearing at Juneau will be
held September 30 in the City
Hall, and the hearing at Fairbanks
will commence October 4 in the
City Hall.
All interested persons are in
vited to be present or to be rep
resented at the hearings.
VISITORS
William S. Kirkland, formerly a
resident of Juneau, was a recent
Washington visitor, Mr. Kirkland
served in the Marine Corps during
the war and is now living in Glen
School iNewfr
Mr. Angell received a
from Commissioner of Edi
James C. Ryan, concerning
formational aid to veter
Alaska. An excerpt from 1
ter of Sept. 19, 1946, is as i
j “The Veterans Adminis
j Regional Office, situated a
i eau, has requested from th<
missioner of Education th
services of our teachers be i
onnging information to v<
in isolated areas who may
titled to many of the righ
benefits enacted by Congre
Wednesday afternoon, Se
Mrs. Hermann of the Off)
Price Administration gave ;
interesting talk about the i
tages and achievements of
OPA.
FIRST GRADE
The first grade havealmos
pleted learning their first
which is The Friendly Cow
L. Stevenson. Billy and T
Nelson were new pupils wli
tered this week.
SECOND G'RAE
The second grade is now i
old shop room. Mrs. Jones i
temporary teacher until a per
ent teacher can be obtained.
THIRD GRADE
Last Friday we chose tearr
a spelling match. Napoleon
maschi and Myron Wheelei
captains of the teams.
At the end of our period
teams were tied. Everyone
been studying diligently in a;
pation of this Friday’s contes
FQURTH AND FIFTH GRA1
We now have an enrollmei
44 pupils. Hansen Okitkon
Edna Aukon are our new stud
SIXTH GRADE
We have some beautiful out
scenes on our walls given t
by Donna Miller and G
Blatchford.
Our boys and girls are tc
commended for their good citi
ship. Several stayed to clean
our room Wednesday.
We had a distinguished vis
Mrs. Hermann, head of the A
kan OPA, who said a few wore
greeting to the students.
SEVENTH. EIGHTH GRADES
We were invited by the ?
School to hear the talk by I
Herman, who explanied why
OPA was necessary.
Roy Angnaboogok left last w
for Fairbanks.
side, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Katherine D. Nordale
Juneau is in Washington to att
a U. S. Savings Bonds confere
of state and territorial manag'
Mrs. Nordale is Deputy Mana
of the Alaska office.
Mr. and Mrs. James McGintj
Anchorage called at Deleg
Bartlett’s office on a recent trip
the Capital. Mr. McGinty has j
returned from a nine-weeks t
to Ireland to visit his father,
was Mr. McGinty’s first trip
his birthplace in over 20 yea
Mr. and Mrs. McGinty hope to
turn to Alaska over the Alas
Highway.
Miss Miriam Dickey of Fa
banks, associated in business w
Captain A. E. Lathrop, is now
the east. She has spent some til
in Washington and New York.
Tom Stewart, son of Mr. a
Mrs. B. D. Stewart of Juneau, h
arrived in Washington to attei
Foreign Service school.
Kenneth O’Harra, promine
businessman of Anchorage, is
Washington in connection wi
his recent purchase of Chilko
Barracks.