I
A. F. of L. Has Big
Legislative Program
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 16.—A
special session of the A. F. of L,. held
here yesterday decided to ask congress
to build a marine hospital at Seattle, to
establish regulations for the protection
oi longshoremen while at work, to in
crease the low wages of postal employees
to establish a Bureau of Public Safety,
to amend the government eight hour
law, and pass the old age pension law.
Samuel Gompers was directed to con
fer with Governor Goethals with the
object of effecting the prohibition of the
employment of aliens at the canal zone
for less wages than Americans would
have to be paid.
This elaborate program which con
sists of the Federation’s legislative work
will probably not in any way be success
ful. Practically every labor law has
been shelved under one consideration
or another during the present adminis
tration, and the so-called anti-trust bill
(the Clayton bill) w’hich is supposed to
exempt labor organizations from the
operation of the Sherman act, dees no
such thing, according to the very best
legal advice obtained on the scope of
the measure. The Seamen’s Bill hope
lessly hung fire, although the party
pamphlet issued before election asserted
that the law was passed; it is still hang
ing fire and will likely now be shelved
altogether. The outlook lor labor legis
ation is not bright.
An Irishman out of work applied to
the boss of a repair shop in Detroit.
When the Celt had stated his sundry
and divers qualifications for a "job,"
the superintendent began quizzing him
a bit. Starting quite at random, he ask
ed:
"Do you know anything about car
pentry ?’’
‘ ‘Thure!
"Do you know how to make a Ven
etian blind ?
"Yes, sir,"
"How would you do it?"
"Suture, I’d poke me finger in his
eye!"
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I SCHOOL Or DANCING S
under the personal |j
I Direction of
Dr- B. L. M’GINNIS
Instruction in Waltz, Two I
Step, Schottische, Three
Step, Tango and
| Hesitation. I
“INTERPRETING OF
THE SCRIPTURES"
Jesus And Wealth
The world knows considrrably more
abont the views of Jesus of Nazareth
than it did before historical criticism
began. In the Gospel according to Mark
the earliest of the four Gospels, Jesus is
quoted as saying, “Blessed are the
poor,” and the condemnation of the
rich follows. In the Gospel according to
St. Matthew, a much later document,
the saving appears as “blessed are the
poor in sprit.” Which is the more
likely to quote Jesus correctly, the ear
liest documents we have, next to the
writings of St. Paul, or the Gospel
which was written after a more or less
organized church had come into being?
And if we consider that Mark is correct,
and Matthew inventing a version more
satisfactory to his group, does It not a
rouse startling suggestions? The jolt is
not only to the reactionaries, but even
to those of us who look upon ourselves
as progressive but moderate.
—Harper’s Weekly.
If you are a worker you need
THE ALASKA SOCIALIST
subscribe for it $5.00 per year
A committee soliciting funds to build
a home for inebriates calied on Mrs.
Casey.
“We are after contributions for a
home for confirmed drunkards,” ex
plained the spokesman of |he committee.
■‘Shure I’ll be moighty glad to eon
thribute,’’ said Mrs. Casev. “Come a
round Sathurday mght and I’lt give
yez Casev.’’
- -
Where you get the finest
Wines, Liquors & Cigars
_Old Mecca Saloon stand
Voltaire
BY CLARENCE BOW
(Continued from page 3)
Voltaire was small in stature, lean
and spare of figure, and active in body.
His nimble mind was ever ablaze duriug
all his life. Valiantly he fought on ev
ery intellectual battle-field. True he
bowed adn dodged and lied over again
that he still might live and work. Many
of his admirers cannot forgive this in
the great Voltaire. Rather they would
have had h-im like Bruno and Servitus,
remain steadfast to his faith while his
living body was consumed with flames.
Voltaire.marks the closing of an epoch.
His life and his work stand between the
old and the new. When be was cold,
superstition had not vet died, but had
received its mortal wound. Never again
can savagery control the minds of men.
Never again can the prison, thumbscrew
and the rack be instruments to save
men’s souls. Among the illustrious he
roes who have banished this sort of
cruelty from the Western world no oth
er name will stand so high and shine so
bright as the illustrious name Voltaire.
In the National Theatre of France
stands the celebrated bust of Voltaire,
the w;ork of the great sculptor Houdin.
He is little, and lean, and old. His skin
is drawn closely over the bones. His
| chin and nose almost touch. A mocking
sneer is on his lips and a cynic’s grin
upon his face. Copies and pictures of
this bust have been scattered broadcast
thru the earth, and this is the Voltaire
that the world has come to know. This
is the Voltaire whose tireless hands and
loving heart, and burning brain; whose
sneering lips and cynic’s smile will work
and speak and mock and grin until the
cruelty and superstition of the earth
have forever fled.
A Strange Request
Since Judge Bunnell crossed the Rub
icon and entered the city of blasted re
putations he has had a great many call
ers. In fact, many have called but few
liave been chosen so far. Many things
have been brought to his notice. Many
stories about candidates for the clerk
ship have been taken to him some of
them no doubt containing a little truth
and a great deal of lies. The Judge, it
is said, locked, listened, ar.d saw, but
said little, apparently recognizing the
fact that nobody has such a slanderous
tongue as the petty politician when he
wants to defeat liis opponent.
Conies now one humorist and advises
the Judge to: “Read the Hot Springs
i Echo! ”
During the coming term of court it
will be the duty ef Judge Bunnell to
sentence malefactors, who have been
duly found guiltj’ of violating the laws
of Alaska, to serve terms for their sins
We cannot conceive, however of the
Judge being so heartless aa to humiliate
anj'one who is unfortunate enough to be
brought before him as to impose such a
severe sentence as it would be to read
the Hot Springs Kcho!”
Indeed this is the most unkindest cut
of all.
The Lawyer,
I’d rather be a Timber-sawyer
Or Candy-peddler than a Lawyer.
The Lawyer looks upon the Hills
And thinks of Nuncupative wills.
The Lawver views the rolling prarie
And talks 6f writs of Certiorari.
The Lawyer to the Lake resorts
And reads up Kickletcn on Torts.
The Lawyer lies where Sylvan Peace is
And dreams of Mortgages and Leases.
I’d feel Starvation’s Tooth a-gr.awing
Before I’d get my Bread by L,awing!
Ex.
2 Subscribe for the Alaska Socialist.
RIGHT NOW
Is A good time to buy
An Overcoat
*
- «
Two Months Wear yet
this winter and all of
{•
next and you Save Just
Half.
Any Overcoat in
the Store Now
HALF PRICE
imson Bros.
The Home of Hart Schaffner aud Marx Clothes.
SOME DIVORCES ;
There were in the U. S from 1887 to
1906 divorces to the number of 900,584.'
The greatest number were granted to
those who have been married four years.
To husbands married four years, 24,438,
to wife married four years, 49,475.
With preachers tying them up and
lawyers splitting them up, and preach
ers tcftie them together again, the div
orce mill has become quite a business.
Tanan.a Valley Democracy has left a
few disappointed people.
vl
Subscribe for this paper and we will
tell you all we know.
■ Jin ■ i ■iis.ww
The total value of the mineral pro
ducts of Alaska in 1911 was $28,005,785.
In 1911 the copper produced was 23,314
890 lb. (1915, 29,230,491 Id.); the gold
produced In 1911 was 815,276 fine oz.,
valued at $16,853, 256 (1912, 829,435 fane
oz., valued at $17,145,951); and silver,
468,300 fine oz., valued at $252,900
(1912, 515,186 fine oz., valued at $316,
839).
GRAND JURY TO CONVENE
ON MONDAY MORNING
The grand jury will convene at 10.00
on Monday March 1, to receive in
structions from Judgfe Bunnell regard
ing the duties that they are to perform.
I -
| Jhere are over 1,000 manufacturers of Underwear j
in the United States, it is natural that some make
I better goods than others—that some give better
values. It is real Economy on your part to know
something of Underwear. In this connection we re
commend that you listen to what our salesman have
to say, and you will not go far wrong. It is impos
sible for us to carry 1,000 different makes, but we
can carry that which we know is good from 2.50 to
$20,00 a suit.
H. A. Pinska
Successor^ Sargent & Pinska.
Eairbanks, Alaska, Dawson, Y. T.