Sailg Nome 3ttiiu0trial Mnrkrr.
Published Daily except Sunday
By Nome Mine Workers' Union, No. 240, International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers.
Subscription Price
me Tear __- _ __ ---- - $*»•<>•
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Entered as second clasa matter March 1, 1111, al the post office at
Home, • Alassa, under the Act of March I, 117*.
All changes In standing advertisements must reach thla office at alt
•’clock each evening to Insure Insertion In the folio-wing Issue.
Advertising ratea made know* on application.
"To secure to each laborer the whole product of hla labor, or as
aaarly as possible, Is a worthy object of any good government."—
Abraham Lincoln
Address all Communications to Dally Nome Industrial Worker,
Box 210 Nome, Alaska Phone, Black 114.
Nome, Alaska, Julj
I ill 7.
Til K LOCAL SITUATION.
it has doubtless da'-vned upon io
<al business men that the local si-1
tuation is none too bright and j
doubtless also they have taken j
steps to remedy this condition.
This paper would impress upon
them again and again that condi
tions are now entirely abnormal
and that there must be some stops
taken if the camp is not to be the
scene of an exodus this fall which
will leave them high and dry.
The certainty is that during this
condition obtaining, local merchants
must be prepared to waive all ordi
nary conditions of trade and profits,
otherwise they will suffer much
more than if they do not do any
such thing.
Furthermore the public should
have assurances that this will be
done or it will be good night and
good bye for Nome.
Many men winter here, some with
families, the majority without. It is
obviously the interest of local mer
chants to keep up if they can the
winter population. Now if the idea
becomes general that during the
coming winter prices are to be very
high, especially in the staples which
arc required, the vast majority of
the people will go outside.
Outside there is considerable in
dustrial briskness. While prices
there are high and as high in all
probability in proportion to the
wages paid as here, hero the work
ers can get little or no employment
nnd as there lias been no in
crease in the wage scale paid in
this camp during the summer, the
wages saved will not go as far as
they othewise might either in the
mere living or in prospecting.
It may be manifest to a good
many, then, that the expression one
hears of an intention to go outside
this fall, is so very general, that it
is likely to leave the town in a very
had was as far as the
merchants are concerned and
while, as intimated, doubt
less they are themselves con
sidering this problem, it may be
pointed out that their solution ot
it holds the salvation of ‘his camp
as far as they, themselves are con
cerned.
Moreover they cannot make a
statement of a reassuring nature too
early. It will help to restore confid
ence in the miners and prospectors
and it will materially aid in the ac
tivities which in that event being
possible, will lie carried on through
out the winter.
The Industrial Worker wants to
point out to such as think that this
is wholly wrong, that the workers
in this cantp who remain here year
after year and whose earnings are
spent to maintain themselves, have
in doing so maintained the camp,
that, furthermore the workers have
no ties which bind to this camp at
all. They sell their labor power as
well in one market as another. Un
like the merchant they require no
house to purvey the only commodity
which they have to purvey and they
can take up their bed and walk,
without any great loss, financial or
otherwise.
To remain here, the prospector
must tie assured that when he takes
chances ^n risking Ills all. he will
not also b“ compelled to dig up at
unreasonable high prices for such
commodities as he needs, whether
coal or fuel, groceries or th? like.
It is not expected that the bus
iness men of the camp will stay in
business without profit. They are
not in it for their health. But they
wilt have to recognize the fact that
the present conditions are extreme
ly unusual and that there must he
some system of co-operation not
only between buyers and sellers, but
between sellers and consumers.
The Industrial Worker has con
tended for several years (hat Nome
was over-done as far as the ma
jority of business were concerned.
It lias been argued by some of
those business houses that that re
dounded to the benefit of the pub
lic in that it created a competition
which compelled lower prices.
While it is not impossible to ima
gine it doing such a thing in some
lines, in others there is such un
animity of price, that we have all
long since ceased to believe in the
reality of any such competition. And
when we observe more over the
smaller concern setting the same
scale of prices as the larger estab
lishment whose over head expenses
are ever so much greater, the skep
tical mind of the public seriously
bethinks it of such things as "gent
lemen's agreements”.
In any event local stores have the
requisite facilities for handling
goods.
They are in such a position where
they can effectively co-operate with
consumers to abbreviate the length
ening bills of the higher costs of liv
ing in a most material manner,
and they can do this, we verily be
lieve. much more materially and
much more effectively than can in
dependent buyers buying and dis
tributing on a hap hazard co-opera
tive plan.
The better way would be to takc
the public right into the confidence
of the business men. And to face
the facts right as they are.
But the public right now is quite
sensitive. They see the potatoes
that were shipped in last fall
charged at the top notch prices,
while the San Francisco Examiner
says that oil July 7. potatoes were
rotting in the fields of California
The Industrial Worker does not
write this with the intent of excit
ing any publit condemnation of lo
cal businessmen. Nothing of the
kind. But for the purpose of show
ing that there is right now existing
an opportunity for businessmen to
get together and consider the emer
gency situation that exists and for
meeting it in an emergency manner.
We know very well that prices
outside are wholly abnormal in
j some lines. We know that in some
lines It is difficult even to get in a
j proper supply. But that the local
; merchants so far either have not
been able to buy most effectively or
I else are maintaining the liigheat
rate of profit is the only conclusion
that is forced when the pries oi
choice ham and bacon is advertised
as cheaper in Ruby than in Nome,
when miners in outlying sections
find it cheaper to outfit in Council
than in Nome, and except in lines
which are absolutely short, t lie
! miners of Dime creek find that they
I buy everything as cheap there as in
Nome. One explanation offered,
J and it is reasonable enough, is that
I when the merchants of Nome had to
I place their orders this spring, prices
wc re at their very highest outside.
This affected butter, eggs, cream,
bacon, potatoes etc. Alaska grade
potatoes were invoiced to local mer
chants who made shipments at $90
a ton, and at this price the present
retail rate was not so unreasonable.
Still, it is repeated that prices will
he higher and not lower, and if this
is the case the situation will tie in
deed serious.
Bocal Merchants assert that they
have no protection here in the event
of prices suddenly declining; that
they will have vast stocks of mer
chandise on their hands as necessary
to business in Alaska; that in the
event of prices outside suddenly
taking a tumble, they will have to
cell at the outside prices and take
the loss. For that reason they urge
that they are justified in placing
present time prices upon goods
which were bought when prices
were less than at present, if only
as a matter of self protection.
That appears sound enough. And
it would be a good business point
of view if the conditions outside
and here were indentical. But thev
are not and can never be. Once
navigation closes, the Nome mer
chant is just as free of the influence
of outside prices as if he lived upon
another planet. Ke can raise and he
often did raise prices as high as the
traffic would bear, or if he gets a
suddenly altruistic turn of mind,
they can get together and cut down
prices to an irreducible minimum
if they have such a mind. The bar
rier of unnavigable ice that stretches
across Bering Sea makes them all
properly safe.
It is said that no merchant in
Nome is making money. That the
best any of them are doing is mak
ing wages, and some of them are
making poor wages at that. They
say that when the bank gets its in
terest and the cost or warm stor
age, operating expenses, bad debts
and waste is taken oft there is no
thing left tor the grocer. Now, if
that is the case, it is indeed a sorry
business. And likely enough there
is more truth than poetry in the
whole story. It indicates that there
is a leak somewhere and where /er
that leak is. the sooner it is elimi
nated for the camp and the bus
inessmen themselves the better.
Tlu Industrial Worker speaks
mainly for the workers. This paper
is not operated for the sake of pro
fits, but operated because it is the
organ of a union has made in the
past and in the present decided
sacrifices to maintain itself and the
paper.
Naturally, the union and its pa
per, is just as much interested in
keeping up the camp and the labor
organization within the tamp as
any person who is profitting by 'lie
indusl rial activities which pretai!
here. The Union exists to better
the workers employed in the indus
tries and it is to be deplored if eco
nomic conditions force many of the
wealth producers of this camp out
side, although it is frank to say
that in view ot present time condi
tions here and on the outside, no
workingman is going to lose much
by the change.
If however an exodus of people
from Nome is to be prevented, it
must be done by the business men
assuring the workers reasonable
rates for what they need in their
living and their prospecting,
There are many resources around
Nome which labor has yet not
touched; there are several low
WANTED AT ONCE
FIVE HUNDRED MEN
•
Let us do your cleaning, press
ing and repairing. We'll make your
[clothes look like new. We do Dry
and gasoline cleaning for Ladies
and Gentlemen. We do steam clean
ing. We make alterations. We
guarantee first class workman ship.
Our prices are reasonable.
Once a customer, yo'll always be
a customer. Drop in and see us,
and we’ll give you our prices before
we do your work. And we appie
elate your patronage.
Suits made to oafler.
NOME TAILORING CO.
Next door to Segerstrom & Hagen.
grade deposits which have been al
ready operated successfully by
miners who worked co-operatively.
These mines can be worked only
under more favorable conditions of
prices than now exist, and it is
certain that without a reduction
in some general lines, operation
will be out of the question.
It is to be repeated that these
are wholly abnormal times. They
are times when some different ac
tion must be taken than is mani
fested in a tendency to take ad
vantage of everything in favor of
one side and let the future take
care of itself.
MOVIES BY THE TON.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 22.—
More than 200,000 pounds of movie
films worth about $350,000 have
been imported into Argentine in
five years, the American consul at
Buenor Aires reports. The city has
130 movie houses where Chaplin
and Pickford strut and coo.
RELIABLE TAILOR SHOP.
Front St. 8 doors west of Alaska
Bank.
We do tke best
CLEANING
PRESSING
ALTERING *
REPAIRING
Ladles and Gentlemens Clothes.
CITY BATH HOUSE
has the largest
and only ft feet
Bath Tubs In Nome.
WE CAN DO IT.
For Brat class work and pron pi
delivery ph me Main liM and tbs
People's Steam Laundry «!ll ok
and get your laundry.
W. 4. WILLIAMSON Prop
Now Is the time to Subscribe.
WHY?
Goes Further
Delicious Flavor
Vacuum Packed
Guaranteed
,«#»****#**!
*■
WATER
BOGAN & WHSTEXHAVER
l'onnerly A. D. I’oteet.
PHONE HKD 124.
WATER
i
+ +I,^ + + ,& + + + + + + +•!•
v
+ 1
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D. E. Crowley *
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4.
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41
•!*®j**!#*l**I**|**j,*i4****j"*|**l**i**|4
S. S. Standard
Sails every SIX DAYS to
dime and way points
weather permitting
From Snake River.
( HAS WECKMAN.
Why worry
About wash day
THAT’S OUR BUSINESS.
Satisfaction Guaranteed.
BOSTON
STEAM LAUNDRY
444 Front St. Phone Main 53
INDEPENDENT
MEAT MARKET
W. H. Webb prop. Phone M.1S
BOARD OF TRADE
Restaurant
LUNCH* ROOM
George Modini,
Proprietor
ALASKA STEAMSHIP CO.
S. S. VICTORIA
LEAVE SEATTLE: LEAVE NOME:
Via Seward, Valdez and Cordova
AUG. 1. AUG. 13.
SEPTEMBER 2 SEPTEMBER 14.
SAILING SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
R. A. Carroll, Agent, Nome
From Nome/3
August 4th.
From Seattle
July 21st.
AUGUST 18.
AUGUST 31. SEPTEMBER 15.
SEPTEMBER 28. OCTOBER 13.
OCTOBER 25.
RIGHT RESERVED TO CHANGE THIS SCHEDULE.
PACIFIC STEAMSHIP CO.
ALASKA L. Jt C. CO.
AGENTS
At Dork.
F. J. O’CONNOR,
Commercial Agent.
Front St. and Steadman Are.
Charles L. Ross
Milling, Lumber, Contractor
HAVING TAKEN OVER THE FREIGHTING & TRANSFER
BUSINESS OF W. STEIGELMAIER AND OF LEO KENT,
FREIGHT ORDERS AND TRANSFER CONTRACTS WILL RE
CEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION.
SRI) AND I) STREET. PHONE BLACK 162.
The Rose Candy Store And
Arctic Bakery
Agency for Augustine & Kyer Chocolates and Bonbous.
The Quality of our Home-Made Candies and Nome Dairy Ice
Cream speaks for itself. Bread, Pastry and good Lunches.
SUNDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS FRESH WHIPPED CREAM
PUFFS.
C'AllGO 1XSIKAXCK. We can Insure any and all freight in
and out of Nome to Kotzebue and way points, St. Michaels and
way points, Dime Creek and Marshal, Seattle and San Francisco.
ALASKA LIGHTERAGE S GOIfl’L CO.
AGENTS: Standard Marine Insurance Co.
THE NOME INDUSTRIAL WORKER
is prepared to handle
all kinds of
JOB PRINTING
Let us figure on your
work. Call up Black
134 or call at
THE INDUSTRIAL WORKER OFFICE
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