it INDUSTRIAL INNER
TRI-WEEKLY
Published Tuesday. Thursday,
and'Saturday.
»y Nome Mine Workers’ Union, No. 240. International Union ot Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers.
Subscription Price
One Year
t> lx Months
Pile Month
$20.00
10.00
200
"To secure to each laborer the1 whole product of his tabor, or
nearly as possible Is a worthy object ot any sood covarRmsnt Abra
Jtam Lincoln.
Address all communications to Tri-Weekly Nome Industrial Worker.
Box 218, Nome, Alaska. Phone, Black 134.
Entered as second class matter March 1. 1911. at the post office at
Ufoate, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879. _
NOME, ALASKA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 17, ISH8.
ALASKA AND LABOR
A couple of years ago some bright
mind invented the idea that it would
be well were Alaska divided up into
at least two parts. One to take in
the prosperous southern section and
*he other the relatively depressed
’northern divisions.
The idea was that the northern
sections were passed the prime of
their boom days and it would be a
good thing for the rest if they were
left up there to simmer in their own
grease. The southern section it was
held was compelled to pack the
northern section over the rough spots
and this imposed a very heavy burden
upon the south.
Now it may be remarked that of
late very little is heard of this prop
osition. The southern sections have
troubles of their own. The war has
not treated gold mining any more
lightly in Juneau than it has in Nome,
and transportation questions present
as irritating problems in the north as
in the south. What one reads with
Interest in the Alaskan papers these
days is emphatic complaints that |
Alaska labor is leaving the territory
and that in consequence the mining
industry flourishes no longer as it did j
flourish. It is held that this condi-1
ttion will be but temporary and thej
tabor that Is going hence is duly warn
ed that it will return too late.
The fact of the matter is that while
the southern sections as to mining
-and fishing have reached a much
higher stage of development than the
camps of the north, relative to any
such thing as a full developed indus
try in either instance, the difference
between the north and the south is
negligible. Because industrially
speaking the interests of both are
common, there is no justification for
the foolish talk that has been indulg
ed in in the past concerning this no
tion of division of the Territory.
The fact too must be pointed out
that the development of these indus
tries represent the development of the
Territory as a whole, and the lack
of development is responsible for the
Territorial depression which is pres
ently complained of.
Of supreme significant • it is that
with the exodus from Alaska of Alas
ka labor prompt industrial depres
sion follows.
Labor is bound by no especial ties
to Alaska. It goes whither its activ
ity will receive the highest reward.
In this it resembles ^capital in that
I lie latter too, is afflicted only as a
veneer by local patriotism, and wends
its way where hugest profits are to be
had.
It. is the middleman who gets be
tween the two that complains, lie
sgaats in where labor is active and
fere capital is plentiful and he pro
s to put his hand upon the horn
ntv and pour its blessings into
He talks loudly of Alaska
and beauty, but he knows
Capital and Labor, that
ill move, if he is able to
•V
Ce'A.
1
bis la>.
and HbWa
as well'’si*
he himseli'b
move, with '’h
fits and rehftfflfc.
one or the othw.
unable to leave :hiu
lire complaints s bo appar
ent in Alaska newspape. a- 1 18 pr08‘
iperity is essentially local/ He thr,v®8
when labor thrives, just as Alaska
thrives when Labor is busy a.™ mak
3 same zeal for pro
ration as either the
It is when he is
he utters these
ing good wages.
. Yet which of them asks that steps'
will-he taken to assure Alaska Labor
*ts‘big best reward? What business
interest now tearing its hair and don
ning sack cloth and lying in ashes,
Figuratively speaking of course, has
the hey-day of its industrial pros
perity concerned itself about labor:
about the camp conditions, the stand
ard of living, the rat., of pay, the
hours of work? Indeed Labor knows
and knows full well that it was upon
itself that its material Interest de
pended. And hence today, labor con
sults Itself as to what must be done
lo better its condition.
Jt has been drawn to Alaska firstly
by the fact that great possibilities
.vere held out to it. It was possible
to obtain ground whereon it could ap
ply its energy and reap results denied
it outside. It was relieved from the'
intensity of the struggle for exist
ence that marked the labor markets
outside. It found Alaska with its
open territory a field where expan
sion was possible and what the West
meant to the East in days gone by.
Outside today the war has relieved
the greatest portion of the stress of
economic competition for labor. La- .
bor is in demand as it never has been (
in demand before. Being in demand
it can insist upon a modicum of work
ing conditions that did not heretofore
obtain. And hence the exodus that is
taking place.
Now there is one fact that cannot
be too often insisted upon. Labor
after the war will never return to the
state of industrial serfdom that cap
italism before imposed upon it. There
will be no more breadlines. Labor
understands what many capitalists j
do not, that it is fighting for real de-j
mocracy and it is going to be real de
mocracy hereafter and not an indus
trial absolutism. Hence Alaska cap
italists who have been content to
take advantage of the fact that they
could in days past do as they pleased
and act as they pleased will recollect
frith profit that those good old days
are never going to return. They too .
will have to improve the standard of
living. They too will have to realize
that the days of industrial absolutism
are passed for them and passed never
to return. And they will be wise in
their generation and save a whole lot
of waiting, utterly useless and un
t profitable, if they would, realizing
! this, begin to mend their ways. Be
I gin now to recognize the fact that the
I days of unlimited exploitation are
! passed; begin now to realize that the
| long work day with l>os3 standing
' by with a fistful of time checks to
i whip the laggard slave to greater ac
tivity is not to be again forthcoming; |
! begin now to understand that a better j
I standard of living is to be demanded
I and the sooner the better.
The riddle of the Sphinx is an an
I cient fable. The Sphinx stood by the
| wayside and hailed every passer by
with its riddle. Those who answered
correctly would destroy the Sphinx,
those who did not were by the Sphinx
destroyed. What is this but a mod
ern diological law that one must ad
just oneself to one’s environment or
perish? The truth is a fundamental
one, whether stated as a fable or as a
scientific fact. And it would be well
if the employers of Alaska would ad
just themselves to the new set of
circumstances which they are called
upon to face. They might do it it
now for they have got to do it or
perish. The Sphinx is as implacable
today as when the fact it embodied
was first conceived and explained in
the fable that comes down to us.
j Alaska depends materially upon
| the well being of its workers. With
out them it languishes and there can
be no development. The complaints,
the wails and the warnings in the
papers at the present time deploring
this exodus, shows plainly enough
that this fact is realized. Labor un
derstands too its paramount impor
tance in the scheme of things, and la
bor has fully made up its mind that
the good old days when it could be
handed a bunch and come back say
ing it liked it have gone never to
return.
It is important therefore that those
who have the well being of the Terri
tory at heart realize the facts as they
are and understand that the only
way, is to provide labor with proper
conditions: as to wages, as to living,
as to hours of labor. When these
things are not properly adjusted, the
worst may be expected. Tt is up to
the people to say whether or not the
worst may be expected. Hot air and
aborigines will not open up Alaska.
i
Subscribe 'or Me Worker.
PAID ADVERTISEMENTS
WASHINGTON STATE
FEDERATION OF LABOR
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
-- ... , ... w EVERETTE, WASH. Sept, 9th, 1916.
To Trade Unionists of Alaska,
Greeting.
Ordinarily we would not think of making any sugges
tions to you concerning political candidacies in your Territory
but in the present situation we feel justified in doing so. The
interests of labor in the entire northwestern group of states;
and particularly Washington, is closely allied with the Interest'
of labor in Alaska. We have watched with growing concern ,
the efforts of large corporate aggregations to tighten theirt
hold upon the wealth of your country and have watched the
splendid fight waged in Congress by your Delegate Mr Wick
ersham.
It is because we believe Mr W’ickersham is fighting in
Congress against the exploitation of labor and- the great nat
ural wealth of Alaska by powerful private interests, that we
are taking the liebrty of urging our fellow unionists in Alaska
to rally to his support in his campaign for re-election.
Knowing that you will accept this communication in the
spirit in which it is written and. assuring you the continued co
operation and good will of your fellow trade unionists, we beg
leave to remain,
Fraternally Yours,
E. P. MARSH
President Washington State Federation of Labor.
CHAS, R. CASK
Chairman Legislative Committee, Seattle Central Labor Council.
J. G BROWN
President International Shingle Weavers’ Union of America.
WILLIAM SHORT
Sec.-Treas. Dist. No. 10, United Mine Workers of America.
1
FOR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS
HON. CHAS. A. SULZER
(Democrat)
BLECTION. NOVEMBER, 5, 1918
FOR REPRESENTATIVE
ALMER (Slim) RYDEEN
(DEMOCRAT) of Candle.
ELECTION NOV. 5th, 1918.
For Re-election
JOHN A. WILSON
For Road Commissioner
Election, November 5, 1918
FOR ROAD COMMISSIONER
SECOND DIVISION
BARNEY G1BNEY
(DEMOCRAT)
ELECTION, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5, 1918
FOR TERRITORIAL ROAD COMMISSIONER
AL WINKLER
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
.
ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1918.
_
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
All changes in standing adver
tisements must be handed into this
office the day precoding the issue
for which the change is desired
Attention to this will save disap
polntroent In not securing deslret
changes with dispatch.
ALASKA STEAMSHIP CO.
Leave
Leave
Seattle
Aug.-25th
Oct. - - - 1st
Nome
Sept. - - - 7th
Oct. - - - 16th /
R. A. Carroll Agent, Nome
UiT ■
LIST SAILING OF
S.S.
Leave
Seattle
Sept l2th
Leave
Nome
Sept 27th
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
WWW'
ALL RESERVATIONS SHOULD BE
CONFIRMED AT ONCE
Pacific S. S. Co.
L. C. Wolfe Agent==Nome
SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR
11 THE WORKER
J
Charles L. Ross
Milling, Lumber, Contractor
HAVING TAKEN OVER TIIE FREIGHTING & TRANSFER
BUSINESS OF VV. STEIGELMAIER AND OF LEO KENT,
FREIGHT ORDERS AND TRANSFER CONTRACTS WILL RE
CEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION.
3RD AND B STREET. PHONE BLACK 16S.
t l
I Miners and Merchants Bank |
Noma, Alaska
Capital $100,000.00
Workingmen's Accounts Solicited.
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The Dawson Hotel
*!* *!"• *1* •!' -!• 'I* -I* -b -b *b *!* •!* *1* •b’b *!• -b •b >r -I- -J. .j. ►?..;.
* *
* ttv —— - *
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•b
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t (Includes THE DAWSON, GREEN TREE and THE LINCOLN) •b
* Finest Rooms In Nome !
'I* HOMELIKE AND COMFORTABLE QUARTERS FOR TRANS- 1*
| IENT OR PERMANENT GUESTS.
BY DAY, WEEK OR MONTH. T
* BARNEY GIBNEY.Proprietor *
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‘b'b'b'b’b'b'b-b'b'b'b'b'b'b'bb’b'b’bK-’b^b’b-b-b'b-b'bJb'ib
North Pole Bakery
& Coffee House
BREAD
15 cents per loaf
2 Lom\ es 25c.
*1* *1* "i* "i* *i* *2* *1* "fr *1* *i* *1* *!• *1* *i*