Pubished every Friday by the Alaska Native Brotherhood Pub
lishing Company at Petersburg, Alaska.
Entered in the Post Office in Petersburg as Second Class Matter.
Subscription rates:
Six months, $2.50 Per Year, $4.00
Advertising Rates on Application.
LOUIS F. PAUL,.MANAGER and EDITOR
As Blows the Political Straws
From the north comes whisp
ers of the campaign of both
parties. Juneau is buzzing, boil
ing, whirling like a malstrom
Republicans fighting Republi
cans like Kilkenny cats. Repub- J
cans wanting “harmony” and
the amalgamation of “all forms”
but unwilling themselves to be (
annealed. On the surface, if
would appear that there is
coming to be real harmony in
the Republican ranks through
the leadership of Mr. Rasmuson,
r ational commtficeman. Under- j
neath the forces are bickering
and fighting and trying to trade j
without giving anything in re
turn. Republicanism is not all
wool nor a yard wide and the
various strands are being ripped
cut by the same selfish rule or
ruin interests which have always
played havoc with the party.
From Ketchikan comes word
of much the opposite in the
Democratic ranks. Dimond, de
mocratic nominee ror Delegate
to Congress was nigh killed bv
an airplane and immediately
George Grigsby offers his service
to carry on the campaign; so
does A. H. Ziegler. Dimond, out
cf the hospital expects to con
tinue in the north with Grigsby
being the warhorse in the South.
There might be disharmony in
the ranks of the democrats but
if so, they are keeping it mighty
cuiet.
Wickersham claims a good
majority in the territory he has
covered. Democrats claim that
they have him beaten but
“watch out, the old man is car
rying on a clever campaign.” The
legislative tickets are not mov
ing much in the open yet. R.. N.
Scruby of Wrangell, J. E. John
son, Mr. Hanson of Ketchikan
cn the republican ticket are out
spoken in the “abolish the trap ’
plank. J. W. Kehoe of the Demo
crats is out with a strong state
ment in like vein. The balance
of the candidates are yet laying
low—but the time is shortening
when they will be spreading
their wares before the public.
Word from the Westward in
dicates that Paul is going to run
strong. That the three-cornered
tight between Rustgard, Truitt
and Paul is not going to be a
‘trade” for anybody nor v/iii
any one be a “stalking horse” in
this battle. If Paul carries much
strength in Ketchikan and his
usual strength in Juneau, he has
a mighty good chance of being
elected. Prognosticators already
indicate that John Rustdard
might as well fold up his politi
cal tents and return to private
life. Truitt has a chance—ad
mitted by the worried Juneau
politicians who have used and
abused Paul for several years.
But which use and abuse will be
discontinued hereafter. The
Alaska Native Brotherhood will
have considerable to say in this
matter and Paul will have no
voice nor choice in the matter.
I In some sections Wickersham
has gained strength and in other
sections he has lost strength
He was elected two years ago by
326 votes and if he does not gain
!strong support in the First Divi
sion, the hopes of the Republi
can party are gone. However,
\Vickersham is an old warrior
| and no doubt will profit by the
mistakes of his opponent.
Poor Old "Honest John” Forgets That
His Record Belies His Word
--x
John Rustgard, candidate for
the office of attorney general
for the territory, purports to
answer several questions which
were asked in our columns sev
eral weeks ago. He first digress
by accusing us of being a per
sonal organ of William L. Paul
Independent candidate for the
same office. Mr. Paul is not and
has not been connected with the
Alaskan or the Alaska Fisher
man for several years. He has no
voice or direction in the man
agement or editorial policy of
either publication. The publica
tions are owned by the Alaska
Native Brotherhood, of which he
is a member—and naturally, it
will support Mr. Paul in prefer
ence to “Honest John.”
As to the silliness and falsity
of the questions and statements
in said article—the records alone
will bear witness. First. Why did
Rustgard defend the fish trust
on the tax bill? Rustgard denies
as “utterly false” any allegation
that he defended the fish trust—
BUT on motion of Mr. Hardy
later rewarded for this service by
appointment as fishery warden,
Mr. Rustgard appeared before
the legislature and it was his
argument which defeated the
graduated tax on trap caught
salmon. No member of the le
gislature at that time will
deny the verity of this state
ment. The question of tax on
non-resident fishermen was not;
the issue—the issue was a grad- j
uated tax on trap caught salm-1
on and Rustgard’s argument de-1
feated that bill.
“Fish Traps Legal”
Why he opposed the Johnson
resolution? “I told Johnson that
fish traps were at present legal,
having been expressly approved
by Congress.” Yet this same
congress provided that where
any person or corporation might
fish any individual might fish.
The nature of the trap is a spe
cial privilege and no person may
fish within 300 feet in any direc
tion of a trap. Any lawyer knows
that the traps are illegal—and
that the cannery system slipped
up when Dan Sutherland incor -
porated the non-special privil
ege in the bill. Rustgard’s failure
to protect the interests of the
territory is either because of
ignorance of the law or else he
is owned body and soul by the
canning corporations.
Why P. E. Harris Endorsed Him
Why P. E. Harris endorsed him
for judge, “I don’t know” is the
best answer John can give to
that question. And then h-"'
points back many years to when
he prosecuted Harris for a minor
violation of the law—but the
fact is Harris and any other can
nery will not support Rus t gar d
because of Rustgard himself or
the principles he used to stand
for. Alaskans do not need to be
i-old who the cannery system is
supporting or will support or
why. Certainly, all know that
the canners will never support
any man who is honestly and
vigorously protecting the inter
ests of the territory.
Last January word from Wash
ington indicated that “a promin
ent cannery man had requested
a senator to support Rustgard
for judge.” John tried to make
out that Wickersham, President
Hoover and Attoney General
Mitchell were in a conspiracy to
wish onto him a $10,000 year job.
That canneryman was Harris
and the senator was Jones of
Washington. Certainly Wicker
sham did not support him for
Wickersham denied having any
thing to do with the nomination.
Why he accused Hoover of
conspiracy— he denies— well,
well, well! “Honest John” does
deviate from the truth consider
able here—his statement in the
Juneau Empire was certainly net
credited to Paul, wherein he
charged that he was a victim of
conspiracy. And as an after
thought, we mention that the
form in which it was printed
was not the original in which
Rustgard accused high officials
of conspiracy. As to Paul and
President Hoover—no one ac
cuses Paul of losing opportunity
tc extend the battle against the
fish traps. As Secretary of Com
merce, Mr. Hoover had plenty of
opportunity to do much good for
the territory. He listened tu
Henry O’Malley and on this mis
information, made regulations
and even parceled out the west
ward territory to the canner’s
benefit. Paul never denies that
and no one—save perhaps, Rust
gard and his ilk do blame him
for fighting such a battle.
The Attorney General and
Auditor
There is on file in the office
of the Territorial auditor much
correspondence in which Attorn
ey General Rustgard has stret
ched by various contortions fa
protect the office of the Terri
torial Treasurer wherein petty
raids were being made. The re
cord is very evident in the trans
jportation cases in Juneau last
.year; in the bank of Hyder case
| wherein a referee was appointed
land not according to law. The
| way John does hedge and twist
and squirm in some of his legal
opinions would make a first class
contortionist of him—if he were
not John Rustgard.
Is Paul a Stalling Horse
John Rustgard wants to knov,
if William L. Paul is a stalling
horse for the democratic candi
date for attorney general—'the
office for which all three mer
are running.
After the petitions for Paui'i
candidacy were filed in the of
fice of the Auditor at Junean
and before he qualified to file
for the office, Paul talked with
Albert White, Divisional Com
mitteeman for the Republican
party and suggested that “in
I the interest of party harmony, i
jam willing to withdraw from thii
race.” Mr. White immediately
(went to John Rustgard and talk
ed the matter over and Johr
said that “It will further my in
terest in the race if he does no>
withdraw.” So Paul remained in
the race.
Rustgard hoped to use Paul
for a “stalking horse” then. A
bout three weeks ago Paul was
called to Juneau to a politica’
conclave and there it was sug
gested that he withdraw to per
mit Rustgard a clear field. Paul
refused to give an answer until
his constituents had opportuni
ty to consider the matter. Paul
was advised that “You can take
your licking standing up and if
you withdraw from this race
you will have allowed yourseli
to be murdered politically.” Paul
will not be a stalking horse fo:
John Rustgard. As to being a
stalking horse for Truitt—is
there anyone so foolish as to be
lieve that Paul will play second
fiddle to Truitt?
Does Paul expect anybody to
buy him out? There were cer
tain conditions under which the
Alaska Native Brotherhood
would support Rustgard: One
that he pay his proportionate
share of the political expense
two, that he state positively his
position in favor of the fisher
men against the traps. Afte’:
John had donated $150 to the
Republican Party recently ir
Juneau, with the expectation
■that he had bought the support
of the Brotherhood, someone re
marked that “I saw blood oozing
out of his shoes as he walked up
the street.”
Since twelve years ago, Paul
has supported Rustgard for of
fice—and Rustgard was always
willing that Paul give that sup
port—and pay for it. We remem
ber one year generous John al
most died of enlargement of the
heart when he handed the writ
er $20 in Wrangell to send to
Paul who was in Ketchikan.
John did not question the char
acter of the “Indian Publica
tions” which were supporting
him then—and he did not con
sider them “the personal organ
of Paul.” But just as soon a.s
Rustgard finds that he is slated
for the tall sticks because of his
| political blunders, he rears up
and damns Paul and the Broth
erhood publications.
Paul will have his day in court
when he will himself answer
“Honest John” and in his own
way. John has much of a record
to explain to the fishermen—
and many fishermen already in
: dicate that no amount of ex
plaining on his part can undo
the harm that has befallen them
through his neglect.
<
<
<
i
!
!
I
i
The Root of All Evil
x
j John T. Flynn, has an article
jin Collier’s Weekly on money
.with its many vagaries. He points
(out that there is plenty of
money in the banks and that
the farmers, owing to lack of
money have been forced to bor
'row from banks. The banks are
{calling in loans which necessari- j
j*y means the bankrupting of the’
j farmers—and others. That thej
'reasons the call varies in dif
i event sections. j
In Alaska the Territorial funds
are being withdrawn from the,
;banks. No banker will deny this.)
| The territorial treasurer in his
| report to the last legislature was!
I $300,000 off in his figures so the
(legislature did not change the
(revenue bill. Now, in order to
'meet current expenses, the terri
tory is withdrawing its funds
'from the banks. This territofl&l
I
, fund “lias been a part of the bank
'reserves. As the Territory puts
the squeeze on the banks, the
'banks in turn are forced to call
|?n loans made to corporations,
jand individuals. These facts are
[ undeniable. This was the. situa-^
tion which caused the failure of
the Hyder Bank. No other reason
can be attributed—the Hyder
bank recently paid 50 per cent .
!on deposits—showing that they
! had considerable stock and
bonds to cover deposits. But, the
demand of the territory took J
funds which the bank could not■
immediately raise through froz
en assets. As the bank gets time,
it will be able to meet all its
obligations but at a considerable
loss in the value of its bonds.
Cash Cole pointed out the i
error of the Treasurer’s figures;
but John Rustgard scoffed the
Auditor’s figures and declared
that “there is no danger of any
shortage” of territorial funds.
The banks are in strong posi
tion—but the sudden demands
upon them force them in turn
to make demands upon those j
v/ho have loaned. Which condi- ,
tion and situation should not be
at this time of economic dis
tress in the country.
-x— --
DRY LEADER IS
STILL MISSING
-x
An unprecedented nationwide
hunt was underway for Colonel
Raymond Robins, colorful cam
paigning crusader for pence pi e
hiition, and political p'r/y
believed kidnaped and murdeud
v: ile enroute to visit the pre i
dent Hoover in Washington
-x
We can stand plainness of
speech better if the speaker isn’t
plain.
* * *
The home is the atom of civil
ization.—Got. W. EL Murray.
EVERYBODY LIKES PIE |
fHHS^ We Make the Pies that |
EVERYBODY LIKES *
Always Fresh At \
THE STAR BAKERY *
: I
► A
Cigars and Tobaccos of ail kinds I
> |
i
Pool and Billiard Tables
BRENNAN’!
wwvwwvww v
V
Northlanl Transportatioi Company
SERVING ALASKANS
Sailing from Seattle every Mon
day night at 9:00 p. m., for
Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg,
Douglas and Juneau.
—X
N. B. from S.B from
Seattle Petersburg
Northland Sept. 19 Sept. 24
Norco Sept. 26 Oct. 1
For information apply to
The Trading Union Inc.
Passenger and Freight Office on Public Dock
Public Dock 22-11
Res. 42
Phone:
Passenger accom
odations on all th>
Admiral Line Ves
sels have been
completly and ma- ^
terlally improved. ^
You will find them
very attractive and
comfortable.
Northbound
Admiral Rogers
Admiral Evans
Admiral Rogers
Southbound f*
Admiral Evans
Admiral Rogers
Admiral Regers
Admiral Evrans
INFORMATION
Ed. Locken.
Petersburg
l___
from Seattle
Sept. 22
Oct. 5
Oct 12
ora Petersburg
Sept. 30
Sept. 30
Oet. 20
Oct. 21
AND T.'.'KFTS:
.•Yu rut.
--Alas’; :\
ADMIRAL