Th; Älasksa I
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CONTRADICTIONS
-o-■
A purported interview given Her
bert Murchison, alleged spokesman
for the Metlakatlans at, Sitka, is pub
lished on another column. We can
not refrain pointing to contradic
tions as the misstatements are being
generally quoted in various papers.
First, Me. Murchison is not a citi
zen and is unable to become one, be
ing, unfortunately, born on British
soil. Secondly, he is not given the
serious thought of his own peeple
being rather erratic of mood and
temperament. He assumed a cer
tain spokesmanship for his crowd in
spite of the fact that other able men
were there to speak for them.
“Is this to be a fraternal or
ganization * * * or is it to continue
as a political organization,”
“Will the members be permitted
to vote as their individual judgments
and consciences dictate?”
The answer, according to the pur
ported interview was “Yes.”
How can such be: To drop out of
politics and at the same time permit
its membership to vote according to
their judgments? Only an ignorant
man or one looking for trouble
would ask such questions.
Mr. Murchison addressed himself
10 William Paul. Louis Paul, presi
dent of the organization gave the
answer: “At no time has the or
ganization instructed or dictated
the vote of its membership. Each
mail votes as he pleases, when and
how. The Juneau Camp is said to
lean to the Democrats yet never has
a word been said to them that they
shall turn to the Republican ballot.
The leaders urge that if they believe
in the principles advocated they
soould vote to advocate those prin
cipals. Otherwise, they should do
their duty and vote as they believed
right. The people of Metlakatla
nor any other town bind themselves
to partizan politics when they join
the Brotherhood.” Other leaders
substantiated this statement.
POLITICAL SUICIDE
The only absolutely permanent
population in Alaska is the Indian j
population. They do not look with
longing eyes to sunny California or
other climes. They have their feet
on solid ground, politically, eco
nomically, religiously and educa
tionally. They are a thinking people
who refuse to be stampeded by the
hired tools of political crooks in the
territory. They reason to logical
conclusion and weigh seriously in
ineir minds the words and acts of
friend and enemy.
As, an organization they found
themselves citizens today and non
citizens tomorrow; citizens in one
district and non-citizens in another;
handed bunk “certificates of citizen
ship” if voting Democratic and dis
qualified if Republican.
Nowhere was a school system in
the United States so rotten as in
Alaska.
They saw their earnings dwindl
ing from two and three thousand
dollars a year to two and three hun
dred.
Moral degradation followed the
days of want and poverty.
Groping about several young men
put their troubles to Rev. George
TvTcFee of the Presbyterian Board
whereupon he urged that they band
tnemselves together and fight to se
cure citizenship and those good
things of citizenship, enjoyed by oth
er citizens. So was born the Alas
ka Native Brotherhood.
Feeling its way the first} years,
lacking cohesion and cooperation,
they made little progress. Gradual
ly drawn together they began to j
make themselves felt. They drew!
up a platform whose principles are ! j
Religion, Education, Industry, Poli-j]
tics.
1
When anyone can show this or
ganization how to better their edu
cational advantages without the use
of a political club, that phase of
their political activities will cease.
When the federal and vampire
buric rats givo them a chance to
earn an educational living with the
common comforts of life, that part
of its political aims will cease.
Until then they will continue to
.emain in politics as do the Ameri
can Legion, Pioneers, and other fra
ternal organizations in the Terri
tory.
PLAYGROUNDS CURE
DELINQUENCY
-o
When the kiddies have a chance
for healthful, normal play, they are
not naughty and do not become cri
minals.
A striking proof of this is fur
nished by the Federal children’s Bu
reau report on the effect of play
grounds in large cities on juvenile
delinquency.
The city of Milwaukee shows de
crease in delinquency of 20 per cent
in 25 years, in the face of doubled
population.
From Dayton, Ohio, comes still
more convincing evidence. Those
portions of the city which have ade
quate playground facilities have 30
per cent less trouble with children
than those which have been neglect
ed in this respect.
An almost immediate reduction in
"ourt cases is said to follow the es
tablishment of a playground in a
locality.
One of the latest aiuf most fruit
ful developments is the use of light
ed playgrounds as a means of luring
(he children from the moral and
physical hazards of cities at night.
\. V. B. TO ABANDON POLITICK
A purported interview with the
Rev. Edward Marsden of Metlakatla
by the Juneau vampire is herewith
reprinted:
“The abandonment of political ac
tivities by the Alaska Native Broth
erhood and its development into a
+ruly fraternal and social organiza
tion as was originally intended was
forecast for the immediate future
by the Rev. Edward Marsden. Pres
byterian missitnary of Metlakatla,
who was a Juneau visitor Sunday.
He is returning with a delegation of
about 40 Metlakatlans from attend
ing the annual convention of the or
ganization opening at Sitka last
week.
After an intermission of several
years during which Metlakatla has j
not been represented in the Brother
hood, Mr. Marsden and his delega
tion re-entered its ranks and will
reorganize the Metlakatla camp on
their return home.
The Alaska Native Brotherhood
was oiganized in 1914, Mr. Mars
den said, for the purpose of bring
ing about a spirit of fraternity
among the Indians of Alaska, to
bring them more closely together,
in order that they might aid in
solving one another’s problems, to
further their educational and moral
advancement in all ways possible. In
the minds of its founders there was
no idea that it should ever become
a partizan, political organization. It
was intended to be nonpolitical and
I'onsectarian.
In more recent years, he added,
this conception of it has been for
gotten. It has actively entered par
tizan politics. Its membership has
Jictum of its leaders.
“We pointed out these things to
the Brotherhood at Sitka and it
was with the understanding that the
Taternal aims of the organization
will again become its objective and
ts political activities cease that
detlakatla decided to resume its
)’ace in it,” said Mr. Marsden.
i
Notl-partizan Pledge Made To
Metlakatlans
Herbert Murchison, who was
spokesman for the Metlakatla In
dians at Sitka, who was in Juneau
over* Sunday, sailing early this
morning on the Estebeth, said that,
been delivered at the polls at the
the Metlakatlans got the direct
pledge that the Alaska Native Broth
erhood hereafter could be strictly
non-political fraternal organization,
Not only was that pledge made, but
it was equally pledged that the indi
vidual Indians would be permitted
to vote as they pleased without any
attempt at undue influence from the
leaders of the organization. Accept
ing these pledges, 32 Metlakatlans
joined the Alaska Native Brother
hood.
“I asked the question directly, ad
dressing myself to William Paul,
who acted as spokesman for the or
ganization, ‘Is this to be a fraternal
oiganization as the original consti
tution provided or is it it continue
as a political organization?” The
answer was that ‘‘the organization is
strictly fraternal and non-political.”
Then asked, ‘‘will the members be
permitted to vote as their individ
ual judgments and consciences dic
tate, or will there be influence brot
to bear upon them to force them
to vote as a bloc according to the
wishes of the leaders of this ©rgan
idation?” The answer was that
there would be no attempt to dic
tate to the individual members..”
LABOR REAPER RE-ELECTED
-o
William Green was unanimously
re-elected as president of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor
NOVEL INDUSTRY
-o
Mink farming is rapidly develop
ing into a novel industry in Alaska.
This little animal produces one
of the most popular furs and, while
it was once very generously distri
Duted throughout North America
it has been growing steadily scarcer
There is consequently a good mar
ket for its fur.
The mink is a cousin to the skunk
on one side and to the otter on the
other. It lives on land and water and
while carnivorous will eat either
flesh or fish. Here in Alaska the
chief element of its diet is peculiar.
It is fed upon the fiesh of porcu
pines which are very plentiful. The
mink is easy to control in captivity
and since each mother gives birth
to five or six young ones each year,
they multiply very rapidly.
Farihs are Plentiful
Mink tarms are coming to be
plentiful through much of that part
of Alaska adjacent to the Govern
ment railroad. A typical farm is
that of Garret Snyder at the village
of Wasilla near Anchorge. Snyder
was a section foreman on the Alas
ka Railroad but gave up that posi
tion to develop his mink farm. Dur
ing the past summer he made ship
ments of mink the return of which
was something near $10,000. This
he regards as but a demonstration
of the possibilities in this new line
of business.
Fox farms are an older develop
ment and are scattered up and down
the coast and far into the interior.
A most advantageous location for
a fox farm is on one of the numer
ous small islands that fringe the
coast of Alaska. On these islands
fencing becomes unnecessry to pre
vent the animals from escaping and
fish which is likely to be the chief
food for foxes is easy to procure.
There are, however, many fox farms
in the interior, some of which can
be seen in passing on'the Alaska
Railroad.
Many varieties of foxes are native
to Alaska, including the black,
blue, white, red and silver fox, all
of which yield very attractive pelts.
Foxes grown here in the far North
have a heavy fur superior to that
of those grown in warmer climates.
No man is without reason to be
thankful. If he lacks gratitude the
fault lies at least partly with him
self.
T
PROFESSIONAL MEN NEED A
LARGE SALARY
To live according to “accepted
standards,” a professional man, with
a wife and two children, must have
an income of at least $6,500 a year,
it has been figured out by a class in
economic research at the University
of California.
Like workers, many professional
men do not receive what is regard
ed as the minimum for decent sub
sistence.
According to the estimate, food
calls for $1,043.28; clothing, $893.
M; housing, $1,343.30, and house
operation, $2,228. The wife gets
approximately half the entire ap
propriation for clothing.
The budget allots $6’0. for sav
ings; $323. for automobile upkeepf
$275. for medical care; $259. for
recreation; $136. for education;
*$125. for gifts, and smaller amounts
for charity, tqbacco, barber and cos
metics and carfare.
AMUNDSEN DAY
-o-.
The Norwegian government has
set aside December 14th as
j ‘Amundsen Day” in honor of the
j great explorer who recently lost his
life in attempting to find the lost
Nobile Expedition in the Arctic
regions. Flags on several buildings
in Petersburg were flown a|, half
mast today in onhor of the Norwe
gian scientist who contributed much
to the sum total of the world of
science. \
Amundsen is dead but his spirit
lives to be reincarnated thruogh the
lives of others.
President Coolidge may have an
oily job when he steps back into
private life. He has been invited to
become chief of the American Pe
troleum Institute. Sinclair and Do
beny are directors in this company.
WHERE ARE THE GOOD EUR
COUNTRIES?
-o
“*** In most instances the editors
of these departments try to explain
to the querist the facts that he is
piobably now located in a good fur
country, that nowhere is virgin fur
country to be found, and that he
snould open his eyes to the trapping
opportunities near home. The bur
den of their song is “Dip your
nuckets where you are;” but trap
pers, especially young trappers, are
hard to convince that Alaska, Cana
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Gift Suggestions ‘
Silverware, “Gruen” Watches, Clocks,
Leather Goods, Bill Folds, Pocket Folds,
Hand Bags, And Toilet Sets.
Pen Holders, “Shaeffer” “Parker” And
“Security” Fountain Pens.
- 0 - 0; 0 - i*
PHONOGRAPHS
“Brunswick Portable”
“Brunswick” And “Columbia”
<oM - 0 - 0 - 0 - Ml*
JEWELRY
Makes Dainty Gifts For All.
Carl Jacobson
JEWELRY and CURIO STORE
PETERSBURG, - - . ALASKA
The Men’s Shop
Located in theBank Building.
Has A Complete Line Of
GIFTS FOR MEN
“Wescott” Hose Packed
Two Pair To A Box, Ready
To Put On The Tree Or To
Mail. At $1.50
SCARFS - $2.90 UP
BELT SETS $1.50 UP
Also Complete Lines Of Shirs,
Handkerchiefs And Ties.
Your Inspection Invited.
YOURTAJLOR Cleaning & Pressing As Usual.I
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Games
and
Toys
For Girls and
Boys
dampbrl’a
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C. H. Sundmacher
Attorney at Law
Arctic Hotel Petersburg
Thomas B. Rhone, M. D.
Physician and Surge*on
Office Resident
Dawes RIdg. Arctic Hotel
62
Phone
Wheeler Drug Co.
Deaf and Dumb Service
John Fanning t
SHOE STORE|
Dealer m
Complete line of Silk Hosiery
Host grade of Shoes for men,
women and children.
Best Quality Goods
at very low price.
Shoe repairing neatly done.
X~X~X~X~XRR"X~X*»X~X~X~X"X»
Buy at Star Bakery and Save Money
Fresh Doughnuts, Cup Cakes, Coo'-iiS
and Cinnamon Rolls
Always on Hand Fresh
STAR BAKERY
AMERICA FIRST arrives in Pe
tersburg Friday morning, leaving
for Juneau via Kake and way ports
about noon.
HAHOW TRANSPORTATION
COMPANY
DRS. C. M. & R. L. ORUCN
Optometriste and Opticians
218 - 19 Commercial Building
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA
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Advertise in THE ALASKAN.
ft
5
Home Service Mending
of Laundered Goods
We give full value for your
money.
H.OYAMA, PRO.
mitmmxm
s
Sanitary Market
A Roast you’ll like
The Very Choicest Beef
Mutton and Pork
Vegetable in Season
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ftlPOffl
IK L“A\ILtWORK^J
1 SUPPLY CORPX \
□[
j~]| Sash, Door*
& Millwork
p-J- disect from the
j_|| manufaci <rer
— at njonej aav •
ing prices
Write today
for FREi: it
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