Smelly Laws:
Gummy Officials
-x
Last week were arrested two
Petersburg fishermen for “illegal
fishing” in a closed area. They
were sentenced to six months in
jail by the honorable commis
sioner—and then their sentence
suspended. The arresting officer
was the captain of the Bureau of
Fisheries ship “Auklet.” Well!
done, thou good and faithful
servant. Hooey!
Last year this same faithful
servant made many trips up and
down the coast. He passed many
a trap that was being brailed on
a Sunday morning or perhaps
any time after six o’clock Satur
day evening and before six o’
clock Monday morning. Did he
stop and arrest the brailers and
order confiscated the traps so
being brailed. Not such a faithful
servant, after all. Perhaps these
men are receiving a bit of mo
ney to shut their eyes to such
illegal' acts—perhaps this gum
my coin sticks even up to the
palms of Henry O’Malley, United
States Commissioner of Fisheries.
The Law in the Case
Section 5 of the fisheries laws
is specific and the honorable
commissioner of fisheries is well
aware of the prohibitions and in
hibitions of the law. The fact
that he shuts his eyes to proper
enforcement lays him open to
the charge that he is receiving
money from the canning inter
ests to blind him in his enforce
ment of the law.
The law says: “It shall be un
lawful to fish for, take, or kill
any salmon of any species in any
manner or by any means except
by hand rod, spear, or gaff for
personal use and not for sale or
barter in any of the waters of
Alaska over which the United
States has jurisdiction from six
o’clock postmeridian of Saturday
of each week until six o’clock
antemeridian of the Monday fol
lowing, or during such further
closed time as may be declare^
by authority now or hereafter
conferred, but such authority
shall not be exercised to prohibit
the taking of fish for local food
requirements or for use as dog
feed."
Any salmon taken from a fish
trap during any closed period by
any canner is in violation of law:
He takes it in some manner’; ho
fishes for it, in some manner; he
kills it not with hand rod, speai
or gaff and it is for sale or barter
and not for personal use. These
honorable men who travel up
and down the coast under salary
from the government—men who
see the petty violations—the
petty larceny fishing of men who
would prevent families from
starving but who are blind to
grand larceny should be taken
out and strung up in a manner
and by men who know how to
string such crooks up. It is com
ing to the point when Alaskans
will take the law into their own
hands—when it will become
dangerous for the bureau of
fisheries officials to travel up
and down the coast in their dis
criminative efforts. This is the
worst year in many and the
patience of good citizens has
come to the breaking point. They
will not be stopped and it will
then be too late to be sorry.
This is not a threat nor is it a
promise. It is a solemn warning.
The people of the North will be
tried but just so far—and that it
is getting close to the limit is
not being denied. When the fish
ermen quit making threats and
become ominously silent, it Is
time to lay off trying to break
them. The blindness of the offi
cials and of the canning industry
is not without parrallel in con
temporary history.
What a Difference!
-x
We have been asked by those
j
er.ce between the Canadian fish
ery laws and administration,
and the Alaska laws and admin
istration?
Right off hand the first reply
is “There is no difference.” But
before letting that answer stand
we must qualify it. There is a
difference—in administration.
The laws which govern the Ca
nadian fisheries are no differ
ent from those of Alaska. In
fact, Alaska’s laws have been
patterned after the Canadian.
The Commissioner of Fisheries
in B. C.,—Major Motherwell—
has the same absolute, complete
authority over the fisheries that
Commissioner O’Malley has.
Their power is complete and
final.
In Canada the administration
of the fisheries under Major
Motherwell meets with the ap
proval of all interests—canners
and fishermen. In Alaska, the
administration of the fisheries by
Mr. O’Malley is unanimously
condemned by every fisherman
and by a large number of can
ners who have been made to
feel the mailed fist of the bu
reaucratic autocrat. In Canada
the fisheries is administrered
with the idea of conservation of
the salmon and the protection of
the laborer at the same time. In
Alaska, the fisheries is adminis
tered for the protection of the
vested interests and without any
regard for the population of the
territory.
It is hoped that this summer
a distinct comparison will be
made and reports presented to
Congress whereby the intolerable
condition in Alaska may be
cleared up.
SI!
Post- Convention
Observations
-X
Editor The Alaskan,
Last night I read a condensed
sketch of the Republican party’s
National platform . I suppose
that before this reaches you, we
will have the same chance at the
Democratic parties offering.
There is one thing to be said
for the Republicans: They seem
to have awakened to the fact
that there are other things to be
considered in the problem of
government, than merely the in
terests of big business What
strikes me most forcibly is the
fact that if the will of the vot
ers of the United States of
America ordain that the next
four years of administration is to
be in the hands of officials
pledged to the Republican plat
form, they will be compelled to
institute some drastic changes in
"Alaska either that or go down
through the records of history
as liars and hypocrites. No! Yes
You bet!
As you probably noticed, the
> introduction plank carries a hu
man note when it states that
“The supremely important pro
blem that challenges our citi
zens and governments alike is to
break the back of the depression,
to restore the economic life of
the nation and to bring encour
agement and relief to the thou
sands of American families who
are sorely afflicted.” Here is the
part which is liable to cause
trouble for some of the malfac
tors of great power in Alaska.
“The people themselves can and
will work out the cure. It is our1
task to assist that recovery.
Well! Well!
In the body of the instrument,
there are a whole lot of other
planks of interest to Alaskans,
but just stop for an instant and
notice the above. You will per
ceive that it is to the people to
whom the politicians look for a
solution of our economic pro
blems. The Republicans under
Mr. Hoover’s leadership are not
as forward this year in claiming
credit for the happenings of the
last four years as they were four
years ago in claiming responsi
bility for the prosperity under
President Coolidge. Also you will
notice that it is not the Bu
reaus, or the bankers, or our
super-fiinanciers, or our super
statemen to whom they turn for
a solution—but to the people.
You will notice that they rather
ambiguously pledge themselves
to help the people.
I am somewhat encouraged to
think that if the people of Alas
ka properly grasp the golden op
portunity thus presented, the
coming four years will see some
owful jolts delivered to the high
and mighty bureau heads in
Alaska. That is of course provid
ing the next four years is under
a Republican administration and
providing also that the people of
Alaska get their backs up and
are outspoken enough in their
demands and in the language
they use, etc:—I have no doubt
that the Democrats will give us
the same encouragement to hop
to it and help ourselves.
There is no shadow of doubt in
my mind, but that the economic
situation will eventually be re
stored somewhat and there is no
question but that it is through
the industry of the people that
illllliilllillllllOl
the restoration will be made.'
The dollars and the large dollar
controllers will not get over
their scare for several years yet
to come. They will make appear
ance once in a while to snap up
bargains, but so far as taking
the initiative in any restoration
to normalcy; when we * analize
the holders and the motives ac
tuating their activities we can
not expect it. Let us forget it. j
The politicians, after serving
for several years in the interests
of the bankers and the rich men
are now in a peculiar position.
Their former bosses and patrons
have taken to their storm cel
lars and the politicians are now
seeking to encourage that old
wheel horse, the people, to keep)
the wheels of industry turning.
Of course every country and
locality is faced with different
conditions. Speaking as an A
merican citizen, I am under the
impression that the spectacle of
politicians delivering campaign
promises will go a long way to
ward restoring the morale of the
American people. Speaking as
an Alaskan, there is absolutely
nothing I could conceive of which
would more encourage the peo
ple of Alaska, than to oust the
smug copartners who have
been directing the activities of
the Fisheries and Forestry bu
reaus and the introduction of a
fair and equitable rule in Alas
ka’s two richest and most avail
able industries. A rule recogniz
ing Alaska’s right to participate
in commerce and to profit and
to build according to the mea
sure of her resources.
Now it is up to the people of
Alaska to make their wants
known in no uncertain tone. In
order to do this we must con
contrate on certain Objectives.
There are a number of things
badly in need of attention and
the application of a little horse
sense and justice, but most of
our present troubles have their
roots in two bureaus—the Fish
eries and Forestry. I am going tc
write you a weekly letter. I have
often heard the term ‘construc
tive criticism’ my letters will be
my interpretation of constructive
criticism. If you think they are
worth printing, our lords and
masters and their yes men can
take it or leave it.
E. S. HUNGERFORD
-x
PINHEADS
-x
We listened to a group of men
gossiping, slandering scandal
mongers. We have heard many a
meeting of old hens who rolled
tidbits off their tongues about
this woman or that woman. But
we must hand it to the men for
putting it all over the women
when it comes to pulling off their
slanderous gossip. The women
are not even out of the Sunday
school class when it comes to the
“old women” who travel around
v/earing pants because nature
made ’em so.
The Golden Rule—is not made
for the cultured, “Christian”
people to observe. That is a law
which they do not have to ob
serve; but the heathen Chinese,
the uncivilized African and oth
ers of the “lower” classes of the
human race, they must observe
it. The civilization, the Christian
ity, the superstitions of the
white race must rule the world—
“it is the only true religion; it is
the only true theory. While try
ing to force down into the hearts
of the uncivilized the doctrine
| Patriotic Exercises - Sports - Races
H
| American Legion Dance, July 2 - Committee Ball, July 4 (
A day every citizen should and will remember! I
ROY ANDERSON wm wrestle ALEX DEMOS I
FRANK MULHERIN 111 1 COLISEUM HE I
I 8 P. M. July 4th |
| Biggest attraction in years! An especially built stage for the match will 1
j enable everyone to observe the match from any part of the hall. %