VOL. 2
PETERSBURG, ALASKA APRIL 13. 1928
NO. 37
Calls The Turn On
“Committeeman”
A Communication
Wrangell, Alaska
April 4th, 1928
The Alaska Fisherman,
Ketchikan, Alaska
Gentlemen:
In Mr. Frame’s interesting letter,
published in a recent issue of THE
ALASKAN, occurs the statement
that I refused to join the Sons of
Alaska.
This is not exactly so, to say the
least, as I have never been asked
to join them,except in pamphlets,
which could not be construed as a
personal solicitation.
I cannot tell what I would have
done If it had been properly pre
sented, but It is very likely that 1
would have refused, as I suspected
that it was organized with the idea
of satisfying someone’s personal
ambition and grudges; a suspicion
that is not entirely removed, es
pecially if this letter (of Frame’s)
is authentic.
The fact that Mr. Frame was here
several days, in the interest of the
organization, and did not call on
me, rather confirmed my suspicion
It at least indicates that I am not
the kind of man he wants in th?
organization, probably because I am
known as a friend of Dan Suther
land and Wm. Paul, and, possibly
because I am a sincere and real
friend of Heme Rule.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES BENJAMIN
1 he United Sons of Alaska in
Petersburg, Scow Bay and Ketchi
kan has been having heavy sailing
owing to the chicanery, crisscross
and double crossing actions of its
former Supreme Governor John
Frame. Organizing for the purpose
of fighting for Home Rule, Frame
has bent his every effort to aid the
faction in favor of home rule by
a county form of government.
He hopes by his frame-up to split
the Republican vote between Hunt
of Ketchikan and Benjamin of
Wrangell to elect Gardner of Ju
neau as senator. Gardner has the
support of the Troy-Grigsby-Robert
son brand of demmy-reps. His as
sociations do not promise legisla
tion favorable to the best interest
of the Territory.
For the House, Eugene Wacker
of Ketchikan qualities under the
Frame leadership for the office by
the mere fact that ’Gene has an In
dian wife whose grandfather was an
illustrious chief and not for any
other personal ability other than to
be led around by his nose.
Charley Harwell of Wrangell, is
another frame-up candidate. He
has as much qualification to make
laws for the Territory as a hog on
ice and is on the ticket only to
fight progressive legislation. He is
a trap owner and cannery operator
and partner of Karl Thiele, bureau
crat.
Olts the last man on the framed
ticket repudiates the attempt cf
the “Republican National Commit
teeman” to use him. Willing to
get what support he can, but unwill
ing to be the tool of anyone. He
is to be “knifed” in the November
election in favor of Joe Ream of
Ketchikan, because Joe is anoth
er Indian vote catcher via his wife
who forgets the fact that she is no":
far enough removed from Poor Lo
to have forgotten the language.
The Progressive ticket of the Re
publicans are Delegate Dan Suth
erland, Senator Charles Benjamin,
Representatives, Grover Winn of
Juneau, P. C. MacCormack, of
Wrangell, A. L. Olts and William
L. Faul of Ketchikan. These men
have the enmity of the Troy-Mor
rissey-Faulkner brand of polities.
On the one hand, are the candi
dates of a discredited and grunt
led politician aligned with the dem
my-reps and prattling of county
form of government; on the other
Imnd candidates tried, proven and
trusted to make sincere effort ic
secure full right of government ac
corded under present laws. A vote
♦’or the progressive ticket is a vote
to make Alaska for Alaskans.
P.T.A. Backs GYM
In its regular monthly meeting
held in the schoolhouse Wednesday
evening the P. T. A after discuss
ing the pros and cons of the need
for a gymnasium, agreed to back
up the proposition and lend its ev
ery effort in aid of the much cuss
ed and discussed project. The matter
has assumed such headway and the
support so unified that the plan is
practically a certainty.
Elections of officers for the or
ganization for the ensuing year
were held and the following officeis
were elected: Mrs. Hunspedt, presi
dent; Mrs. Wanberg, vice-president,
Miss Gertrude Otness, secretary
treasurer The outgoing president
was given a unanimous vote of
thanks for her loyal support of the
organizatin during her term of of
fice.
Before the regular business meet
ing was held a short program was
given by pupils from Miss Reep s
and Miss Hemphill’s rooms; a clari
net solo by Mr. Verney and a se
lection from a book on psychology
was read by Mrs. Harold Lee, the
subject of which was The Menace
of Fear and had to do with the in
fluence on life that came by im
properly putting fear In the mind
of children.
Immediately following adjourn
ment, refreshments were served.
A TAXLESS TOWN
A statement recently made by
Senator George W. Norris of Ne
braska, that South River, N. J. was
a taxless town, was investigated bv
the New York Times and its find
ings substantiated the statement of
the Senator.
South River has a population of
10,000 inhabitants, has owned its
own electric light plant for 16 years
Starting with a 150-horsepower
gas engine it added two Diesel en
gines of 1240 h.p. and is now put
ting in another 1150 h. p. more.
The plant has sold its current at
usual rates and has been making
an operating profit of $100,000 a
yea** ^Deducting $30,000 each
year for interest and amortization,
a net gain of $70,000 is left. Ex
penses of operating the town come
*o $61 000 leaving a surplus of
$9,000.
The one bad feature of the whole
plan is the fact that this year the
4<jwn has levied a tax of 20 cents
on each $100 of assessed valuation
for street improvements.
IN FROM LOGGING CAMP
Frank Rozich and Ted Hunger
ford came into port Tuesday after
noon for supplies for the Hunger
ford logging camp. They lett out
again Wednesday afternoon.
Fn Civilized America
The Senate findings of condi
tions in the strike area of the Penn
sylvania coal fields has been unpar
ralled in the history of American la
dustry for its horrors of hunger,
inhumanity and cruelty. The richest
men in America, Secretary of the
Treasury Andrew W. Mellon and
John D. Rockerfeller with their
controlling interests could dominate
the whole situation and end the
]strike if the woud. The conditions
have become so intolerable that the
Miners’ Relief Committees in the
coal mintng areas of western Penn
oylvania has made an appeal thru
LABOR published in Washington, as
I follows:
“Pood and children’s shoes are
urgently needed. Conditions are
not improving; they are getting
worse. We can’t feed the unfor
tunate on investigations and sym
I pathy.
“Knowing that the railroad men
have stood as a body for justice
and solidarity in the past, we hope
you will do likewise in the future.
We appeal to you for your full
hearted cooperation.”
Cash contributions should be sen
to Frank Morrison, secretary of Un
American Tederation of Labor, A
F. of L. Building, Washington.
The call for help to relieve the
distressing condition in the above
named district is a lot more cause
of subscription than the call to sun
scribe to a Harding Memorial. But i
no doubt there is less political em
olument for helping out the victims
of abused power than in getting
ones name down as having honored
the late President Harding.
Political Pot Boiling
Reports political in Republican
party squabbles from Ketchikan are
to the effect that National Commit
teeman John Frame is going to get
his shoulder to the democratic fly
wheel and push along the candi
dacy of George Grigsby for delegare
to Congress. Frame’s recent politi
cal conspiracies have made an an
athema of his name in this Division, I
Further more it is bringing more
discredit to the USA to longer per-j
mit his political chicanery.
Ruling On Sealing Case’
Ar San Francisco on March 18ta,
the United States Circuit Court ot
Appeals upheld one part of a deci
sion of George M. Bourequin, judge
of the Federal District Court and
reversed him in another. The case
at issue was the right of shipowners
to bring suit for prohibiting the
hunting of seals in the Bering Sea
from 1889 to 1892. The District
Court held that the owners of 24
ships had not shown government
interference, but the Circuit Court
rulel interference was shown in sev
en of the 24 cases at tasue. Suits
involving approximately $1,000,000
will be filed in the seven cases.
Import Railroad Ties
The West Waterway Lumber Co.,
of Seattle was recently awarded a
contract by the government to de
liver 50,000 ties’ for the Alaska
i
Railroad. This figures up to 1,800,
000 feet contracted for at $16.45
pei thousand or $29,610 for the
lot.
We dont’ suppose that there are
any mills In Alaska to furnish ties
suitable for railroad purposes nor
is there sufficient timber for the
purpose. Wonder if the pulp mills
will have timber shipped up from
Seattle to make pulp of.
City Getting New
Fire Apparatus
At a special meeting of the out
going council held Tuesday even
ing of this week, the matter of pro
curing a new fire truck was brought
up. Without a dissenting vote the
matter carried through and steps
taken to order one of the latest
design and equipment. The truck
io he purchased from a Portland
firm specializing in this equipment, j
ic a La France truck on a new Ford
chassis with a wheel base of 131 '
inches. The truck will carry one I
forty-gallon chemical with several
smaller chemicals, fire ladders, ax-1
es and two ga3masks along with the '
hose. The total weight of which j
will he about two and a half tons
when loaded for action. Further
euuipiuent is added in two thirty !
i
foot hose extension which may be
used to hook up with the water in '
the bay. The cost of equipment
landed in Petersburg was estimated
to be approximately $4700.
Club In Meeting
The regular meeting of the Com
mercial Club was held in the dining 1
rooms of the Grand Cafe on Wed
nesday evening.
A letter was received and read .
from the Governor’s Office relaMv 1
to having an Alaska exhibit at the !
Pacific Trade Fair, Long Beach, Cal. j
The social committee reported a 1
successful banquet to the basbetball \
team last Saturday with a net pro '
fit of $4.65. This was turned over I
to the basketball fund.
DISSCUSS FIRE TRUCK
Mayor Swanson called attenti !
of the Club to the action taken by !
the City Council in ordering a new j
fire truck for the town. A genera'
discussion was held relative to the {
matter after which the Club decided
to give every possible aid to financ
ing the purchase of the equipment.
It was suggested that the Cluo
by subscription finance a half o:
the first payment due in 90 dayn
and to add further to the fund by
staging another “Fourth of July
Queen Contest” the proceeds ot
which would be used toward the
purchcase price of the truck.
DISCUSS FISHERIES PROBLEM
A short discussion followed the
introduction of the question of the
legality of fishing for flounder fo
fox and mink feed. This was en
gendered by curt orders from a bu
reau of fisheries representative to
a mink rancher because he was get
ting the flounder in a closed area
for salmon fishing and during the
closed period. Another fisherman
called by another agent of the bu
reau was not molested in any wte
but told that such fishing was ie
gal. To settle the matter definite
ly and for all time the discussion
was brought up for action of the
Club to present to Commissioner
O Malley.
FOR SIBERIAN TRADE
The Apex, motorship of the Wil
son Fisheries, was purchased by
the Kamchatka Corporation, a So
| viet organization, which has fish
ing, mining and trading concessions
in Kamchatka and eastern Siberia.
The vessel makes the third pur
chase by this corporation which will
enter the Siberian salmon trade ia
competition with Alaska products.
KAKE BOUND
Johnny Sales left on Tuesday
morning for Kake where he will put
in piling for the Skinner and Eddy
cannery.
[Commercial Club Banquets
I Local Basketball Squad
Last Saturday evening in the
I Sons of Norway Hall, the Commer
cial Club was host to the Basket
ball Team of the local high school
> in one of the most pleasing affairs
j of its Kind ever held in Petersburg.
This affair was joined in by a
hundred or more citizens of the
town in honor of the fighting 'spirit
of the team in spite of great odds.
The team had developed into champ
ionship calibre and in spite of the
breaks of the game against them
lost out in the final championship
series by only one point.
Promptly at seven o’clock the
guests gathered in the Hall and
were served dinner prepared by
Mrs. Tate. Members of the Com
mercial Club served the dinner at
the tables and the repast was most
heartily enjoyed until Dr. Dan E.
Standard, toastmaster began calling
on different ones for speeches. Mr
Conrad Bowman, principal of th(
Petersburg Schools was first to re
spond and was followed by Mr. K
Allen, president of the Commercial
Club. There was not much chance
for any one to feel slighted on ac
count of not having opportunity to
speak. However, some were speech
less while other were more or less
stagestruck and merely thanked the
toastmaster for the honor accorded
them. Mr. Schotttler in a lengthy
talk brought out the idea of a
gymnasium and finally 'stated that
plans were being put forth for the
construction of such a building on
the school grounds to be completed
by next fall. Dr. Standard then call
j i> the individual members of the
team to which all responded with
considerable effort as they were noi
forwarned to prepare for a talk.
Considerable merriment waa caused
by various speeches and the feel
ings of the boys could well be ex
pressed in the words of Matt Ray
nor: “If you only could know how
I feel, but you don’t, so I will thank
you. Considerable laughter was en
tailed by the disappearing act of a
number of the members of the Com
n.ercial Club about the time they
were called upon.
After the dinner and speeches
the assembly adjourned to the main
floor of the hall where a program
was staged by members of the P. T.
A Miss Reep, of the school force
was the directing head of the pro
gram which was a take off by the
mothers on the first grade in school
woik. Miss Gertrude Ottness was
the “old maid” teacher, and the
parents the “children of the first
grade.” A regular recitation was
pulled off of primary grade songs
and readings that were a scream
from start to finish. It was one of
the cleverest impromptu programs
seen locally. Miss Helen Hunspedc
gave a fine exhibition of stage danc
ing. The song by Miss Reed and
Joe Kaklen was well rendered.
After the dance the floor was
cleared and the crowd enjoyed them
selves by dancing the next hours
away by music furnished by Buker’s
Orchestra. It was the wee hours
ot the morning before the crowd
wended its weary way homeward.
Gymnasium Is Assured
Flans are under way whereby the
local boys will have a place to prac
tice basketball in order that they
may have full opportunity to bring
home the basketball championship
next year. Practically all organi
zations are behind the move so that
it is expected that the hall will be
started early enough to have it com
pleted by early fall. The hall will
cost approximately $5,000 and will
be put up through pledged dona
tions from the various interests in
town. There is no reason for any
further delay.
Hopes to Win
C. T. Gardner, former forestry
agent has been in town trying tc
perk up enough votes to win out in
the primary elections. At present
he is with the Sawyer-Reynolds
Logging outfit and Is running with
the tories of Juneau and Ketchikan.
Appearing before the Pish Commit
tee of the House at the last legisla
tuie, he was outspoken for protect
ing the traps. A vote for Gardner
is a vote to discredit the work oi
Representative Benjamin who has
filed for the Senate.
Oregon Would Cut
Out Stream Fishing
A measure was recently filed wif*
the Oregon Secretary of State, a bal
lot title for an initiative measure
forbidding fishing for salmon with
seines or nets in the streams cf
Oregon. The proposed new law
/ill be referred to the voters ;■ •
reneral election in November anil
if passed will become effective Jan
uary 1, 1929.
The Alameda will arrive in port
some time Sunday. She is taking
*n a number of canneries this trip.
Declamatory Contest
Juvenile orators from the high
school will take part in a contest
this evening to decide which speak
er shall represent the school in the
Divisional contest to be held at .1
later date. Admission charge ot
25 cents for adults and 15 cen;s
for children will be made. This
will be good and should haw ti
support of every citizen of the
town. The final contest will also
be staged here by representatives
from other schools at a later date
Beach Squabble
“A suite involving the right of
control of fishing rights on Sand is
land, Oregon, in the mouth of the
Columbia River off Fort Steven?
opened in Federal Court, Portland,
recently. The action was tiled late
in 1925 by the United States and H
J. Barbey, doing business as ih_
Bar bey Packing Co., against the
Columbia River Packers’ Associa
tion and the Oregon State
Board.
Barbey is holder of a lease from
the government for the fishing
rights between high and low water
on Sand Island, the contract having
been entered into in April, 1926, at
a rental of $46,000 a year and run
ning for five years. Shortly after
this contract was executed the Co
lumbia River Packers’ Association
went to the State Land Board and
received certain rights on the island
from the board.
The complaint seeks a restrain
ing order prohibiting any individual
or company other than the lease
holder from the government from
using the island as a fishing ground,
and to invest in the government the
undisputed title to the area between
high and low water on the island*.