VOLUME NO. VI.
PETERSBURG. ALASKA,
NOVEMBER 27, 3931
NO. 19
Former Alaskan
And Sheriff Mix
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T. L. Chidester, prohibition
agent for the Tacoma district,
had a sharp clash with Sheriff
Fremont Campbell o f Pierce
County, Washington.
Says sheriff Campbell: “Posi
tive :y, the private homes ol
Tacoma citizens are not going
.‘o be raided by federals working
through and with the assistance
of my office.”
Replies Chidester: “We're here
to catch bootleggers and we’re
going right ahead with the work.
The sheriff got mad because we
raided the home of one of his
deputies.
After a lot of winded charges
and denials, the matter was
hashed and smoothed over. All
is quiet on the Tacoma front.
Norco Changes Sailing
Accommodate Trade
-Y
Fcr the convenience of ship
pers, it has been decided that
the sailing- of the Norco for 9 p.
rm, December 19th. This will
bring the Norco here on Wednes
day the 23rd instead of Friday
the 25th. Following this change
in the sailing, the Norco will j
again be back on her schedule
railing from Seattle on the 4tn
of January.
The Northland took the fol -
lowing passengers south a s
follows: To Seattle, Jimmie Gal
laher, Clayton Hanson, W. E.
Gallaher and Mrs. Gallaher, Mrs.
S. Warner, George Hall, Harry
Eaton, Eriing Strand. To Ket
chikan: Ole Nilsen, Hans P.
Hanson, R. H. Chadwick, Sam
Baker and Lars Hanson. To1
Wrangell: Mrs. L. Wood, Chris
Meldahl, Father Monroe, S. J.,
Ralph Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. C.
C. Mundy. '
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ARMY BUDGET SLASHED
$44,000,000
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The War Department budget
for 1933 has been cut about $44,
000,000 below the appropriations
for 1932, according to a state
ment made by Secretary of War
Hurley. The reduction has been
accomplished without impair
ing the efficiency of the army
and is made possible by “vigor
ous economies and deferment of
programs not vital at this time ”
the secretary-said. It was learn
ed that the program does not
contemplate lower pay.
Army appropriations for the
current fiscal year were $481,
565,735.
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Last summer the students of
Sheldon Jackson School at Sitka
found a mummified head of an
Indian at Crab Bay on Kruzof
Island. The head was in a highly
decorated and ornamented box,
the edge of which is inlaid with
precious stones; the head wrap
ped in a blanket of exquisite de
sign and foreign to the know
ledge of any modern Indian. The
head was shipped to the Ameri
can Museum of Natural History.
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Carl Hill is leaving on the
Admiral Evans for his home at
Sitka Hot Springs.
0
Roden Arrested For
Contempt of Conrt
Henry Roden, Juneau attor
ney is receiving invaluable ad
vertising these days. He was
adjudged in contempt by Judge
Justin W. Harding of the district
court for the First Division. In
the matter of Dr. W J Pigg vs
Valentine Estate, Attorney Ro
den gave the lie direct to the
doctor. Judge Harding ordered
an apology and Mr. Roden re
plied with: “I will apologize to
the court but not to the witness
for I am right.” The court order
ed a recess end various attor
neys and friends expostulated
| with Mr. Roden and urged him
!to apologize. On convening ol'^
the court Mr. Roden again de
clared: “I will apologize to the
'court, but not to the witness.”
He was ordered to pay a fine of
$200 which he refused to do.
This took place about the first
cf the month and while defen
dant was technically under ar
rest, he was at liberty. Recent
word from Juneau is to the ef
fect that Mr. Roden was arrest
ed and placed in the federal j
bastile.
Roden's many friends are
highly indignant and feel that
the rift between federal direc-.
ticn of Territorial affairs and
residents was growing greater;
and the misunderstanding not
growing any less nor the feeling
any more kindly as a result.
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Hoover’s In-law Under ;
Arrest Liquor Charge
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C. Van Ness Leavitt, of Santa
Monica, California, brother-in
law of President Hoover, and C.
R. Dailey a grocer were arrested
for alleged possession of a gun
nysack of liquor.
Leavitt is a retired plumbing j
contractor and husband of Presi- j
dent Hoover’s sister. When ar
rested he assumed the alias
“Jones” but later on being iden
tified assumed his own name.
Leavitt declared that he was
taking the sack out of the store
as an accomodation at the re
quest cf Dailey and that he did
not know the contents of* the
sack. Dailey was previously con
victed of bootlegging.
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LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZED
i
Articles of incorporation of the
Petersburg Public Library have
been prepared and will be filed
with the Territorial Secretary.
A large number of meetings have
been held by the committee and
plans are rapidly assuming de
finite form. In order to make the
American Legion library of more
genera] use. to the public it has
’’em offered to the city as the j
nucleus for a general fiction andj
reference library. The library
association represents various1
religions, social, fraternal and
patriotic organizations. As stated;
in a previous issue, the city
council has declared itself in j
favor of the appropriation of
certain funds from thecity trea
sury to defray necessary items of
| expense. Definite action to that
[effect will perhaps be taken at
! the next meeting of the council.
! Membership cards will be on
j sale soon at $1 for adults and
.50 cents for students.
I
j Margaret Weigtman arrived
'on the Northland from Juneau
| and will be federal nurse ia
'charge of medical work under
I the Indian bureau and she will
exert her activities in both
Petersburg and Wrangell.
Democrat Convention Splits
On Primary Law
Adopt in Principle Essentia! Points Personal Piatform of Wm. L. Paul;
Attempt Will be Made to Drop Primary Law for Convention System
N. R. Walker sounded the key
note of the convention in hi
address before the conventior
Saturday morning. He appealed
to the sense of right and justice
cf the party on various matter.1
and pointed out the deficiencie
of the Republican, national and
territorial, administrations and
the hurts arising in the territory
therefrom. He condemned the
raising of rates on the Alaska
Railroad; the domination of
Alaska’s fisheries by one man
and urged full territorial control
of the fisheries by the Alaska
legislature. He opposed the “car
pet bag” appointive system de
claring it without sympathy or
understanding of the local pro
blems; condemned the auto
cratic and bureaucratic domi-,
nation cf all political and indus
trial affairs in the territory de
claring that Alaskans are ac
tually penalized for being resi
dents. He feared that there must
be an ulterior purpose in Wash
ington for the control of Alas
ka’s resources, which created re
gulations without taking into
consideration the needs cr
wishes of the territory.
Touching on the “native ques
tion” he declared that in the
past this was made an issue anct
that there was no more need for
a “native question” in politics
than a German question; or a
French question or any other
nationals’ question. Pointing to
many years of contact with
tnese people, he declared that
they had the same mental and
physical reactions as other peo
oles; that there were good and
bad as in any other race. That
ihey were independent of
thought and arrived at their
swn conclusions and acted
therefrom. That the Indian of
Alaska thought of only what will
benefit the entire Territory and
worked for the great majority
in Alaska. He urged the Demo
cratic party to look upon the
Native as an Alaskan and to
tvork for his greater develop
ment as a citizen. He said: “Let
us be tolerant to all mankind.
It is a democratic principle re
gardless of the disposition of
any peoples, if they are honest,
we can work with them to the
benefit of the entire territory.
Draw Bureaucrats over
Coals of Fire
Having the consideration of
the divisional party platform
under consideration, one was
almost lead to believe that Wil
liam L. Paul, Indian leader, was
the driving force in theconven
tion whilst the leaders of the
Democratic party were castigat
ing the federal appointees and
bureaus in Alaska. From J. J.
Connors, Editor John Troy and
Reporter Pegucs of the Juneau
Empire down to the delegate
from the smallest precinct, the
•x
convenlion turned its fires of
;!criticism upon the federal bu
. fcaus and carpetbag appointees,
The convention even went so far
as to say that “Bureau employ
ment disqualifies even residents
j from holding office by virtue ol
| the change of viev/point to that
j perspective of the federal ma
chine.” How the federal sheep in
Juneau and elsewhere can sup
iport the Democratic party aftei
i this castigation is a query that
j was raised by an old line Re
| publican attending the conven
tion.
Community property
Considering the1 Community
Property Law plank. Mr. Turner
declared that the party could
not be consistent in asking foi
nassage of such a law when
through the efforts and influ
ence of two Democratic legisla
tors, such a law was defeated.
J Ziegler pointed out that Senate”
Dimond put such a measure to
* sleep on the 60th day in the last
[.session of the Senate. Walker
| declared that as a matter of
simple justice, the women should
j be accorded equal right with
men to own community proper
ty. “As a matter of political ex
pediency,” quoting the words of
the convention it was decided
not to withdraw that plank .
Political Appointees
The next plank to draw fire
from all directions was the ap
pointment of only bona fida re
sidents. The debates at times
got a bit acrimonious and it was
urged that the limitation be
placed only on major positions.
In some instances it was urged
that as a matter of political ex
pediency the soft pedal should
le put on the subject In such a
way as to protect possible re
sident employees.
Primary Law Bumped
The primary law bumped the
bumps under the leadership of
the old guard—Troy, Pegucs,
Connors, et al. It was presented
when the session sought to
instruct the delegates to nomi
nate and endorse candidates at
the Territorial Convention at
Fairbanks in December. The
young democrats, under th?
leadership of Walker and Zieg
ler of Ketchikan pointed out
that nomination and endorse
ment by conventions was con
trary to the provisions of the
primary law and further was a
handicap upon candidates and
j would further throw the party
jepen to criticism as railroading
'nominations. The debates got
[real hot and finally on consider
ation of the question a recess
| was taken so that the precincts
i would be able to caucus their
'votes on the subject. For the
next fifteen minutes visitors
imagined that they were thrown
into a room with a bunch of
monkeys and Kilkenny cats
r nd that there was a real free
'fr-r-all. After the recess, rollcall
vote was taken with the result
That the young Democrats were
defeated 45 to 54—Juneau tak
: ing the long end of the count.
In reality, this was said to be
not only a fight to work for
abolishment of the primary law
but was an effort to gag the
delegates at the next conven
tion by forcing endorsement of
jSenator Dimond for Senator. A.j
H. Ziegler declared that he was!
jgoing to file for nomination for:
delegate to congress in spite of
the party endorsement of Di-!
mond, who was being supported
by the Empire crowd; and it was!
further stated that George
Grigsby would possibly file fori
the same office. This fight will
be continued at the next con-1
vention. The convention here
finally adopted a resolution in
structing the delegates to “use
their influence against the Fair-:
banks convention nominating j
and endorsing any candidates.” j
As the matter now stands, the
Democrats are divided on the;
guestion and the effort to secure
harmony, was lost and an
armed truce stands with the
young democrats determined to
continue their right to protect
the primary law at the next
convention.
On the halibut situation,
plank touched upon in the plat
form. the convention went on
record as favoring the conten
tions of the Seattle Halibut
Vessel Owners’ Association as
against the local fleet. It i;
thought that the territorial
convention would reverse the'
ruling and work for the benefit,
Oi file ioCdi fleet—uut iiiat re-|
--ains to oo seen.
Late Saturday afteinoon the I
convention completed it* work,
adopted resolutions of thanks to
the several organizations which
entertained the convention, ad
journed to have dinner with the
Petersburg Commercial Club at
he Grand Cafe and an evening
hi social affairs in the home of
Mayor Earl Ohmer. Sunday
morning the Alameda called in
bright and early and took the
southern. delegates away and
the Rodeo of Juneau took the
northern delegates to their sev
eral homes shortly after the
sailing of the Alameda.
The convention of the Demo
crats in Petersburg is now his
tory in the making and will have
its good and evil reverberations
through the coming elections.
Petersburg gave the delegate,
a very hospitable welcome and
l it was the expression of every
i delegate that Petersburg people
are the best of ho£ts at all times.
And the presence of the visitors
was welcomed on every side.
Miss Flossie George, Eskimo
girl from Point Barrow returned
to the Sheldon Jackson School
at Sitka this month. Miss Geor
ge received the thrill of her
young life by assisting in enter
tain Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh
at Point Barrow on their inter
national flight last summer. Miss
George described the famous
Colonel and wife as being “just
plain folks and full of life arid
fun.” Two years ago Miss George
! returned to Point Barrow to
I teach among her people. She is
now finishing up her education
at Sheldon Jackson School.
-x
Tommy Nusko, city marshal
of Kake came with a letter
from Judge Arthur Johnson of
Kake to Commissioner Clausen
asking fcr the arrest of Roy K.
James, charged with assaulting
his wife in Kake. The court is
said to be in a quandary as to
the procedure in the matter.
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There were programs given
in the several 'grades in the
public school, Wednesday after
noon. ’
Carl Anderson had the mis
fortune to cut three fingers of
his hand by mixing with a cir
cular band saw, Wednesday af
ternoon.
-x——
Capt. Peterson has his good
ship the Fram on the Anderson
ways for a general overhauling.
School closed Wednesday noon
to reopen Monday, allowing the
kiddies to have a real Thanks
giving and time to get over its
effects. i
4
Prohis Arrest Six
In Wrangle Raid
— —X
Jack Wilson, agent for the
suppression of liquor among In
dians, and Prohibition Agent, W
A- Vinake, were sent to Wran
i Cell by Governor George A Parks
to investigate the charges ol
I lack of enforcement of the pro
hibition laws in that town. Com -
plaints had been made to A. W.
| Rainy, agent in charge cf prohi
bition in Alaska as well as to the
Governor, so the Governor order
ed the investigation.
As a result of the trip by the
officers, W. L. and Mrs. Bessie
Gross were arrested and their
sentence held pending disposi
tion of their five children rang
ing from three to twelve years
of age. Gross was given four
months in the Wrangell jail. J
II. Longhurst was given 90 days;
Nora White was given 90 days
in the Wrangell jail and a
further sentence of one year
suspended pending good be
havior.
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Indian Bureau Appoint
Permant Dentist
Dr. Edna V. Tavlin, who has
rendered service as dentist on
the Yukon medical boat, has
now been appointed for continu
ous service. Since the comple
tion of the Yukon medical sea
son on October 0th Dr. Tavlin
has been doing dental work ir
the central district and when
this work is finished .'•he will
some to Southeastern Aiask?
and visit from village to village,
caring for the teeth cf the schorl
iHldren and adults.
Seiner Mary G. II
Destroyed by Fire
, -X
The herring seiner Mary G. II. j
owned by Capt. Otto Bindpage
of Ketchikan, was destroyed by
ure about five miles from Lake
Bay, Prince of Wales Island,
while scouting for herring. The
fire was caused by backfiring of
the engine and the exploding of
the gasoline tanks. The vessel
was powered with a 50 horse
power Frisco Standard engine
and it was insured for $10,000.
Capt. Bindpage and Joe Petti -
r.rew were on board and just had
time to get into their lifeboat
without gathering up their per
sonal belongings. The boat drift
ed on the beach, a total wreck.
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The coroners jury sitting in
the matter of the death of Bert
Evans, rendered a verdict of ac
cidental killing by John York
who mistook Evans for a deer
in the brush.
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NIGHT SCHOOL TO START
NEXT WEEL
Evening class work for pros
pective citizens and all other;:
who wish to take advantage of
the courses offered will begin
next Monday evening at the
Petersburg High School. Classes
in reading spelling and English
grammer will be in charge of
Mrs. Ellen Hasbrouck and classes
in citizenship, American history
and civit government will be
conducted by the nrinicpal. Mr
George Beck. Calsses will be
convened on Monday, Wednes
day and Friday evenings.
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Ted Hungerford’s ship Reliance
sank at her moorings last night
.with considerable food supplies
and personal belongings on
board. The cause of- the mishap
i has not been ascertained.
jHalibut Catch
Exceeds 1930
The halibut catch taken to
Seattle during the season just
closed totaled 15,742,650 pounds,
compared with 12,606,055 pounds
for the previous season. This is
rn increase of 3,136,505 pounds
according to Harold E. Lokken,
secretary of the Fishing Vessel
Owners’ Association of Seattle.
The prices this year, however,
were lower so that the value of
the catch was $1,179,550 com
pared with $1,501,031 for the
previous season, or a decrease of
3321,481. Prices averaged 7 V2
cents a pound compared with 12
cents last year. The high boat is
said to have earned $1,500 with
the earnings tapering down to
crews which laid off in debt.
■-x
Masquarade at Sale’s
Inn Was Enjoyed
One of the liveliest and beat
masquarade dances ever put on
in Petersburg was that one at
Sale’s Inn, Wednesday the 25th.
The crowrd, perhaps the largest
gathering cf its kind in many a
moon, had a spirit that was the
motiff of the entire night which
made the affair a most pleasant
one.
Those who masked were not
too numerous but were just as
clever as any other such affair.
Mr. Carl Anderson and Mr. Dunn
of the Anderson Shipyards, car
ried off first prize for maintain
ing the mast comical characters
—representing two cannibals;
Loren Johnson as an Arctic Ex
plorer carried off thmd priz^ and
Leo Ness tapered off the fourth
prize by representing a pros
pector.
Misses Alma Gribble and Anita
Stoll carried off first and second
prizes as two little tots of the
first grade in school; Mrs. John
son as a quaint old lady took
third prize and Louis DeVinney
as a gypsy dancer took fourth
prize.
The judges for the evening
were Messrs. Russel York, Jack
King and Oscar Wikstrom.
The lunch spread by Mesdames
Gribble and Albertson tickled
the fancy of all those who par
took of the feed and with the
excellent music every one was in
the humor for a very jolly night.
In the wee hours of the morning,
the crowd wended its way home
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PROGRESSIVE SENATOR
WARNS OF THIRD PARTY
Senator Wheeler, Democrat of
| Montana and one of the pro
gressives of the Senate recently
set national leaders to pondering
on their part in the next nation
al election. The power of the
progressive wing of both parties
has also tended to set the leaders
to doing a lot of thinking.
Senator Wheeler, who helped
‘o lead the third party revolt in
1024, is out warning his party to
nominate Governor Franklin
Roosevelt or “some other liberal”
for President or face a new party
movement.
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Get your Christmas mail in
early.