VOLUME NO. VI.
PETERSBURG, ALASKA,
NOVEMBER 20, 1931
NO. 18
City Council Holds
Busy Session
At the regular meeting of the
city council last Monday evening
many matters came up for con
sideration. Councilman Allen re
ported that the millwork includ
ing doors and windows for the
gymnasium had been ordered
from Seattle firm submitting
the most favorable bid. Mr. Allen
Lad also inspected the school
heating plant and ordered ad
dit5c.ial radiators installed. A
committee representing the
American Legion sought the
sentiment of the council regard
ing financial assistance in the
maintenance of a public library.
It appeared that the Telephone
Fxchange has offered to furnish
Quarters for the library, includ
ing shelving, furniture, heat
and lights at $25 per month and
a librarian could be hired two
afternoons per week at $20 per
month. The council favored the
library plan but deferred formal
action until plans were com
pleted.
Draft of a bill prepared by
Attorney Faulkner to be intro
duced by Delegate Wickersham
in Congress to authorize the is
suance of $100,000 in municipal
bonds to run 25 years at 6% was
read and discussed. The bill
would provide for issuance of
$40,000 in bonds for the improve
ment of the light and power
plant to double the capacity of
the plant; $25,000 improvement
of the water system, and $35,
000 or any portion thereof to
purchase or retire outstanding
bonds now bearing 7%. Specific
information on several points
has been requested of Mr. Faulk
per.
It was voted to reimburse the
Lutheran Church for the salary
of one missionary nurse at the
Petersburg hospital.
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AMERICAN MECHANICS IN
RUSSIA FACING PROBLEM
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Many American mechanics
who have taken jobs in Soviet
Russia have found themselves
unable to remit money to their
families in America. The diffi
culty, as explained by John P.
Fvey of the A. F. of L, Metal
Trades Department, is due to
the fact that the men are not
paid in American money and the
soviet laws forbid sending Rus
sian currency out of the country.
Even if they could smuggle the
money across the border they
would find it worthless in Ameri
ca, where there is no market or
fixed rates of exchange for it.
Some engineers and technical
men have contracts which pro
vide for payment of salaries in
American dollars, but those whc
work on a ruble basis should
know that they are agreeing to
work for money which has nc
value elsewhere.
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A survey of New York’s retail
stores by the Industrial Bureav
of the merchants’ association
shows business has been on the
increase since 'November first
Thirteen stores have taken or
extra employees to handle sea
sonal trade and others contem
plate adding more employees a:
conditions warrant.
* * *
Walter Runciman, presiden
ot the Board of Trade, informec
the House of Commons—that th'
government will present legisla
tion immediately giving it em
ergency powers to prevent th
dumping of foreign goods ii
England in anticipation of th
tariff.
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Dell E. Sheriff, piano tuner 1
In town.
News Flashes And
War Gleanings
The Japanese are driving 20.
f 00 Chinese north. General Mah
has given the order to abandon
Tsitsihar. The Japanese Ambas
sador says that as soon as the
Chinese army is completely de
feated in Manchuria, the Jap
anese will retire. He expressed
himself as being very sorry that
any fighting was necessary.
Seattle’s eightieth auto victim
eied Wednesday. The police have
started a drive to check the
reckless driving.
Jesus Borja, 15-year-old, is the
youngest life prisoner ever re
ceived at San Quentin. He had^
killed a rival who married hisj
girl.
General Pershing entered the
Walter Reed Hospital, Washing
ton to check a slight cold.
The press is reporting that
foes of Governor Roosevelt, New
York, are giving their aid to
Ritchie and Alfred Smith.
Col. Ohlson, manager of the
Alaska Railroad reports that the
expenses of the road were slight
ly over $500,000 or 52 per cent
less than last year. Col. Olilsoii
and wife are now enroute to
Washington. He declared that
economies introduced prior to
the Howell Committee investiga
tion were responsible.
I
About 8(J out of 2000 students
[passed their English tests in the
U. of W. All Ketchikan freshmen
passed the tests.
Mrs. Gifford Pinchot has re
signed from the Board of Direc
tors for the Pennsylvania Coun
cil Republican Women’s Club as
a protest against overloading the
board with organization Repub
licans.
Mayor Walker . of New York
left for California after making
a plea for money for his party.
John Davis, former Democratic
candidate for president, was re
tained by Theodore Dreiser as
defense counsel. Dreiser is charg
ed with criminal syndicalism in
Kentucky where he inquired in
to the coal field conditions.
Stocks on Wall Street struck a
snag during the week but the
fiurry ended with bonds standing
firm. Irregular German issues
are firm; Curb deals are some
what irregular but steadied after
hitting the first snag. New York
Stock Exchange has ordered a
report on bears short sales.
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The dirigible “R-100” which
made a round-trip to Canada
last fall, is being sold as scrap
metal. The Air Ministry an
nounced that a bid had been ac
cepted and that the ship would
soon be dismantled and sold, all
1 but the engine and fabric. The
selling price of “R-100” was un
i disclosed. She cost more than
$2,000,000.
* * *
: Cutting a corner around New
York City where anti-Fascist
demonstrations had been threat
: ened, foreign minister Dino
^ Grandi of Italy arrived in New
J York and was transferred from
the Liner with his wife and as
a sociates to New Jersey where he
^ boarded a special train for
p, Washington.
* * *
Mrs. Clarence Lewis returned
s from Wrangell, on the North
western.
Alaska Native Brotherhood Convention Meets Every
Problem to Secure Proper Solution, Benefit All
The Eighteenth Annual Con
vention of the Alaska Native
Brotherhood is new a part of the
history of the organization. The
people of Yakutat will long be
remembered as most gracious
hosts and the spirit of the entire
convention, their willingness to
tackle the problems before them
and to work them out to the
satisfaction of every Camp was
most evident. In the mind of
every delegate, this was the most
successful convention in the his
tory of the organization.
Leaving the southern district
of the First Division on the Ad
miral Evans, the sixty delegates
to the convention arrived in
Yakutat on the afternoon of the
eighth. The first session called
was to take part in the funeral
exercises of Martin Abraham of
Yakutat, one of Yakutat’s most
faithful member who contracted
pneumonia and died as a result
just before arrival of the dele
gates to the convention. Rev.
Axelson of Yakutat officiated, a
choir from the delegates sang
appropriate hymns and pall
bearers from the convention took
the remains of the departed
brother to the boat for the last
voyage to its last resting place.
The sessions got into swing on
the 9th when Mr. Max Italic,
president of the Yakutat Camp
gave the address of welcome, and
to which Grand President Louis
Shotridge of Klukwan responded.
Mrs. Abraham, president of thi>
Yakutat local Sisterhood also ad
dressed the convention. The
evening was spent in a reeption
tendered by the host camp.
Reports of the various dele
gates were turned over to a spe
cial auditing committee in order
that the way might be cleared
for the bigger problems. On
Tuesday evening Mr. Troast,
Architect and District Superin
tendent for the Indian Bureau.
Mr. F. S. Fellowes, medical sup-;
ervisor for the Indian Depart-,
ment in Alaska and Miss Bour-j
hill representing the Sheldon j
Jackson School at Sitka all art-;
dressed the convention. Mr. j
Troast explained the plans cfj
department regarding the new,
industrial school at Wrangell, j
Dr. Fellowes touched on the;
medical work of his department j
xnd the plans he had in view t )j
bring his department to a high j
efficiency; Miss Bourhill talked j
of the importance of religious
training of youth in the schools
and the efforts of the Sheldon
Jackson School.
Preceeding these speeches,
Molly Lokke of Sitka, Harry
Eremner and Violet James of
Yakutat took part in the annual
rhetorical contest. The contest
ants were awarded prizes in the
rotation as above recorded.
Through a misunderstanding the
prizes were not on hand to give
the contestants but Yakutat
stepped into the breach and gave
the following prizes: Three dol
lars to the first; two dollars to
the second and one dollar to the
third. The contestants will re
ceive from the Indian Depart
ment a gold medal, silver medal
and a Book of Knowledge.
The Budget Committee went
into session Wednesday anl
worked out a program for the
year to the satisfaction of the
convention which adopted the
report of the committee. Thurs
day a report of the activities of
the A. N. B. Publishing Company
was made and a committee ap
pointed to audit the books. Vari
ous vexatious problems which in
the past had created dissensions
were brought before the conven
tion and thrashed out until a
solution was secured. Definite
policies were laid down and re
sponsibilities assumed so that
there would be no question at
any time in the future as to the
plan of the . organization. On
Thursday evening, President
Shotridge addressed the conven
tion on the topic “Brotherhood
in the Making,” from which
greater encouragement was re
ceived for an aggressive year.
Friday afternoon was devoted
to elections. A complete ticket
was entered with Frank Bootn
and Frank Johnson, both of
Kake nominated. Mr Booth war
absent during nominations but
arrived just before election start
ed and securing privilege of the
floor requested that his name be
removed from the ticket as he
was nominated without his con
sent and he had pledged his sup
port to “Doctor” Johnson. The
nominations were reconsidered.
Booth’s name withdrawn and
after a long wait with no other
nominations, the nominations
were closed. Mr. Johnson was
therefore elected unanimously.
Edward Ridley of Ketchikan,
vice president; Walter Soboletf
Sitka, secretary; Ralph Young,
re-elected treasurer, Sitka; Mark
Jacobs, Sitka, sergeant-at-arms.
Soboleff appointed William Wal
ton, Sitka, as his assistant.
Mrs. Edward Ridley, Grand
President of the Sisterhood was
unable to be present so Mrs.
William Tamaree was elected
temporary chairman of the
auxiliary organization until
elections when Mrs. Josie Snook
of Klawock was elected presi
dent; Mrs. Helen Bremner ol
Yakutat, vice president; Mrs.
Kuth Hayes, Juneau, re-elected
'secretary; Mrs. Jack Eliis, Yaku
j tut sergeant-at-arms.
Friday evening exercises were
devoted to installation of the
officers.
Saturday the convention had
before it the several resolutions]
l^ixiiowd elsewhere in this issue.]
j For the first time the organiza- j
tion went directly into the con- j
sideration of political measures.!
Adopted two governing political
actions of the organization and
tabled one which was contrary
to the policy of the organization.
Only the fact that next fah
ii election prevented the next
convention being held in Cor-1
dova. A motion to hold the con-j
vention there was considered!
seriously and the idea of spread- j
ing the organization westward j
was pleasing to the convention1
and further it was felt that other
citizens, learning of the plans
and efforts of the organization
would be more friendly. However,)
the need of holding the conven- |
I tion in Juneau seemed more im
perative sc it was ordered that
the capital city should be the
next meeting place.
The reception of Yakutat
Camp and their friends by the
Grand Camp that evening was a
pleasing wind-up of a strenuous
but fruitful week. At this recep
tion. Yakutat Camp presented to
every delegation a large official
Alaska flag. Until the wee hours
of the morning delegates and
friends made merry on the fine
floor of the large hall of the ;
Yakutat Camp. And only the j
coming of the steamer early in
the morning called a halt on th'
doings of the happy crowd.
As the delegates took off on
the steamer the Yakutat Camps
sang “I’ll Follow You” their of
ficial Camp song and “I Will
i Love You for the Last Time.” an
Indian composition that touched
the heart of every delegate for
it was a song that was composed
upon the death of a Yakutat
child years back and touched
the heart strings of every one
who heard it. As the steamer
pulled away from the dock, the
city lights were flashed on and
off as the last parting farewell
i The spirit of the convention
was evident on the steamer —a
! spirit of harmony and dete’
mination to carry out the plans
o1 the convention to a successful
conclusion this year and a de
termination to build a -stronger
and better organization to meet
rhe vital problems which con
front every resident of the Ter
ritory.
TAX REVISION
An Administration Tax revi
sion program virtually is com-!
pleted and will be sent to con
gress with president Hoover’s
message December 9. Republi
can leaders agreed—it will be
passed.
Petitions bearing some 17,000
names asking for a state-wide
referendum on the outright re •
peal of prohibition in November
1932, were filed with then secre
tary of state of Michigan
Manila—The second member of
the U. S. Destroyer “John D.
Edwards” crew to die of a dog’s
bite passed away at the Naval
Hospital at Canacao. Eight
others are under hospital obser
vation and it is feared they will
develop hydrophobia.
Aristide Briand told The Lea
gue of Nations council in private
session that United States am
bassador Charles G. Dawes will
take seat in council if the Kel
logg pact is again involved in
consideration of the Manchuria
dispute.
Maxim Litvinoff, Soviet Com
missar of Foreign Affairs, lodged
a protest at Tokio against Jap
anese Ministry atrocities in the,
vicinity of Tsitsihar and the
Chinese Eastern Railway, it was j
'reported in authorative quarters
* * *
| Governor Rolph of California,
issued a proclamation urging
[creditors holding mortgages or
'deeds of trust to grant debtors
'additional time in which to
make payments as one means of
making matters easier for those
financially embarrassed or un
I employed.
GREETINGS FROM ITLAY
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Itlay’s foreign minister, Divio
Grandi, brought to President
Hoover this week the greetings
of his country and an assurance
of its cooperation in advancing
the welfare of the world. Exem
plifying the new diplomacy of
ciuiet friendly chats between the
nation’s leading statesmen, Mus
solini’s 36 year old envoy cam3
to see what Italy and America,
working together, can do to pro
mote peace and better economic
conditions. The party came to
Washington by special train
from New York, after fog forced
the abandonment of plans for
them to fly to the Capital with
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh.
-x
Pat Gildea' of Ketchikan pass
ed over the Great Divide last
week.
The Alameda is due in por!
southbound, Sunday.
Resolutions Adopted
ByA.N.B.
1. Asking Congress to pass a
law making void the law of May
25, 1926 which exempts taxation:
of real estate owned by Indians!
- nd further asking for the pri-1
vilege of incorporating the townsi
occupied by them.
2. Endorsed the resolution a
clopted by the Petersburg Cham
ber of Commerce protesting the
wanton waste and destruction of
herring
3. Resolution of thanks to Lib
by, McNeil & Libby for the use
cf their bunk house, mess house
and other kindly favors which
aided in making the entertain
ment of the convention a suc
cess; another resolution o f
thanks to the Adnrral Line and
Purser Harris of the Admiral
Evans for their courtesies in tak -
ing the delegations to and from
the convention; a resolution
thanking the Yakutat Camp for
its many kindly attentions and
provisions which made the con
vention a success.
4. A resolution directed to vari
ous officials petitioned for the
following seasonal closed dates
for the fisheries in the First Div
ision: Ketchikan and Wrangell
district: August 1 to and includ
ing October 1; Klawock West
Coast of Prince of Wales, August
l to and including September 15;
Lynn Canal, July 15 to and in
cluding August 31st; Icy Strait
and Indian Passage, June 25 to
and including August 20.
5. A resolution was directed to
District Attorney Howard D.
tabler. Juneau, with copies di
rected to Delegate Wickersham
and Secretary of Commerce
Robert P. Lament, asking that
traps which “fish for, take, or
kill” salmon during the Sunday
closed period be prosecuted for
violating section five of the law
of 1924.
6. Asking that a fish trap
operating at Indian Point
Southern District in Behm Ca
nal, 15 miles within a closed
area, be closed.
7. Requesting the Territorial
Legislature to direct the attor
ney General for the Territory to
institute a test case in the courts
to show the legality or illegality
of such traps which are operat
ing contrary to the “special”
privilege prohibition in the Act
of 1924.
8. Asking the Libby, McNeil &
Iibby Company operating at
Yakutat to cease importing non
resident fishermen who are now
pushing the resident fishermen
out of the waters of the Setuck
River into the open and danger
ous waters of the Pacific which
has already taken toll of lives of
fishermen.
9. A resolution presented by
the Sisterhood was adopted pro
testing against the employment
of non-resident Oriental labor
in preference to the resident la
bor; Calling attention to the dis
tress caused by such action.
10. Petition to the Indian Bu
reau asking for an extension to
the Yakutat school to care for
the growing enrollment, for a
manual training department and
one additional teacher to take
care of the needs of the work.
11. The Indian Bureau was
petitioned to enter into contract
with the Ketchikan General
Hospital and a resident physi
cian in Ketchikan to take care
Coast of Prince of Wales, with
ever one thousand people show
ed the need of a hospital in that
section; Sitka asked for a nurse
of the sick in that district; f
resolution from Wrangell askec
for a similar proposal; the Wes'
(Continued on Page Two)
Bourbons Meet
Here Saturday
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Cocked and primed for a fine
convention, the divisional dele
gates to the Democratic conven
tion will meet in Petersburg on
Saturday the 21st. A lot of ma
neuvering will be necessary to
hold the party men in line for
there are rumors of rifts and
plans other than as laid down by
the leaders, to file for certain
elective offices. A H. Ziegler has
announced that he will file for
the nomination for delegate to
Congress; George Grigsby is said
to be determined to save the
party from itself and further is
said to refuse to allow any one
to put him on any political
shelf or shunt him off out of the
way; and Tony Dimond of the
Westward section, is said to have
the support of the Juneau Bour
bons beside his own sectional
support.
The following delegates have
been chosen from the Gastineau
Channel precincts: J. McCloskey,
W. B. Kirk, Allen Shattuck, J. A
Davis, Frank Betelho, W. E.
Britt, (former senator), M. E.
Monagle, H. J. Turner, B. M.
Behrends, Miss Viola Bourgette,
Mrs. Robert Coughlin, J. A. Hel
lenthal, H. L. Bahrt, Geo. Koel
hlepp, J. E. Pegues. Precinct Nc.
2. Dr. W. W, Council, Charles
Miller, Dr. J. W. Pigg, John W.
Troy, editor The Empire, H. J.
Yurman, Anton Reiss, G. J. Paul,
Phil Horn, Moses Merriweather.
Precinct No. 3. A1 Lundstrum,
Eddie Ryan, Thomas B. Judson,
F. McDermott, J. M. Sharpels.
Precinct Committeemen elect
ed were : Frank Botelho for No.
1; Henry Roden, No. 2; A1 Lund
strum, No. 3; J. P. Anderson,
Salmon Creek.
The delegates were instructed
to work for an unpledged dele
gation to be sent to the conven
tion at Fairbanks. Invitations
were said to have been sent to
the INDIAN precincts to join in
the convention by sending dele
gates.
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FLOOD CONDITIONS
PANAMA CANAL
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Torrential rains in the Isthmus
of Panama flooded the canal,
tying up shipping and endang
ering the canal locks. Twelve
ships on the Atlantic side and
five on the Pacific side were
held up on account of a land
slide in Gaillard cut. Dredges are
at work but traffic will be delay
ed several days. The Chagres
river is flooded and the twelve
gates of the Gatun spillway are
kept open to discharge the rising
waters. The prinipal danger was
the possibility of Gatun Lake
reaching a level which would
flood the motors which operate
the locks.
--x
DEMOCRATS CLAIM CONTROL
IN HOUSE
On the basis of early returns
in the five special congressional
elections in Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and
Brooklyn last week, the new
line-up in the House gave the
Democrats 217 seats against the
Republicans 214, with one dis
trict, the First Ohio, in doubt.
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CLEVELAND REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION CITY
Providing a guaranty of $150,
000 is raised, Cleveland is favor
ed as the 1932 Republican Na
tional Convention city. Cleve
[ land and Chicago have been
; mentioned as the leading candi
dates for it.