Cook Inlek Winneer
AND KNIE NEWS
VOL. 1
Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, March 4, 1916
NO. 36
♦
V
♦
More than one thousand members
of the Alaska Labor Union met at
the new hall on Seventh street early
this afternoon and listened to the
reading of the telegram received
from Secretary Lane yesterday and
to a few remarks explanatory thereof
by Commissioner Mears. The in
formation was given out that, acting
upon the telegrams of the Commis
sioner and the Union, which were
forwarded to the national capital last
week. Secretary Wilson, of the de
partment of labor, would appoint a
committee which will sail from Se
attle for Anchorage on the 7th, em
powered to act with the Commis
sioner and the Union In the prepara
tion of a scale of wages satisfactory
to al] parties. This action, the tele
gram stated, met with the approval
of the executive officers of the Amer.
lean Federation of Labor, who had
been consulted, and members of the
committee win be acceptable to or
ganized labor. The committee, which
had not been named when the tele
gram to Mr. Mears was sent, should
arrive here by the 20th Inst. Ip the
meantime, arrangements may be
made between the Commissioner and'
the Union for a temporary wage
schedule to go Into effect forthwith,
subject to approval later of the spe
cial representatives of the depart
ment.
Following is Commissioner Mears’
statement:
Anchorage, Alaska,
March 3, 1916.
Vedaral Labor Union,
Anchorage, Alaska:
Gentlemen:
'"P’ffIBww asked for the privilege of
coming before you today for the pur- j
pose of communicating to you the
reply received from the secretary of
the interior, Franklin K. Lane, in re
sponse to your requests for in
creased wages, which requests were
cabled to the secretary in full on
February 15th.
Tn a former letter I communicated
to you the preliminary reply re
ceived from the secretary under date
of February 26th, and which for con.
venient information I will now re
"I am now talcing the matter
up with the secretary of labor
and Federation of Labor to see
if we can not get a scale of
wages that will last a year. Will
let you know Monday what is
done definitely.
(Signed) Lane, Secretary.”
I received yesterday through tho
wireless of the Steamship Admiral
Evans, just in port at Seward, the
following telegram from the secre
tary of the interior, dated February
29th, which contains the definite
reply from Secretary Lane which we
have been expecting and which in
part reads as follows:
“Have .consulted with Secre- -
tary of Labor Wilson, who will
send a committee to Anchorage
to hear all sides and fix a rea
sonable schedule of wages. Sec
a
NOW LISTEN!
THIS WILL BE GOOD
Dance Saturday night
Robarts’ Hall
If you want your teeth just filled,
go any old place; but if you want to
9 save them, go to Dr. MeCallie, the
dentist, corner of C and 1th streets.
CHEAP LOTS WANTED.
We buy cheap lots anywhere in
Anchorage for cash.
See Warner
Alaska Realty and Investment Co.
House and lot for sale—Sixth and
O. Good basement. Two-room, frame,
^ 14x26 feet. See owner,, Sixth and G,
Immediately, near school house.
Just arrived, 500 rolls post card j
size films. “That Man Logemann,” .
a* Fifth and D.
retary Wilson has consulted
with President Gompers and
Secretary Morrison, of the
American Federation of Labor,
who will advise Anchorage
Labor Union that such commit
tee is going to Anchorage with
their knowledge and approval.
I wish you would lay all matters
• before this committee. I do not
know who the committee will
be, but as Secretary Wilson is a
former labor official I am satis
fied committee will be fair to
labor. You are authorized to
put Into effect the schedule of
wageg fixed by this committee,
which secretary of labor says
will start from Anchorage on
next steamer from Seattle. Pres
ident Gompers and Secretary
Morrison say that they will wire
Union advising them to continue
on present wage schedule until
committee makes its report.
(Signed) Lane, Secretary.”
Before commenting on the secre
tary’s telegram it may be well to
make a few remarks regarding the
present general situation in an effort
to acquaint you with the national im.
portance of our present affairs.
In all communities which are more
or less cut off from the outside world
there la a disposition to disregard
the national significance of local
events and to^ forget that those in
local authority are but servant8 hired
for the purpose of carrying out the
will and the instructions of their su
perior officers. Thus when the dis
affection among the men composing
the steel sang caused them to walk
out on the 7th of February, it was
probably the common Impression
that X would have authority to grant
a general raise of wages if I saw fit
to do so, but nothing could be farther
from the truth. There is no part of
the management of this work that
requires the authoritative approval
of the Washington authorities more
than the standardization of the
wages for all positions.
Nojv, to show you that this subject
was given intelligent consideration,
will say that the Commission gath
ered considerable data in the sum
mer and fall of 1914 and in the first
part of 1915, concerning the wages
pa'd on the numerous railroad pro
jects in Alaska, and at. the same time
secured all of the wage schedules in
effpct by the Canadian railroads and
the railroads in the north and west
ern part of the United States. All of
this original data is now in my pos
session, and your committee will tell
you that I went over it with them at
our recent conference. At the same
time I consulted with the chairman
of the Alaska road commission, in
accordance with directions received
from Washington, asking for his
recommendation regarding the initial
schedule, and 1 may say to you that
it was the result of these investiga
tions and the recommendation of the
chairman of the Alaska road com
mission, and other important reasons
which I am about to explain, that
caused us to put into effect a mini
mum wage scale of $3 per day of
For Rent—Two-room apartment,
*K street, between Third and Fourth.
Chester Murphy.
NOW LISTEN!
THIS WILL. HE GOOD
Dance Saturday night
Robarts’ Hall
Films developed, 15c; prints, 3c,
by professional. “That Man Loge
mann,” Fifth and D street.
To celebrate the new water sys
tem, we are giving big hot baths for
35 cents, at P. O. Sundberg’s Bath
House, on C st., between 4th and 5th.
Large stock of assorted Garden
Seeds. Brown & Hawkins. “Quality
First.”
:Rht hours. The other factors which
i entered into the situation were the
I small appropriation available and the
large Burping of labor over and above
that needed for last season's work.
The annual appropriation of !
.$2.0(10,00!) which was made avail
able on July 1st, 1915, was very
small to start a project of this mag
nitude when the various preliminary
requirements are taken into consid
eration. Had a private railroad com
pany undertaken the construction of
this railroad, they would have first
capitalized for several million dol
lars, all of which amount would have
been available as needed by con
struction forces. In my opinion, one
of the reasons for the present dis
satisfaction with the wages rests not
so much with the wages paid per
hour as in the total amount of money
earned for the day or for the week
,or for the season. Thus, had it been
possible to work on the ten-hour
schedule on this government railroad
project, as was done on the Alaska
Northern and Copper River railroad,
it would doubtless have been more
agreeable to all concerned. Look at
last year's situation in another way:
Had It been possible for us to have
transferred our station gangs to
other Jobs upon the completion of
their particular sections during the
past summer, there would have been
a greater amount of money earned
by these station men and their labor,
era during the season, the result of
' which would have been mere con
tentment and satisfaction.
Those of you who were present on
the ground last summer know full
well that we could have extended our
grading operations much farther be
yond the Matanuska river had funds
been available for the purpose. The
fact that a large Initial outlay is
necessary in terminal requirements,
the purchase of construction plant
and commissary supplies, the build
ing of offices and living quarters and
various other preliminary arrange
ments must not be lost sight of.
The thought will naturally arise,
why was more money not made avail,
able? There are two good answers
to this question. The first and least
important is that this year’s appro
priation was asked for fioiu &ohaiooo
at a time when the nation’s revenues
were small as compared to previous
years, and congress was not particu
larly keen about appropriating
money to start new railroads in
AlasKa or any other like purpose:
aud the second and most Important
reason lies in the fact that the secre
tary of the Interior was unable to
tell congress Just where the money
was to be spent. Secretary Lam
asked of and obtained from the ap
propriation committee and congress
an appropriation of $2,000,000, and
at the time he obtained this money
ho was not at. liberty to say where it
-'as to be spent. The western route
from Seward to Fairbanks was not
announced at the time, and the sec
retary wan unable to tell congress
whether he wished to spend the
money at Cordova cr Valdez or Sew
ard or Portage Bay. When you tas ;
these things into consideration, I
think you must agree with me that
Alaska was fortunate In securing any :
appropriaton for last year's work.
But, be that as it may, the fact re
mains that a large number of the
men were unable to secure continu
ous employment. When a station
gang had finished their particular
section they were laid off instead of
being transferred ahead for the put
pose of beginning operations on some
now pioco of station work. Tho profit
of the season's work was represented
by only three or four months, instead
of by six or eight months’ work,
which would apply under more nor
BOWLING TOURNAMENT
TONIGHT
,R. R. Commission vs. Independents.
NOW LISTEN
This will be good
Merchants Cafe, next door to the
White House, four doors from Hotel
Crist, and one block from the North
ern. A very good place to eat.
Outside parties want lots; full
cash payments. Address letter to
"Cash,” this office.
Don't forget, WILKES makes
DESKS as well as other furniture.
We have the material. Shop oppo
site Alaska Transfer Co., on H St.
Ridgeway's Teas at Brown & Haw.
kins’. "Quality First.”
nisi eruditions.
Had the Alaskan Engineering
Commission established a high scal<
of Wages at the beginning of opera
tion*. lt\st year, the conditions re
garding surplus labor would have
been aggravated.
The conditions which existed lasl
year are in a fair way to be reme
died fbr the coming year. I have
now >*«ceived from Washington the
authoritative announcement that the
.emergency appropriation of $2,000,
000 has been signed by the president
and this fact, together with the reg
ular annual appropriation which we
expect to become available on July
1st should enable us to keep the
work going with less fluctuation in
the number of men employed, sum
mer and winter. Fortunately fot
this program, there is a quantity ol
solid rock excavation on the Mata
nuska branch line we expect to builc
this seat*n, which would furnish em,
ployment to a good many men during
thei winter months of 1917. Th<
same may be said of the Turnagair
arm district. I call attention t<
these matters, as they all have (
bearing upon the question at issue.
Tou will note that it is the secre
tary’s wish that yon return to worl
temporarily at the present scale ol
wages and until the new scale It pul
into effect as a result of the confer
ence about to be held.
In rlew of the new appropriation
being available, the way Is now open
to start operations if labor can oe
found to £r ifce necessary work, it
would serve no qetfui purpose to re.
fuse to return to work at this time
under these conditions. Secretary
Lane's attitude has been fair and
reasonable In this mrtt.dr, and any
atten 'pt on your part to avoid meet
ing him half wxy will not react la
your favor. In fact any attempt at
this 'line to call a general strike and
cause any cessation of present work
mlgh have serious consequences.
It la my purpose to make every
reasonable efTort to continue the
work* where it can bo satisfactorily
accomplished, and this policy will be
followed until we are prevented from
doing so, but if at this time we
3 u-i1 oe compelled to shut down
cue ifbrft it will be my --„„ ^ „
tion to the secretary that the wor.t
remain closed until the opening of
navigation, when, doubtless, an op
portunity would be afforded to renew
operations on a different basis.
Your own intelligence will natur
ally point out to you the wisdom and
desirability of acting cautiously and
fairly in this matter, with the idea
of giving the authoriUes a reason
able opportunity to ad lust *he griev
ances that you complain of and to
put into effect a new scale of wages
based upon the result of their inves
tigations. You should also take into
consideration the fact that your de
mands wore not presented to me
until February 12th and that, due to
the break in the cable lines, they did
not reach Secretary Lane until Feb
ruary 25th.
In closing, T wish to assure you
that I am prepared !o co-operate
with the committee in recommend
ing an increase in the uresent scale
of wages and to thank you for your
attention to these remarks.
Members of tho Union having been
Invited to ask Mr. Hears questions
pertinent to tho subject. Charles
Peters, of the executive committee,
asked if it was possible for the com
missioner and the local committee to
arrange a temporary scale of wages,
subject to approval of the committee
from Washington and to date from
the time work is resume 1. ant tho
:ommissioner replied that such an ar
rangement might he made.
"Will the steel gang be blacklist
ed?” some one asked.
"No; we don’t run a blacklist," re
plied the commissioner.
Replying to another inquiry. Mr
Meara said: “We will era pi iv any
one who comes along.”
FOR SALE!
“THE CRESCENT,” CORNER OF
FOURTH AVENUJ.; AND C STREET.
ANCHORAGE. THAT’S ALL. SEE
OWNERS, F. W. REDWOOD & CO.
Wanted—A position as cook, por
ter, etc., by a Jap boy, well fitted for
position. Inquire Union Laundry, tf
Everything In hardware at the
Matanuska Hardware Company’s.
INDICTMENTS BY
WHOLESALE OF
I
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. —-T'
was announced today that the other?
indicted yesterday by thy federal
i grand jury for munition plots, be
sides German Consul General Hoop,
were John and Julius RoM.scliIld
wealtWy wholesale grocers- Geor;:o
an dJames Flood, snip owners; I. E.
Bein, a prominent attorney; I'hBip j
Thayer, president of the Northern &
Southern Steamship Company: John
G. Hoyt and R. H. Swayno. of the
firm pf Swayne & Hoyt; Joseph Hitv,
customs broker; C D. Hunker, cus
toms broker, and Cantsvi Frederick
Jebsen, owner of the bteatnei Mazat
ian.
The indictments ha-’o created the
greatest excitement among all peo
ple of stations. Develop-iMuita fur
ther are expected.
WILSON IS ONLY
MAN FOR PLACE
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26.—The sub
committee arranging for the demo
cratic national convention, to mest
here June 14, has practically can
clued all plans. Chairman ItfcCoombs
stated today that It was the unani
mous belief of the members of the
committee that President W'lson
would be renominated without any
opposition. When MeCoombe was
questioned about the renomlnatlon
of Vice-President. Marshall, he ap
peared dubious about the outcome.
Mayor Ewing, the New Orleans
publisher, stated that a press com
mittee would be appointed at a meet
ing of the arrangements committee
to be held in New York city within
six weeks. This committee would
.open permanent headquarters In St.
Louis early in May. J. Bruce Kre
mer, of Montana, will be in chargs.
MS REPULSED
BE PERSIANS IN
MIG PERSIA
BERLIN, Feb. 26.— ,Viviens re
ceived from Constantinople late to
day announce that the Russian
forces in Persia have been routed.
It is stated that the Persian tribes
men stormed the ran'. ■ >; the Pus- "
sians and the latter were completely
taken back by the onslaught, re
treating in the greatest disorder.
PETROORAD, Feb. 26.—It was
announced today that the R mans
have, for the time being, gi"eu a set
back in Persia, but that with the ar
rival of reinforcements the cam
paign will be waged more :e!cntie?s
than ever.
PARIS, Feb. 26.—“Russia's mu
nition crisis is now a thing of the
past,” said General Jollvanoff. Rus
sian minister of war, in an interview
today with Ludovic Naudeau, special
correspondent of the Paris Journal
in Russia. “The shortage of munis
Uons of war is en unpleasant mem
ory. But, fortunately, it is only a
memory."
BOOK PUBLISHED ON
THE WAR BETWEEN THE
JAPS AND AMERICAN'S
SAN FRANCISCO, F, b. 26.—A
book entitled “The War Between
Japan and America” has been pub
ished by the Japanese League for
National Defense, and one million
copies have already been sold. The
:hief cause for this proposed war
ire given as “inhuman treatment of
Jie Japanese Immigrants and the
lostlle legislation of the United
States." Japan ought to occupy Cal
fomia. Hawaii and the Philippine
Blends, according to the book, which
lays: "The hearts of 60,000.000
GREAT BRITAIN TO
AUGMENT AERIAL FLEET
LONDON, Feb. 26.—Forced by the
demands of the public, it was given
out today that the government in
tends to immediately strengthen its
aerial defenses not only by building
more air crafts, but by the appoint
ment of a minister of aviation to
have full charge of the future de
fense and development. The after
noon papers carry this statement in
conspicuous places, and it has for
Ahe most part relieved the public
mind regarding preparedness against
such disastrous air attacks as have
.been recently made at various parts
of the coast.
ALASKA TO DRAW A BLANK.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.—Briga
dier General Weaver, chief of the
const artillery, told the members of
the house committee on military af
fairs this afternoon that, in his judg
ment and opinion, "Alaska needs no
heavy artillery for its defense.” The
remark created some surprise, as it
is known that the administration
plans embraced extra precautions fcr
the defense of the coast of Alaska.
Fresh films, all sizes. Kodak
finishing supplies. Typewriting car
bon and paper. Also many new An
chorage views.
We develop and print At The
Model, corner Fourth and E street.
LIST VOI R PROPERTY.
We have customers for residence
and business lots.
S«k> Warner
Alaska Realty and Investment Co. j
The biggest bath tubs and the most
comfortable bath rooms can be found
at the Richter House, on Third near
-E. Baths at all hours.
Larson & Wendler will give 100
| votes free for the Queen of the Day
I in the Kennel Club racing event with
; every $5 purchase at their store this
| week.
L. C. Smith, Remington, Under
wood and Royal typewriter ribbons
at the New-3 Stand, adjoining Bolta’s
1 hardware store.
and we are stormy, like the strong:
■winds of the heavens, insisting that
a war be begun against the United
States which will prove to the bluff
ing Americans that the Japanese peo
ple do not know defeat and that her
soldiers rannot be beaten.”
XEFTOI* DANCE TOVK1HT.
The Neetop Dancing Club will give
its regular bi-month';.- dance at Ro
berts' hell tonight. TVs 1 the next
to tho last dance to be given und;r
the auspices of this organization tv's
season .and all members are urged
to attend.
U. G. Norton received a telephone
mossago today saying that Tobe
Perry, a well known Alaskan, was at
Mile 71, enroute to Seward, where
he goes to meet E. A. Austin, man
ager of the Yukon Gold Dredging
Comnanv, Iditarod, and convoy him
to the interior camp. Perry reports
that ho snowslioed all the way from
the Iditarod to Susitna, the trail
being In very bad condition. Dave
Rtrandberg, on the way to the Idit
arod, is waiting at Susitna for better
trail conditions.
The deed of tho lot on which the
Labor Temple is being erected was
recorded today. The lot was donat
ed to the Alaska Labor Union by
Messrs. Warner and Campbell.
New pictures tonight at the
Movies.
NOW LISTEN!
THIS WJLL BE GOOD
Dance Saturday night
Robarts’ Hall
REMEMBER,
The Two Girls Cafe still excel in
those famous Sunday dinners. Try
them.
Real estate bought and sold. An
chorage Realty Company, Fourth
avenue, between C and D.
Leave packages at The Model for
Matanuska, Palmer Canyon and
Moose creek. Four cents a oound
per 100 pounds, and 5 cents per
pound under that weight. Leave
Anchorage every Sunday.
A. C. McMASTER.