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SENATE CONFIRMS ALASKA’S NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
STARTUNG REVELATIONS AFFECTING GOVERNOR J. F. X STRONG
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GOVERNOR THOMAS RIGGS
WILL SOON BE IN JUNEAU
WASHINGTON, April 13.—The sen
ate yesterday confirmed the nomina
tion of Thomas Riggs, Jr., to be gov
ernor of Alaska, following hearings
by the senate committee on territories
of charges made by John Ballaine of
mismanagement of Alaska govern
railway affairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Riggs hope to leave
for Juneau within a week.
A Brief Sketch
Mr. Riggs was born October 17,
1873, in Howard county, Maryland.
He was educated at the Emerson In
stitute, Washington, I). C., and at the
School of Science, Princeton Uni
versity.
His early experience in engineering
work was in mine surveying. In July,
1908, he passed the civil service ex
amination for togoprahic aid, United
States geological survey, but did not
serve under his appointment. Instead,
he was transferred to the Alaska boun
dary survey, under the state depart
ment, as assistant engineer, which
position he occupied until the work
was completed in 1914. During this
period the 141st meridian was sur
veyed and marked from St. Elias to
the shores of the Arctic ocean, a work
which involved great hardship and
v.jnsid z. able danger. He was the first
man to use horses for transportation
purposes north of the Porcupine river,
and their appearance caused great as
tonishment among the Indians and Es
kimos of the far North.
In 1911 and 1912 an epidemic of
smallpox broke out among the Indians
on the Porcupine river, which was so
successfully handled by Mr. Riggs,
with the assistance of the Canadian
and United States authorities, that
only one death occurred. He is thor
oughly familiar with Alaskan life and
conditions as well as with Alaskan to
pography and climate.
Mr. Riggs was married in 1913 to
Miss Rene Coudert, daughter of the
late Frederick B. Coudert, a prom
inent banker of New York City, who
was commissioner for the United
States in the Bering sea controversy.
Mr. Riggs was appointed to mem
bership on the Alaskan engineering
commission on the formation of that
body in 1914, and has since been en
gaged in the construction of the gov
ernment railroad in Alaska.
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SIX SENATORS HAVE DIED
SINCE WAR DECLARATION
WASHINGTON. April 13.—The sen
ate adjourned today out of respect to
Senator Broussard of Louisiana, who
died yesterday. He was the sixth
senator who has died since the United
States entered the war.
SENATE PASSES MEASURE
FOR WHEAT INCREASE
WASHINGTON, April 13.—The sen
ate today recorded itself in favor of
$2.50 wrheat, and the measure now
awaits the vote of the house.
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FISH MARKET
Ketchikan Prices
KETCHIKAN, April 13.—Prices for
fish today at noon were as follows:
Halibut, firsts, 13c; seconds, 9 1-4c;
sable, 4c; red rock, 2c.
Seattle Prices
SEATTLE, April 13.—Seattle prices
on fish at noon today were as fol
lows: Halibut, 14 1-4c; ling cod, 3c;
red cod, 3 1-2 cents; sable fish, 7c.
ENEMY ALIEN S EFFECTS
nil HISTORIC DEWS
MARTINEZ, Cal., April 13.—Evi.
dence that the German cruiser Leip
sic sunk twenty-six ships in the Pa
cific before being sent to the bottom
by British warships off South Amer
ica is disclosed in papers found
among ihe effects of Walter Peters,
an alleged dangerous enemy alien held
by the sheriff here.
Peters is alleged to have had maps
of San Francisco and Seattle harbors
in his possession.
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WASHINGTON, April 13.—The
bronze statute of Frederick the
Great has been removed from the
facade of the War College building
and packed away for safekeeping.
This action is understood to have
been taken at the request of Presi
dent Wilson, who noticed the bitter
criticisms expressed in congress and
elsewhere to the retention of the
statue in a public place.
The statue was a present of Kaiser
Wilhelm to the nation during Presi-I
dent Roosevelt’s administration.
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SETTLEiTTERS
WASHINGTON, April 13.—Secre-j
tary of Commerce Redfield left for |
Seattle today to attend the American- j
Canadian fisheries conference, and |
also to make Liberty loan speeches, j
He will go to Alaska later.
Will Go To Ketchikan
SEATTLE, April 13.—It is expected
that Secretary Redfield will go to
Ketchikan to attend the fisheries con
ference.
The Coming Conference
WASHINGTON, April 13.—The
Ameriean-Canadian fisheries confer
ence will hold hearings in Seattle
beginning April 24, after which hear
ings will be held in Vancouver and
Prince Rupert, B. C., Ketchikan, Alas
ka, and at other places in the North
west which the conference may deem j
desirable. It has already held ses-j
sions in Washington, Boston, Glou-;
cester, and St. Johns, N. B. At these j
hearings several subjects came with |
special prominence before the confer
ence. Chief among these were the
limitations now imposed upon Ameri
can fishing vessels in Canadian ports
and the restrictions which American
law placed upon Canadian vessels in
our own ports. Of less general im
portance, but still having weight with
the States of Vermont and New York,
were certain existing conditions in
Lake Champlain.
The hearing developed the fact that
a large increase in the production of
fish for the food supply of this coun
try was both necessary and practic
(Continued on Page Five) :
Juneau Paper Alleges He Is Not a Citizen of
the United States, and Presents Evidence
That He Left Family in New Bruns
wick—Fails to Refute Charges
JUNEAU, April 13.—The Daily Em
pire today openly charges that Gover
nor J. F. A. Strong is not and never has
been a citizen of the United States.
It says he was not born in Kentucky,
as he professes, and the story of his
having been a major in a South Amer
ican army is mere moonshine.
The Empire alleges that Strong
war born at Thorntown, New Bruns
wick, was educated at the normal
normal school at Frederickton, that
province, taught school for several
years, and ran a store at Wickham,
N. B., two or three years. Continuing,
the Empire says:
Left Family in Canada
“Strong was married to Miss Nes
bitt of Frederickton, and three chil
dren were born to the marriage, two]
daughters and a son. His former wife
and two daughters reside at Freder
ickton where the elder. Janey Strong
teaches school, and the younger, Bes-|
sie Strong, cares for her invalid!
mother and keeps house for her and!
her sister. The son, Robert, works in!
the lumber camps, and is of no help!
to his mother.
“Strong affidavits of persons who
searched the records state that Strong
never declared his intentions or be
came a citizen after that time.”
Wife Recognizes Photograph
The Empire prints as proof of its j
statements affidavits and statements1
of scores of witnesses from Puget!
sound and New Brunswick, including]
Strong’s former wife and his brother, j
and former Thorntown neighbors. It,
says that Strong's former wife at
Frederickton recognized photographs
of the governor of Alaska as those of
her busband.
Swore He Was British Subject
Strong is said to have failed in
business at Frederickton in 1887 or
1888, and left for the West. He was
in Butte, Tacoma, Victoria, Fairhaven,
Seattle, and again in Tacoma. While
in Victoria hia name was on the
voters’ list, and the Empire prints a
fac simile of the declaration of Strong
in which he declares that he is a
British subject. This declaration was
made in 1889. Strong located in Fair
haven in 1890. Mrs. Strong and others
who, recognized his photograph, and
all his New Brunswick relatives and
friends knew that the Fairhaven news
paperman was the present governor
of Alaska, as did hundreds of Alas
kan! and residents of the state of
Washington.
Statements Verified
The Empire states that E. E. Paine,
special agent of the interior depart
ment, checked up the information and
verified the testimony submitted, and
discovered much more evidence, all
ctWJTrm i ng the story.
Paine found many persons in New
Brunswick who recognized Strong’s
photograph.
The Empire concludes its expose
with (he statement that the interior
department asked Governor Strong to
answer the charges, and he completely
failed to meet them.
OREGON IS FIRST STATE
TO ACQUIRE HONOR FLAG
WASHINGTON, April 13—Subscrip
tions for the first quarter of the Lib
erty bond drive now total $539,426,000,
or slightly over one-sixth of the mini
mum sought by Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo.
Flags Awarded
SAN FRANCISCO, April 13.—The
Twelfth district reserve t>ank an
nounces that honor Liberty loan flags
have been awarded to two Alaska
cities. m
Ketchikan and Anchorage
SEATTLE, April 13.—The following
has been received from Liberty loan
headquarters under date of the 12th:
"Oregon has been awarded an honor
flag, being the first state to)achieve
the distinction.
"Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a
flag today, making, with Ketchikan,
two Alaska towns now flying honor
flags.
"The total number of flags awarded
in the Twelfth district is now 173.
"Wheeler, Ore., has been given nine
stars, and Cloverdale, Ore., five.
“California is trying to be the sec
ond state with an honor flag. Official
figures for the district are so far be
hind the actual subscriptions that it.
would be useless to send them.
“VAN SMITH.”
SUMMER SHIES OF
lUSd STEAMSHIPS
Beginning with the sailing of the
steamship Northwestern from Seattle
May 8, all the big passenger liners of
the Alaska Steamship Company will
call at Skagway on their voyages to
ports in Southwestern Alaska, accord
ing to an announcement made re
cently.
The new service will be inaugu
rated by the steamship Alaska, which
will also be the first vessel of the
Alaska Steamship Company’s fleet to
?o through to Anchorage, Cook inlet,
this year. Homeward-bound, the
steamship Alameda alone will call in
it Skagway, while the other vessels
>f the company's Southwestern
Alaska fleet will come to Seattle from
Anchorage and Southwestern Alaska
sorts via Juneau and Ketchikan.
Begin New Schedule
The spring and summer sailing
icehdule of ‘- the Alaska Steamship
Company went into effect Friday with
the sailing of the steamship Jefferson
for Southeastern Alaska. According
to the new schedule the Jefferson will
sail from Seattle to Skagway and way
ports April 5, April 17, April 29 and
every twelve days thereafter, calling
at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg,
Douglas, Juneau, Treadwell, Haines
and Skagway.
The new sailing schedule for ves
sels of the Southwestern and South
eastern Alaska fleet of the Alaska
Steamship Company went into effect
Monday with the sailing of the j
steamship Alaska for ports in the |
North, The Northwestern will sail
April 16, the Alameda April 24 and
the Alaska again May 1, and there
after the sailings of these liners will
be the 1st, 8th. 16th, and 24th of each
month. The steamship Northwestern,
sailing from Seattle September 1, will
be the last of the Southwestern Alaska
liners to call in Skagway northbound.
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The steamer Alaska arrived at Orca
cannery at 11 o’clock this morning,;
where it is discharging freight and
is due in Cordova about 5 o’clock.
FRENCH REINFORCE BRITISH
AND PREPARE TO ATTACK
SENATOR STONE STRICKEN
UNO IN SERIOUS CONDITION
WASHINGTON, April 13.—Senator
Stone of Missouri, who suffered a
stroke of paralysis while riding on a
street car on Wednesday last, is re- j i
ported to be worse, after spending a
restless night last night. His condi-; i
tion is said to be serious. I ;
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PEACE PROJECTS
PARIS, April 13..—A letter which
Emperor Karl of Austria wrote to
Prince Sextus of Bourbon, outlining
means by which France might attaini
peace, was upon its receipt im-i
i mediately- communicated to France’s;
allies, 'says the Petit Parisien.
The inter-allied conference unani-j
rnously decided that there was no oc
casion to act on the emperor’s sugges
tion.
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TO MEET FOR
The first unit of the Home Guard,
military company, which is to con-!
; sist of 125 men. has been selected by
the National Council of Defense, and!
another company will be formed as!
soon as the necessary equipment ar-j
rives. John Gillis, or the naval radio'
station, has been selected as company j
commander and a full attendance of
all the members is requested at Eagle
hall on Tuesday evening for the pur
pose of organizing. The personnel of
the first unit is as follows:
Geo. C. Hazelet, M. J. Sullivan, H. A.
Slater, H. I. O’Neill, A. J. Adams, I).
H. Chase, \\r. W. Council, Thomas S.
Scott. Bartley Howard, M. M. Brock,
H. G. Steel, C. A. Derry, G. W. James,
Geo. Larey, H. B. Wolking, Wm. Law
ley, R. K. Brown, Roy Fraisure. James |
Lyons, W. E. Bollinger, E. E. Bam
rud, Paul Le Chevalier, G. W. Edge
combe, Chester Mellison, C. P. Mickel
son, R. B. Giles, C S. Bratton, J. C.
Smith, Chas. Foyston, L. D. Bracken, '
J. D. Bogart, C. R. Byers, Geo. Steel,
D A. Mosser, L. Wain, H. V. Hoskins,
D. T. Phillips, P. H. Singleton, C. H.
Scheffler, K. E Holden, C. L. Hale, j ‘
Geo. Dooley, J. A. Cohrs, A. Cohen, i *
Chas. Cerney, Calvin C. Hazelet, J. B. j
Sapiro, F. A. Jones, J. A. Terry, N.! '
Casperson, Charles Getty, W. R. Hil- £
lery, Sam Brightwell, »V. F. Nichols,
Chas. Goodall, C. Winkler, E. W. Metz,
dorf, Jerry Perry, E. P. Harwood,! 1
Charles Game, E. A. Fletcher. G. A.|*
Harmon, C. II. Hill, F. M. Foster, J.! (
V. Lydick, D. C. Czerwenka, T. N. *
Hubbert, 0". M. Rosswog, Ben Ferrell.
M. J. Scheuch, F. J. O’Neill, H. F. 1
Ballard, E V. Boyle, Howell I. Lewis, 1
G. B. Stewart, N. Branden, M. S. Wil- (
son, Abe Courtright, Albert Clinkin- (
beard, Richard E. Lewis, Walter Gaff
ney, J. N. Steffgen, N. J. Smith, A 1
Van Vechten, S. S. McKinney, A. McN j f
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(Continued on Page Four) | v
DATELESS.—Pressing the attack
igainst the British southwest of Ar
mentieres, the Germans have extended
their efforts to other fronts, and have
clashed with the French and Ameri
cans.
In the north the Germans are ad
vancing toward Bailloul. On the
aicardy front they captured Hangard.
jut later were driven out.
Repulsed in their efforts to gain
he Messines-Wytschaete ridge, the
3ermans are endeavoring to widen
he salient south of Armentieres in
in effort to outflank the hill posi
ions.
Preparing to Strike Back
DATELESS.—The British armies
ire at bay in France and Flanders,
rhe end of the first phase of the gi
;antic struggle is considered to have
jeen passed. The announcement by
3eneral Haig that the French army
s moving to his support is the first
ndication that the allies are ready to
strike back.
The blow may not fall in Flanders
tr Picardy, but may be aimed at some
part of the line where General Foch
believes he can cut through the Ger
man front and compel them to relax:
pressure on the British.
Intimation of German Losses
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY. Aprtf
13.—Two strong attacks in the vicin
ity of Noyon were repulsed easily,
but have given rise to the question
as to whether or not the Germans are
about to make another drive on the
southern flank.
A hundred Germans divisions have
been thrown into the fight, and seven
ty of these have been withdrawn. An
indication of the. losses sustained fc ’
the Germans can be gained when it is
remembered that a German division
is not withdrawn until it has lost a
minimum of 2,500 of its strength. Ger
man divisions on this front number
13.570 men.
Rheims Is Burning
PARIS, April 13.—Rheims is burn
ing. The French are attempting to
limit the burning area, orking under
a heavy bombardment The Germans
last night renewed their attacks in
the Apremont forest. rl te Americans
in this sector, in conjunction with
the French, combatted with vigor and
broke up a majority of the German
attacks. At one point where the en
emy had gained a footing he was
thrown out by counter-attacks.
The Somme village of Hangard and
he adjoining cemetery have been re
gained from the Germans.
Fighting on British Front
LONDON, April 13.—The German
attack has been repulsed west o?
VIerville, says fhe official statement
today. The British advanced their
ine slightly near Festubert, and took
i few prisoners.
Heavy fighting continues near
>leuve Kglise and Palverghem. Strong
lerman forces attacked early last
light east of Locos, and entered the
3ritish trenches at certain points.
Phey were ejected by counter-attacks.
V second enemy attack at the same
ilace was beaten off.
South of the Somme the British and
i'rench drove the Germans from lian
;ard, which they penetrated yesterday.
Stiff Fighting of Americans
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
'RANGE, April 13.—in an all-day bat
le on the American sector northwest
f Tool the Americans repulsed two
lerman attacks delivered in force,
'he Americans inflicted heavy cas
alties upon the enemy and captured
hirty-six prisoners. The American
asualties were slight and none was
aptured.
Much hand-to-hand fighting oceur
ed in the open. The American In
antry drove the Germans to then’
ront trenches, in which they gained a
emporary footing.