The Cordova Daily Times
Only Afternoon Paper In Alaska jWith Associated Press News
VOLUME m. NUMBER 132,_< ■< >m >< >VA, ALASKA, MONDAVj MAY 7, 1917. I'KFCE TEN CENTS
RUSSIANS VOTE
r ID 81 THE
(By Associated Press)
PETUOGRAD, May 7. — The in
cipient revolution which disturbed in
ternal Russia last week, has ended,
and a council of workmen and sol
ydiers voted Iheir confidence in the
provisional government by a large ma
jority.
PRESIDENT TO
HAVE CONTROL
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, May 7. — The con
stantly increasing cost of foodstuffs
has resulted in Congressman Lever
introducing a bill in the house, au
thorizing a survey of the resources
of the country and placing the author
ity to regulate production and distri
bution in the hands of the president.
• UNABLE AGREE
ON DRAFT
AGE
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, May 7. — The con
ferees are struggling with the war
and army bill. Thus far they have
been unable to agree on the draft age,
the administration leaders favoring
from 21 to 27 years, while some mem
bers of the committee want it from
21 to 35.
(By Associated Press)
COPENHAGEN, May 7. — The Ger
man government, by making conces
sions to the munition workers, has
ended the strike. It is now stated
that 300 plants, employing 210,000
workers were effected.
Among the concessions made by the
government are compliance with the
demands of the union for the estab
lishment of a standing commission
of labor representatives which shall
have a voice in the food distribution in
Greater Berlin, a promise that strik
ers will not be punished by being sent
to the front, explicit assurances of
adequate food rations and effective
measures against evasions of the food
regulations by the rich.
—♦
NEW MAIL CONTRACTS
HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
♦ - ♦
Three new mail contracts in Alaska
have been awarded by the postofl'ice
department for the summer, covering
routes in the Copper river valley. The
first was awarded Fred Nichols, the
storekeeper at 1‘axson, for two round
trips between Gulkana and Dempsey,
the postoffice supplying the Slate
creek section.
Another contract was awarded to
F. E. Nye for three round trips from
Gulkana to McKinley, the latter post
office supplying the Valdez creek
points.
Dean Officer was awarded a con
tract for carrying the mail twice a
month from McCarthy to the Nizlua
section during the mining season.
-«
COPPER REMAINS FIRM.
(By Associated Press)
NEW YORK, May 7. — Copper re
mains increasingly firm, with a large
volume of business in sight.
-♦
JAPAN TO BE REPRESENTED.
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, May 7. — It is ex
pected Japan will send an emissary
to the United States to join in the war
conference.
-«
The Signal Corps announces that
the sending of night letters, while
the cable is out of commission, has
been suspended.
-♦
A business meeting of the Presby
terian congregation will be held at the
church on Friday evening.
BELGIUM RELIEF
DUNCE TNIS
WEEK
The Belgian relief committee met at
the home of Mrs. W. W. Council this
afternoon and organized hy the elec
tion of the following temporary offi
cers: President, Mrs. W. W. Coun
cil; secretary, Mrs. A. Courtwright;
treasurer, Mrs. Caleb Corser. A dance
was decided upon as a means for the
raising of money for this committee,
full particulars of which will be an
nounced in tomorrow's paper. It is
the intention to give this affair the
latter part of the week and the pub
lis will be called upon to donate what
ever services are necessary for the
success of the dance. Any ladies who
are willing to contribute towards the
refreshments of the evening will
please phone Mrs. J. V. Lydick, chair
man of htat committee, No. 86.
Other towns are engaged in this
laudable work of doing their bit to
relieve the distress of the people of
stricken Belgium, and that the ef
forts of the Cordova ladies will meet
with a generous response there Is
no doubt. The town should turn out
en masse and its people thus show
their sympathy and friendship towards
the smallest and- most poverty stricken
nation among our allies in the great
European war.
BRITimiDE
LINE
(By Associated Press)
LONDON, May 7. — The fighting
has been renewed at Bullecourt and
the British troops are progressing to
the town of Lies and astride the Hin
denbrug line. The German Ioshch dur
wrre enormous,
and the battleground is covered with
their dead.
-♦
COL. ROOSEVELT ENDORSES
“THE BATTLE CRY OF PEACE”
Letter from ex-President Roosevelt,
to J. Stuart Blackton, author of “The
Battle Cry of Peace,” which will be
shown tonight at the Empress theatre
at 8 sharp, admission 50 cents:
My Dear Mr. Blackton:
I wish you all success in your en
terprise. Every man worth being
called a man should realize that if he
has the right to vote, then it is his
duty to bear arms. We Americans
claim to be a nation of freedom.
Freemen do their own fighting. They
do not hire other people to do their
fighting for them; and if they are not
fit and willing to do their own fight
ing they are unfit to be freemen. The
duty of military service should be as
widespread as the right to vote. Sin
cerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Oyster Bay, N. Y.
-4
LOCAL JOTTINGS.
A. J. Day, formerly agent for the
Northern Commercial Company at
Ruby, has recently returned from the
states, where he organized a corpora
tion for carrying on a banking busi
ness at the lower river camp.
-4
The Admiral Watson is reported in
Juneau this morning, and is due to
arrive in Cordova on Wednesday.
The Admiral Farragut Is expected
from the westward Wednesday.
L. H. Carvey, an interior mining
man, has returned from the states to
spend the summer in the Nizinu dis
trict.
The Waif arrived last evening from
Valdez, and will sail for Katalla to
morrow morning.
Dr. W. W. Council will leave on the
Waif tomorrow to join George C.
Hazelet at Katalla in a bear hunt.
Joe Miller and Carl Johnson left
for the north end of the Copper River
railway on work for the company.
W. II. King, of Valdez, is spending
a few weeks in Cordova on a vacation.
Harry Warren, a Fairbanks freight
er, arrived from the interior on yes
terday's train.
Miss Celeste Barrus entertained a
few friends very pleasantly at her
home on Saturday evening.
(By Associated Press)
SEATTLE, May 7. — Thomas
Tracey, a member of the Industrial
Workers of the World, was acquitted
of the charge of murdering Jefferson
Beard in a pitched battle at Everett
on November 5 last, after the jury
had been out all night. The prosecu
tion made a hard fight for conviction,
contending that the Industrial Work
ers to tiie number of 260 went from
Seattle to Everett on the steamer
Vernon, “with the avowed purpose of
breaking the city ordinance;" “that
the sheriff and 160 citizen deputies
went to the dock to turn the boat
back; that while the sheriff was par
leying with the leaders on the boat the
firing was begun from the boat, and
the deputies returned the fire.”
Counsel for the defense held that
both Beard and Curtiss were killed
by cross-fire from men on a dock be
yond the Verona, whose bullets swept
the steamer’s deck and also the dock
full of deputies; that street speakers
in Everett were severely beaten by
vigilantes; that 41 men were taken
from Everett on October 30, and beat
en so severely that half their num
ber received treatment at the Seattle
city hospital; that the Verona expedi
tion was intended to assert the con
stitutional right of free speech.
—♦
(By Associated Press)
PETItOGItAD, May 7. — The Rus
sian troops are forbidden to fraternize
with enemy troops, while the Ger
the Russian to the French fronts.
-♦
ARTIILERI MIS
(By Associated Press)
PARIS, May 7. — The German coun
ter attacks along the whole French
front have been repulsed. Since April
17 the French took 21,000 prisoners.
The German losses are frightful, whole
battalions being destroyed by the
French artillery.
-7-T-+
WELL KNOWN MINING MAN
DIES SUDDENLY IN CALIFORNIA.
L. L. James, Sr., formerly of Fair
banks and Seward, died suddenly last
week in San Francisco from pneu
monia.
Mr. James was interested in mining
properties in various parts of Alaska,
principally in the Fairbanks district.
He was in California, which is his old
home, looking after his large land
and oil interests at the time of his
death.
He was a member of the Arctic
Brotherhood and Pioneers of Alaska,
having been honored at different times
with the highest offices afforded by
both organizations.
At the time of his death Mr. James
was 56 years old, and leaves a widow
and two sons, Bennett and Deander,
who reside at present in Seward. He
is also survived by his mother and
four brothers, who were with him dur
ing the time of his fatal illness.
{400^000,000 BE
LOANED ALLIES
(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, May 7. — The gov
ernment Is lending Great Britain
$100,000,000 more, making the total
loans to the allies average $400,000,
000 monthly.
-«
U. S. Commissioner Vinal of Idita
rod, who held the office for years, has
resigned IUb office, the resignation to
toke effect some time in the early
summer. John Dunn, of Ruby, has
been appointed to fill the vacancy.
FDR BIGGER
l I
(By United I’r<?«)
DBS MOINES, May 7 *- Aroused to
the need of Increasing the nation's
food supply as a war measure, Iowa
is resounding to the greatest farming
campaign in its history, i*
Governor W. L. Harding’s special
message to the legislature, which Im
mediately appropriated $100,000 to
push the campaign, resulted in a com
mission of farm exports thing appoint
ed to lead the movement for increas
ing and conserving the food wield.
The commission at onee announced
that labor shortage was the most
threatening sign. Among the steps
it took to mobilize farm labor was a
call upon high school boy* to work on
farms. Farm labor bureaus are to be
established throughout- the state.
Churches, schools, commercial bodies
and individual business men and man
ufacturers are being uraed to co-oper
ate by encouraging city dwellers to
help on farms during rush periods.
Nearly two thousand > acunt lots in
Des Moines are being planted under
the auspices of a city gardening com
mission. Railroads are considering
seeding the soil along iheir right of
way, while counties arc taking up the
question of cultivating waste places
along public highways. The home gar
dening movement is sweeping the
state.
Women suffragists, inspired by a
special plea from Governor Harding,
are planning to mobilize women for
farm labor and to engage In canning
and preserving on a large scale. The
home economics movement, with em
phasis on using every table scrap and
cutting out of the garbage waste, has
taken on new life.
The state commission is planning
to send a flying squadron of experts
through the state, urging farmers to
their utmost efforts as a patriotic
duty.
Anticipating a long war the com
mission called upon fartj^ to save
t,r<— Busmars, xu!lo.
from animal diseases, in more
poultry and more hogs and use better
feed.
COMMITTEE OF SEVEN
PLANS OKLAHOMA CAMPAIGN
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., May 7.—
A committee of seven appointed by
the governor, Including three state of
ficials, will determine a practical me
thod of increasing food crops in Okla
homa this year and outline a detailed
plan for suggestion to producers. In
this movement Governor R. L. Wil
liams joined the executives of twelve
central states in the greatest food
drive of history.
President Frank M. Gault, of the
state board of agriculture; State La
bor Commissioner Wiliam G. Ashton;
Bank Commissioner J. D. Lankford,
are the state officials who will take
part in the propaganda. The four
citizen members of the commission
will be named later.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN
FIELDS AROUND ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, May 7. — In the great
farming districts in southern Illinois
and eastern Missouri and Arkansas to
day they are preparing to contribute
their share in filling Uncle Sam’s mar
ket basket. In practically every sec
tion around St. Louis there is in
creased acreage. Women rnd child-,
ren are working in the fields to help
relieve the labor shortage.
In the larger cities backyards usual
ly given over to flower cultivation,
this year will yield lettuce, cabbage,
radishes and other truck. This back
yard gardening, stimulated through
newspaper and magazine campaigns,
has released many acres of farm lands
that have been previously given over
to truck garden cultivation. The
home chicken raising industry also has
been Installed in many residence lots.
In the farming regions an increase in
poultry raising was also noticeable.
SALESMEN LEND A HAND
IN THE NORTHWEST.
MINNEAPOLIS, May 7. — Three
thousand salesmen are preaching big
ger crops to the farmers of the North
west today. Resolved to take every
possible step to spur the thousands of
farmers in the vast Northwest to pro
duce the maximum crop, ull salesmen
with headquarters in Minneapolis are
talking big acreage and gigger crops
everywhere they go. Many deal di
rectly with farmers and will carry the
call of agricultural mobilization direct
to the soil.
Wholesale firms are behind this
move and are urging their country
trade to work for bigger crops. Rail
roads, through every agency, are ad
vertising the need of Increased pro
duction. Posters will be displayed on
fences, barns and sign posts through
out the Northwest, calling on farmers
to work for larger crops.
GOOD HI THE
Note—F. A. McKenzie, n well known
Canadian newspaperman, who has
been with the Canadian forces on the
western front and had exceptionable
opportunities to see them In action,
has written the United Press a series
of stories on the Americans with this
expeditionary force.
The first of these stories is printed
herewith.
Although the series was written be
fore America made her entrance into
the world war and before Canadian
troops achieved their latest glory in
the taking of Vlmy ridge, they give
a vivid picture of Americans now
fighting in France and those who per
ished in that fighting.
(By United Press)
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
THE FIELD, April G.—(By Mail) —
When the great war began, there was
a new American invasion of Canada
men offering their services to fight
Germany. Numerous United States
army officers resigned their commls
sions and enlisted in the Canadian
contingent as privates. Ranch owners
and cowpunchers, quiet lads from
Maine and adventurers from the Texus
border, engineers galore, schoolmas
ters and bankers, sailors and lumber
jacks, flocked to Toronto, Winnipeg
and Vancouver. At one time an at
tempt was made to form a separate
American legion. Although the re
cruits came forward, it was ultimately
abandoned. The Americans are scat
tered among the hundreds of Canadian
battalions. The crack corps of Can
adian regulars has 250 of them in its
ranks, and wants more.
What has been the record of these
Americans? It is found in the rolls
of honor of the British army. Dozens
have earned commissions; hundreds
have died fighting. I asked the com
mander of a famous battalion which,
although it only went to the front
last summer, has already earned great
?lory, about his Americans. "We had
scorn* or ilnuu, no n,.t. -not r.,,,
will not find them here. You will
rind their graves on the Somme.”
Americans have received at least
four distinguished conduct medals,
still more military crosses and fully
i score of military medals. One Am
erican among the Canadian received
the Croix de Guerre. The U. S. army
and navy officers who joined the Can
adians have made a record of their
own. Take, for example. Major
Houghton, of a machine gun battery.
Houghton was nearly four years in
the U. S. navy, and wears today on
his uniform the ribbons of the West
Indian and San Juatt campaigns,
alongside of his recently earned Brit
ish military cross. "The United
States navy knew that if It had not
been for Britain, Germany would have
taken sides with Spain in the Spanish
war,” he said, when asked why he
joined. “This was not the only dirty
trick Germany tried to pl*y us. It
took the opportunity of paying off old
scores.”
Houghton telegraphed to a friend
to join him. “Sure; which side,'
came the quick reply. There was no
question of his side. Being a ma
chine gun expert, he was welcomed
and given his commission. He soon
came to the front. He has taken part
in all the big fighting of the past
year and eight months, except when
he was recovering from a wound. The
share the machine gunners take in a
fight can be judged from their name,
the "Suicide Club.” He Teceived his
military cross at the New Year, not
for one specially prominent act, but
for continuous gallantry, initiative and
dash.
Houghton once wrote a famous let
ter to a friend in Chicago, giving his
real opinion of the Hun. It was the
kind of letter that would scorch the
hide off an alligator. His friend pub
lished it, and since then the major
has received hundreds of letters from
pro-Germans threatening him. "I
know who you are," one angry corres
pondent wrote. “I will hunt you down
and kill you when you come back, if
It takes ten years." “It looks as
though I’m safer in the trenches,"
Houghton chuckled.
But it was not the angry letter that
led Major Houghton recently to refuse
an offer of long leave. "I’ve been
through the dreary waiting time, when
the Huns were pounding us," he said.
“Do you think I am going to leave
now, when we are just about to smash
the Hun? Never on your life.”
-«
L. J. Hohl and L. K. i’addison, rep
resenting the Oro Dredging Company
of California, arrived in Fairbanks re
cently for the purpose of Inspecting
the ground on Coldstream optioned
by August Conradt and E. B. Collins
last fall, fur the purpose of determin
ing its value as a dredging ground.
They will prospect the ground with a
Keystone drill.
AWN ROAD
I
The new Intimacy sure to develop
between the United States and Can
ada on account of their Joint efforts
in the war against Germany, ought to
be made to yield material advantage
to both when the war is over.
The United States has a vulnerable
possession in Alaska. When the war
Is over, Canada ought to allow the
United States to tie itself fast to Alas
ka by means of a railway running
through British Columbia and Yukon
territory.
A growing part of the American de
mocracy lives up around the Arctic
circle, and connects with the parent
stem by a water route frequently dan
gerous and always inconvenient. The
only method of linking Alaska over
land with the United States is by
means of a railroad through western
Canada.
This railway will not be constructed
as a commercial proposition, by pri
vate ownership for many years to 1
come. Canadians are not commercial- '
ly interested in running a north and
south railway through British Colum
bia. Canadian roads in that part of
the dominion run east and west, con
necting the Atlantic with the Pacific.
Only the United States government
has a special interest in constructing
r railway toward the Arctic circle.
Why, therefore, shouldn't Canada
tgree, at the end of the war, to per
mit an American' owned line to be
built through British Columbia and the
Yukon territory, so that the far north
jrn democracy can be permanently
anited with its governing head?
The concession to lay the tracks
for such a road would include the
grant of a narrow tract of ground on
both sides of the line, to be protected,
f occasion arises, by the United States
military authorities.
If the United States were at wrnr
with a Pacific power, under present
■onditions, Alaska might well fall a
ure.v to an lnviAilinu Thfl Am.
■Vrican navy could not be used to pro
tect the Alaskan coast with so many
superior reasons existing for its pro
tective power being divided between
guarding the Pacific states and re
maining in reserve for any additional
enemies that might attempt to attack
the Atlantic frontage. Enemy troops
would meet but a handful of garrison
ing troops in Alaska, who would soon
be overcome. '
But with an American owned rail
way running to Alaska, United States
troops could be sent north in suffi
cient numbers to save Alaska from ,
falling into an enemy's hands.
If Canada were to allow such a rail
way to be constructed, it would be
agreed by the United States that in
the wholly improbable event of a war
between this country and Canada, the
dominion would have the right to
seize the railway.
The grant of the right of way for
the construction of the railway need
not necessarily be made to the United
States government. It is the Euro
pean custom of governments to sub
sidize companies for such purposes as
this.
Canada would receive great benefit
from an American-Alaskan railway
system. The northern part of British
Columbia would be opened to settle
ment, and pioneors would lie encour
aged to move into Yukon territory.
British Columbia, with an area of
355,855 square miles, has a popula
tion of only 502,000, less than two peo
ple to the square mile. Yukon terri
tory, with an area of 207,000 square 1
miles, has only 8,500 inhabitants. Yu '
kon is practically a lost corner of
Canada, and it would be united to the ;
dominion by the American railway
line as fully as Alaska would be joined
to its own political center.
A railway to Alaska ought to go :
north 900 miles to the Yukon boun
dary, then 250 miles west and not |
strike Alaska near any part of the
southern group of islands known as
the Alexander archipelago. Branch
lines could run to Juneau and Skag
way; but for the main line to ven
ture too near the coast might place
it in danger of being cut by a venture
some enemy.—Juneau Dispatch.
-♦
The Huby Derby, run recently, was
won by George Jimmie, the prize be
ing $325, nnd the time 5:23:34. Alec
llrown took second money and Walter
Goyne third. Jimmie won by five sec
onds over his opponent, who in turn ,
defeated Goyne by five minutes and
eleven seconds.
-4
W. A. Geary, of the firm of Geary ;
& Duckett, arrived at Whitehorse re
cently with a sledload of furs from
their fox ranch at Teslin. Among the >
pelts was one of a black fox, killed i
in the wild, but the remainder were i
from domestic animats, and formed a i
very valuable collection. i
SHOW LIGHTS
Many complaints recently have been
made that the owners and masters of
motor boats operating out of Cordova
and In this vicinity are careless as to
Allowing the regulations, which pre
scribe that certain lights shall be
shown by the vessels.
The regulations governing the equip
ment of motor boats and as to when
the lights shall be shown is very ex
plicit, and a fine of *100 is provided
for any violation.
Deputy Collector of Customs George
Kennedy this morning said he has In
formed the motor boat owners of the
requrlements of the regulations, and
any person found violating any of the
regulations will be fined.
Among other requirements the act
>rovides:
Every motor boat of classes two and
hree shall carry the following lights:
First—A bright white light in the
orepart of the vessel as near the
item as practicable, so constructed as
o show an unbroken light over an arc
if the horizon of twenty points of the
ompass, so fixed as to throw the light
en points on each side of the vessel,
lamely, from right ahead to two
mints abaft the beam on either side,
rhe glass or lens shall be of not less
han the following dimensions:
Class Two—Nineteen square inches.
Class Three — Thirty-one square
nches.
Second—A white light aft to show
11 around the horizon.
Third—On the starboard side a
;reen light so constructed as to show
n unbroken light over an arc of the
lOrizon ten points of the compass,
0 fixed as to throw the light from
ight ahead to two points abaft the
learn on the starboard side. On the
lort side a red light so constructed
a to show' an unbroken light over an
ire of the horizon of ten points of
he compass, so fixed as to throw the
ight from right ahead to two points
1 baft the beam on the nnrt side
Section 7. That a fine not exceed
ng one hundred dollars may be im
>osed for any violation of this act.
Phe motor boat shall be liable for the
aid penalty and may be seized and
iroceeded against, by way of libel, in
he district court of the United States
or any district within which such
essel may be found.
-4
VEATHER MAN IS AGAIN
DISGRACING HIMSELF.
The snowstorm of Saturday night
vas a kind of Hindenburg backfire of
>ld winter in his retreat. There was
10 consideration of the fact that it
vas full time for the baseball play
;rs to begin practice, for the mated
lirds to build their nests, for the
longs of spring to be chanted.
Again, old Winter seemed to forget
hat all his title to this region is but
i squatter's title, and that in May he
las no hold on us that would have
tny standing in any court. About three
nehes of the “beautiful” fell during
:he night, but Old Sol was quickly on
:he job Sunday morning, as a gentle
■eminder that winter had outlawed its
velcome hereabouts until the long
lark days again visit us in the fall.
-»
ALASKA ROAD COMMISSION
TO GET HALF MILLION DOLLARS
A dispatch received by Major Davi
lon, of the Alaska road commission,
rom Colonel Richardson, states that
ho conferees of the house and senate
lave agreed on the regular army ap
iroprlation bill carrying the $500,000
ippropriation for Alaska roads asked
or by the commission. The bill will
low go to the president for signature
ind it is expected the money will be
nailable within a short time.
#
JIG OVATION IS GIVEN
ALLIED COMMISSIONERS.
(By Associated Press)
ST. LOUIS, May 7. — A great pub
ic demonstration was given Joffre,
lrivianl and party upon their arrival
n this city.
-♦
The cable is still out of commission,
ind the whereabouts of the cable ship
[Jurnside unknown. In the meantime
he Daily Times is only receiving a
jart of its regular telegraphic service,
ind this over the Canadian line.
-»
That Alaska fishermen may keep In
ouch with the market in the states,
Jenator Heckman of Ketchikan has
ntroduced a memorial in the terrl
orial senate, urging the bureau of
isheries. In connection with the mili
ary and telegraph system, to bulletin
n every place touched by the system
he price of fish for that dap In Seat
le and Ketchlkun.
-* * —*