TANANA LEADER
J
Published Every Thursday at Tanana, Alaska.
Vtl I SAM J. CALLAHAN. EDITOR No. 45
Geo. M. Arhuckle. Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATESi
One Year ..
Six Months.
.$10.00:
. 5.00'
One Month .. J.00
Single Copy ....25
Advertising Nates on Application.
THE GERM OF THE TROUBLE
The evidence is accumulating that the people of Alaska
will not settle down into an attitude of passive indifference
. to the question of home rule, whicli President Taft saw fit
to make temporarily unapproachable by arraying his pres
tige and power against it. If there is no felicity in sight
for Alaskans who aspire to a more satisfactory administra
tion of their home affairs, the poor consolation is still ours
that the responsibility will rest where it rightfully belongs
and will cause trouble at the Washington end of the string
as well as the Alaska end of it. This will not be very sub
stantial compensation- -but it is true that misery loves com
pany and seldom fails to find it.
As far as Alaska is concerned, the evidence is all in
and her case is proven. The outcome is not owing to a
misunderstanding of facts, but to a false deduction from
them and a perversion of principle which naturally follows.
The germ of our trouble has its home in the idea expressed
by the President in New Mexico last fall. In discussing
the question of statehood for New Mexico a gentleman in
advertently spoke of the people’s right to self government;
whereupon, with a show of choler, hot to say rudeness, Mr.
Taft said: “You gentlemen had as well understand, once
for all, that you have NO rights except such as are granted
to you.”
The very facts,—isolation, lack of communication, wide
range of centers of population,— cited by the President as
obstacles to home rule, constitute the strongest reasons
why home rule is needed. The fact that the people have
no rights except such as are granted to them has been
forcibly thrust home to Alaskans for a long time, but it is a
pleasure to know that God, and not Mr. Taft, cat least has
the power to grant the right of opinion. Sometime, we
hope, such political leaders as Mr. Taft will find leisure to
ponder over the moral obligations of grantor and grantee
in matters of political right and material benefits one to
the other.
TFRRITflRIll nillR
ORGANIZED AT VALDEZ
Valdez Prospector, Nov. 24: Two days’ canvass lias secured 400
signatures in Valdez to an organization to work for lu me rule in (lie
territory. The paper carrying the signatures is headed by the follow
ing statement of purposes:
We, the undersigned citizens of Alaska, do hereby organ
ize ourselves and form the Alaska Territorial Club.
The purpose and object of this organization:
To advance the interests of Aiaska and particularly to in
dorse and aid our delegate in congress in his efforts toward
securing a territorial form of government for the territory of
Alaska.
This plan of campaign was originated by I. D. Flynn of Valdez,
and willi the aid of Charhs G. Ganty he has betn working at it ever
since he started tire effort in motion last Saturday. He proposes to en
list the services of active workers in other towns of Alaska and organ
ize a movement as wide as the territory in the cause. The plan is to
secure publicity for the demand for territorial government through the
press and b5' personal appeals to members of congress
Judge Wiekersham instantly approved the organization of the
movement as soon as he was told of it on his return from Coidova yes
terday. He took a copy of the petition with him to Seward to place in
the bands of workers there.
It is proposed to hold a public meeting in Valdez to crystallize the
sentiment shown by the signatures to the paper. This will be done
Friday or Saturday evening, on Judge Wickersliam’s return from the
westward.
TERRITORIAL CLUB FULLY ORGANIZED
Valdez Prospector, Dec. 2: The Territorial club held a meeting
Saturday in the federal court room which was largely attended. The
organization had been previously completed by the election of I D.
Flynn as president, E. E. Ritchie as vice-president, add Charles G.
Ganty as secretary and treasurer.
Judge Wiekersham addressed the meeting, discussing important
subjects upon which a territorial legislature could pass laws for the
benefit of the territory. He spoke of the need of revision of the mining
laws, and devoted considerable time to the tax on canned salmon, which
has has become such a sore spot with Alaskans since Captain Jarvis se
cured the passage through congress of a law permitting the salmon can
ners to pay their tax by making affidavits of the liberation of salmon
fry from their alleged hatcheries. Since the passage of that law Alaska
has received very little revenue from canneries.
The delegate extolled the purposes of the Territorial club and said
it was useless for him to try alone to get laws for Alaska enacted by
congress unless he could be actively backed by the people ot the terri
tory. He urged his hearers to work for the passage of the bills he has
introduced by writing to members of cougress, and in every way pos
sible arousing interest in them.
After the meeting a large number of new names were added to the
Jist of members of the club, which now exceeds 400. The secretary
has already sent letters to all important Alaska towns urging the organ
ization of similar clubs. Another meeting will be held late this week
in the city hall to consider means of publishing the work of the club.
TRANSFERRED
Oh, what have they done? Can you tell me, pray,
Why the Twenty-second is ordered away?
Away from this land of pure delight,
Of the gladsome day and the Arctic night,
Where the aurora borealis brightly beams
O’er the land of gold and the land of dreams.
Where the trails so smooth o’er the ice and snow
Make “mushing” a pleasure, all may know.
With your team of “huskies” and sled so strong,
Or on snowslioes or skees, with a gun along,
Where game is plenty and laws are fair,
The land of the moose, reindeer and bear.
Where the Eskimo wild and the “sourdough” tame
Know that “cheeehaco” money to all is fair game;
WThere bacon has “paystTeaks,” there’s nuggets in beans,
And all that here glitters is gold as it seems;
Where the land all about is fourteen-karat pure.
And fortunes for all are both fast and sure;
Where it seems like a pity to draw your pay,
And alfalfa crops are cut thtee times a day;
Where “hash” and “slum” are never seen,
And the commonest “chow” is peaches and cream;
Where there’s no practice marches for even a day,
And every man draws an increase of pay;
Where all are at peace, there's no cause for strife,
You’re never in danger to limb or to life.
No streetcars to worry, no “scorchers” to fear,
And life is one round of “skittles and beer;”
There’s no hospital beats, for duty’s a cinch,
And passes tire free, if it comes to a pinch.
And to think that they have to leave—
Does it make you wonder to think'they grieve?
Especially when you come to know
Of the hot, hot place to which they go.
They’re being seat out of this land of dreams
To one where they’ll wake with nightmare screams,
To “hike” all day ’neath the hot sun’s glow
And lather and sweat as on they go;
To camp at night on the burning sand
With snakes and reptiles on every hand;
To wake from a doze, with a longing sigh,
As they think of the Yukon rolling by—
The home they left in the Northland fair,
For the Texas desert bleak and bare;
The land of the bronco and long-horn ox,
Where’s the costume's a straw mat and pair of socks;
Where the only game is sandflies and fleas,
And the only shade is from cacti trees:
Where, when they pass away from this vale of woe.
And their lives have been such that they’re sent below,
With blankets and furs they’re covered o'er,
So they’ll not catch cold when they reach that shore;
Oh, what have they done? Can you tell tne, pray,
Why the Twenty-second is ordered away? —Hospital Corps.
DOWN ON THE FARM
The stars were glimmeiiug overhead when the farmer rose
fiom his downy bed; he yelled as he rapped on the bedroom door:
“Get np, boys, lip! It is nearly four! When I was young and as
spry rs you, I always got out of bed at two! Boys nowaday are’nt
worth a hang; I never saw such a lazy gang; it’s four o’clock and
you’re still in bed, and the cows not milked and the hogs not fed!
I reckon you’d sleep all day and more, if I didn’t break down the
-rAC ..»»» . .X tI._
best of the morning then is gone!” The boys obeyed him and quit
their snores, and donned thtir raiment and went out doors. The
farmer sal by the kitchen range, where his wife was working, and
said: “It’s strange how the boys are crazy to quit the farm—the
city life lias a wondrous charm. They have lots to eat and a place
to sleep, and they’re always sure of their bon id and keep, and why
they’re anxious to quit the land is something I cannot understand. -’
The good v. ite said, in an uudeatone, as she placed in ihe skillet a
piece of bone, and stuck her fork m some thingumjigs; “It’s maybe
because they are not pigs.”— Walt Mason.
Too Much Monkeying
With the Wireless
The complaints by shipmasters and others regarding the manner in
which amateur wireless operators are interfering with business continue,
the latest to make a protest being Capt. Norman Scliroeder, of the Ger
man cruiser Areona. Capt. Scliroeder said:
“There is a demoralization in the wireless system of the Pacific
which only government regulation can correct. The air of the Pacific
ocean is full of nonsensical messages, which are very rapidly rendering
a valuable service almost useless,” continued Capt. Scliroeder. “While
we were 1000 miles at sea from San Francisco and I was veiy anxious
to get into communication with the Get man consul of that city in order
to announce our coming for the* Portola, imagine my surprise to find
that all I could pick up was a conglomeration of nonsensical messages.
One was evidently from a youth on the American coast, who was ex*
peiimenting. It read, ■‘John Smith is a fool,’or something of that
kind. We picked up messages from Honolulu and several stations on
the American coast, but w’ere unable to get San Francisco.
“I believe that the wireless systems of all countries should be
placed under governmental regulation and that there should be a signal
which would be respected by all stations, one announcing an important
message, such as sent from a ciuiser or battleship, or one from a ship in
distress. I understand that there are numerous amateurs on the Amer
ican coast experimenting with the wireless and sending all kinds of
messages in all directions. There should be certain hours for sending
messages of a certain class, and the stations should be placed under
government regulation. If this is not done the entire purpose and use
fulness of wireless telegraphy will he defeated ”
Soldier Janos Was a Winner
Springfield, 111., Oct. 23 —The ending of a courtship begun in the
Philippine islands over two years ago, when Private Henry J. Danos, of
the Twenty-second United States infantry, laid siege to the heart of
Miss Frances W. Brooks, daughter of Maj -Gen H. J. Brooks, United
States army, retired, of San Antonio, Tex., culminated in the marriage
of the couple today in this city. Rev. Timothy Hickey, vicar general
of the diocese of Alton, and rector of the church, officiated.
The bride says she has been in the Red Cross work for a number of
years and has served in Cuba, the Philippines and in the Boxer upris- '
ing in China. She has been with the Seeond United States artillery.
Dauos has served for several years in th? United States army as a pri
vate soldier. He is now employed in this city.
GOLDEN NORTH CAFE
Carrying the Best Supplies on the Market
OYSTERS, FISH AND GAME
IN SEASON
Centrally Located. In Connection with Grand Hotel.
ED Y. LEE, PROP.
Northern Commercial Co.
STAGE LINE
Cam'iiig II. S. Mail. Passengers and Express
CONNECTIONS THROUGH TO VALDEZ
FOR HATES APPLY TO
CEO. J. MILLER, First Door Below N. C. Store
join* Outside This Winter? Suhscribe for Leader
HOT SPRINGS’ NEWEST HOTEL
:rs'-CI::s fcstrorcnt
Fran* . S anl y. Pro?
CAMP GIBBON CO. 25, Arctic Brother
hood, mens every Monday nitfht
in A. B. Hall, corner- Second st.
and Campbell ave. at 8::i() o'clock.
Visiting Arctics cordially invited to at
tend the meetings of the Camp.
Phil Gai.laher, Arctic Chief.
J. RUSSELL Wall-E, Arctic Rec.
nta Fe
When Von Go to California Where Every Month
is June, Travel on the
CALIFORNIA
LIMITED
- Only Train in Southern California, via. Any Lino,
Exclusively First-Class Travel
EAST GR WEST
THE COMFORTABLE WAY IS VIA. THE
Great Northern
Hallway •
CLOSE CONNECTIONS
To All Points East or West, With Two Modern Over
land Trains in Either Direction Daily.
FOR FULL INFORMATION ADDRESS
F. I. Whitney, Passenger Traffic Manager, St. Paul, Minn.
—O R—
S. II. Vcrkes, Assistant Gen. Pass. Agent, Seattle, Vast.
Subscribe
FOR THE
Tanana Leader
$1.00 Per Month