TAIMANA LEADER
Published Every Thursday at Tanana, Alaska.
VI. I SAM J. CALLAHAN. EDITOR Ho. 39
Boo. M. Arbaoklo. MonoQor
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FALCON JOSLIN’S LOST OPPORTUNITY
The Cordova North Star of Oct. 13, in discussing the
possibility of early railroad building to connect the coast
with the interior of Alaska, contained this paragraph:
To most people, the mention of Falcon Joslin’s Tanana Valley
Railway will come as a surprise, when mentioned ns a possible
coast road. Bat Mr. Joslin has declared more than once that he
would build, if the government would aid by guaranteeing bonds,
and in view of President Taft’s recent declaration, it looks as
though congress might be induced to grant favorable legislation
this coming session. Mr. Joslin has surveyed a route from the
Tanana up the Tanana river, past the copper belt of the White
river and through Rainy Hollow to Skagwa.v or some terminal
point in Southeastern Alaska. He declares this is one of the most
feasible routes for reaching the great interior waterways.
Due credit must be accorded Mr. Joslin for wliat he
accomplished in railroad building. Without means and
without reputation as a successful promoter, by sheer force
of character he has done something worth while. But,
whether he failed to see it or he lacked strength to upset
the plans of powerful business interests, or from what
cause soever, he has missed an opportunity greater than
falls to most men, and greater than is ever likely to fall to
him again: the opportunity of personal greatness in the
development of his chosen country.
In 1905 if, instead of expending his means and energy
in the manner he did, he had employed every resource in
building from the Yukon river to Cliena. a distance not to
exceed 1*20 miles, he would at once have made himself mas
ter of the entire business of the Tanana, and would have a
prestige today that would put him far in the lead in case
he wants to engage in coast construction. Not only this,
but he could have been of immense benefit to the people of
the Tauana valley in affording them cheaper and more reli
able transportation than they have ever had, for tbe haul
by rail could never have approximated in cost, in loss and
vexation that by steamer up the Tanana river.
The same is true with regard to the coast work on the
Alaska Central, excepting, of course, that the men engaged
in that work were primarily endeavoring to serve coast in
terests. The great riches of the Tanana mines justified an
activity in railroad work that nothing but the policy of
centralization and obstruction that governs modern busi
ness could have hindered.
WHERE THE WRONG ENTERED IN
The court of appeals of the District of Columbia on
November 2 affirmed the decision whereby Samuel Gompers,
John Mitchell and Frank Morrison must serve terms of im
prisonment for violating an injunction of the court by per
mitting the publication of the name of the Buck Stove and
Range Company in the “unfair” list of the Federationist,
the organ of the American Federation of Labor.
The time will probably never come—and it ought never
to come- -when the officers of an employers’ association will
be sentenced to prison for blacklisting employees who sys
tematically seek to injure their employers.
The time ought never to have come when the officers of
of an employees’ association would be sentenced to prison
for listing employers who systematically seek to wrong their
employees.
In such cases the individuals who constitute the gen
eral public are more competent than the courts to decide
the rights and the wrongs that enter into the situation.
A good many Alaskan newspapers have offered as an
excuse for President Taft in his stand against a territorial
legislature the assumption that he is ignorant of the true
situation of Alaskan affairs. After mature thought in the
premises, it occurs to us that it is more creditable to the
President to attribute his course to the exigencies of polit
ical environment rather than to ignorance on the subject of
which he speaks, and of which there appears no good
reason why he should not have informed himself.
PRESIDENT TAFT ON HOME RULE
Placed in a position where he was unable to. equivocate, President
Taft came out fairly in bis Seattle speech last Thursday, and in answer
to the cabled petition from the Alaskan newspapers and mayors stated
he was oppposed to granting Alaska any form of territorial government.
President Taft gave £tbe usual threadbare reasons for opposing
home rule. He said the population of Alaska was too much scattered,
and that the mining camps with a migratory population would control
elections. He continued that he believed Alaska should be governed
by a special bureau at Washington; and would recommend legislation
to this end.
We are glad that President Taft has made himself perfectly plain
upon this issue. His staud naturally enough is a disappointment; but
it is no surprise. President Taft has only been in office six months,
but during that time he has proved to those most loth to believe that he
is playing politics first, last, and all the time. Many people thought
Taft was going to be a second Roosevelt without the brass baud trim
mings; instead, he is proving to be a re-acliouist of the first water, and,
if he continues his course he will bid fair to be the most unpopular ex
ecutive this country has ever had.
After Taft had deliberately aided and abetted Aldrich and Cannon
and the other leaders of congress in the passage of the tariff bill, which
was no more or less than a betrayal of the voters who put the Repub
lican party in power; after he had hindered Pinchot; had offered fed
eral appointment to such notorious men as Senator Fulton of Oregon;
after he tried to bolster the cause of standpatism by reading La Follette
and other insurgent senators out of the party; in view of these things
it is no surprise to know that Taft doesn’t favor home rule.
It is easy to show the fallaciousness of Taft’s argument. Alaska
has a white periranent population of about 45,000 people. In rough fig
ures more than *5,000 of these people are re-idents of permanent towns
like Nome, Fai. banks, Juneau, Wrangel, Skagvvay; and etc. With
the voting restrictions properly drawn it is difficult to see exactly how
the migiatorv population would control the elections.
The people of Alaska are not “gamblers and saloonists,’’ as the
late Wilford B. Hcggatt was wont to whisper in the halls of congress
They are not vicious nor chronic law breakers. In. fact the people are
a better class throughout than any similar number of people that could
be found in the same numbers in the states
The pionee.s of Alaska, the men who have broken its trails and
| found its hidden wealth, those who have come to the Northland to
| make homes and live, the business men and people of all c lasses t elieve
they are entitled to some small voice in their own government. They
believe that when home rule is granted to Philipinos and Porto Ricans
that native Americans should have the same consideration. Govern*
ment by congress has not been without its bad features. A territorial
legislatme such ns has been proposed would berlainlv be a good thing
for Alaska, and no reasonable injections can be taised against it.
Taft lias declared against borne rule. We expected that. But we
want none of his bureaus. A bureaucracy would afford the adminis'ra
tinman additional opportunity to strengthen the “machine.” But it
will hardly find much favor among Alaskans—barring the little group
who stand at the foot of the throne and worship with eyes turned to
ward Washington—Skagwny Alaskan.
HINTS FOR HUSBANDS
Allow me to submit a tew eonfi
dential hints for husbatuls. Wives
may read '.hem, too,and paste them
in their husbands’ hats, if they will.
Never say good morning to your
j wife or children on arising in the
j morning, or goodbye when leaving
i the house*. You might be cc-nsid
j ered affectionate.
| Never kiss your wife or children
as this would show you loved them.
Never be seen on the street with
your wife; or if compelled some
times to walk with her always en
deavor to be in the lead a few steps,
as this always gives the general
public to understand you are the
only authority in that house.
Never smile; you might crack
your face As you enter the house,
always make it a point to heave a
long drawn-out sigh. It sounds so
phasaut and makes the family feel
so cheerful.
Never speak a word during the
meals, or if you should do so, be
sure to say, “Is this all you have?”
Point your finder at that which you
want, or better still, help yourself
by riding over the table with fork
in dangerous attitude.
Never ask a blessing on the
meals, for this would not be in
keeping with the rest of these rules
and might finally lead to an intrac
tion of them.
Never exert yourself in any man
mer in assisting your wife with her
work. This indicates femininity;
and besides, haven't you already
worked six or eight hours at least,
which she has only worked 15 01
16. To assist her might make her
lazy. •
Never forget to tell your wife
that man was made first, and supe
riority belongs to him, and that all
your ills are chargeable to woman
kind.
These rules, faithfully observed,
will make a home a hot place.
—Ex. An Observer. .
“Corby” Was There
At the big meeting of members
of the Arctic Brotherhood in Seattle
at which President Taft was made
a Past Grand Arctic Chief, C R. i
Corbusier, formerly of this city, I
acted in the capacity of keeper cf
the outer tol'gate. • Mr. Corbusier
is a member of Hot Springs Camp
No. 24.
“Ghost Dance”
For Wednesday evening next,
,the night before Thanksgiving day, |
the entertainment committee of the
local Arctic Brotherhood camp are
making arrangements for a “sheet
and pillowcase" social dance at the
lodge room. As everybody knows,
an affair of this kind affords not
only plenty of amusement for the
participants, but is a splendid and
economical style of masquerading,
and a diversion requiring liitle
time for'preparation.
The lodge’s social afftirs are
looked forward to with expectancy,
and have here’ofore been successful
and pleasant gatherings.
Enjoyed Hunting Trip
Billy Burnveat on Thu sday last
escorted Mrs. Burnyeat and Mrs.
Tiffany to the third island, south of
town, on a hunting trip. They re
turned in the early afternoon with
five fine birds, three of which had
been brought down by Mrs. Tif
fany. The party also saw a num
ber of rabbits, and although they
did not bag any of them they surely
“scart ’em" plenty, for the rabbits
ran away like the samhill.
A Catechism
•‘Why do we send missionaries
to the savages?”
"To civilize them.”
‘ What good does that do them?”
“It educates them out of habits
ot idleness.”
“And what then?”
“They go to work.”
"What do they work for?”
“To become prosperous and
rich.”
“What good does prosperity do
them?”
“It procures them leisure and
comfort.”
“Which was what they had be
fore you started sttrring them up.
What’s the use.—Clfeveland Leader.
Job Printing at The Leader office.
THE HELPING HAND
If you’re climbing to the heights, if you’re rising day by day,>
all the world is full of wights, who will help you on your way.;
They will cheer you on with joy, as you strive toward the sky,
calling you a bully boy with an irridescent eye. They will throw
3’ou large bouquets, as along your path you prance; they will load
you down with bays, if you give them half a chance. Of your tri-.
utnphs they will sing, and their singing will not stop; you’ll be
treated like a king, as you clamber to the top. !If you're jogging
down the slope, at n pace that beats the baud, do not journey with
out hope—there is still the Helping Hand.Folks will help you,*going.
down; as they’d help you if you rose; they will- drag you by your
gowu, they will push you with their toes; they will guide you to
the steep where the human wrecks are put; they will cheer you till
you sleep with the bow-wows at the foot. Choose, then choose, the
path you’ll tread! Paths descending, paths that rise, to the abyss
of the dead, to the garden of the skies—all are lined with joyous
bands, reaching forth to grasp your gown, holding out the willing
hands, glad to help you, up or down!- -Walt Mason.
Northern Commercial Co.
STAGE LINE
Carrying U. S. Mail, Passengers and Express
CONNECTIONS THROUGH^ TO VALDEZ
FOR RATKS APFLV TO
GEO. J. MILLER, First Door Below N. C. Store
UNANIMOUS FOR
INCORPORATION
The ellamber ot commerce held a
well-attended meeting last Tuesday
night for the purpose of discussing the
incorporation of Haines.
A petition was read which was drawn
oy Attorney Z. K. Cheney, of Juneau,
setting forth the advantages to he de
rived from incorporation and the legal
authority for the same. The petition
will be presented to Judge Cushman at
the Ketchikan term of court about the
middle of October,
A committee was appointed to secure
signers, and it is necessary to have at
least sixty bona fide citizens within the
proposed corporate limits sign the pe
tition. No difficulty will be encoun
tered, as practically every voter in
Haines favors incorporation.—Haines
Pioneer Press.
Mrs. McCormick Dead
Lucy, the wife of Ed McCormick,
who lives on the Yukon twelve miles
below Rampart, died week before last,
of consumption.
She was one of the best-known native
women around Rampart, in the vicinity
of which she had lived ever since the
camp was established. She was mar
ried to Mr. McCormick four or five
years ago, and it is through his care
that her life was prolonged, sho having
been hopelessly sick for some time.
A Useful Citizen
i The following advertisement ap
peared recently in a Kentucky
weekly; liis versatility is delight
1 ful; his life is surely free Irotn the
grind of which a large fraction of
mankind complains:
“Know all men by these pres
ents that IShadrach H. Armstrong,
have coal oil for sale at 15 per cent
per gallon. Some say it ain’t good
oil, but I say it is. I will also tie
your broomcorn, one half for the
other. I ctush coin every Thurs
day by tollgate. Turkeys picked
| very prompt any day of the week.
Horseshoeing a specialty at six-bits
around. Watch and pistol repair*
ing guaranteed. Shoes fixed and
ax handles made tor 15 cents. Will
teach southern harmony and the
i fiddle combined for $3 month. Pic
tures enlarged by a new process,
1 and my hot tamale and hair oil re
ceipts for 350 days for .25 cents.
Haircutting only 011 Saturday even- ,
jings, 25 cents per head. A good
stripper cow for sale. Rufe Lang
ston is my attorney and my terms
are cash—first,because I know you;
second, because I don’t know you.”
—
The Leader is on sale at the post
'■ office lobby.
Stanley House
HOT SPRINGS' NEWEST HOTEL
First-Class Restaurant Frink . Stul y, Pro;
c
AMP GIBBON NO. 25, Arctic Brother
hood, meets every Monday night
in A. B. Hall, corner Second st.
and Cuiupbell ave. at 8:30 o’clock.
Visiting Arctics cordially invited to at
tend the meetings orthe Camp.
Phh. Gat.lahf.k, Arctic Chief.
J. Rl.'SSELI. Wai.LK, Arctic Rec.
Santa Fe
When You Go to California Where Every Month
is June, Travel on the
CALIFORNIA
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Only Train in Southern California, via. Any Line,
Exclusively First-Class Travel
HAS A PULLMAN CAR FOR CRAND CANYON
Going Outside This Winter? Subscribe for Leader
EAST OR WEST
THE COMFORTABLE WAY IS VTA. THE
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Railway
CLOSE CONNECTIONS .
To All Points East or West, With Two Modern Over
land Trains in Either Direction Daily.
,1 FOR FULL INFORMATION ADDRESS
F. I. Whitney, Passenger Traffic Manager, St. Paul, Minn.
—O R—
S. B. Yerkes, Assistant Gen. Pass. Agent, Seattle, Wash.