fi;
SECOND YEAR
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1912.
NO. 50
ALASKA COAL LEASING IS DISCUSS®
(From Saturday’s Cordova Daily Alaskan.)
At a meeting of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce last
night the storm of wind and rain prevented a large attend
ance of members, so the election of officers was postponed until
the next meeting. Considerable time was given to a discussion
of communications received from Senators and Representa
tives concerning the various Alaska coal leasing bills now be
fore Congress. A letter from lion. Joseph T. Robinson, of
Arkansas, chairman of the House committee on public lands,
was of particular interest. He asks definite suggestions from
the Chamber, so that he might be guided in the preparation
of a new meastire that the committee will present at the De-!
cember session. In order that the general public might be in
formed of the questions asked by Mr Robinson the Daily
Alaskan was requested to give them publication. It was then
decided to hold a meeting on Friday night, Oct. 4, to which
all residents of Cordova and this section of Alaska are in
vited to attend. After a general discussion action will be
taken by this mass meeting declaring its attitude on the coal
PRESIDE! L PROBA
BIUTIES
(From Louisville Courier-Journal. 1
The issue of the North American
Review for September contains a
striking article by its editor, Col.
George Harvey, upon the general
political outlook with particular ref
erence to the possibilities of the
presidential election. It is rather a
speculation than forecast. “The
real candidates,” Col. Harvey thinks,
“are Wilson and Sherman; a vote
for Taft is a vote for Sherman;
whilst a vote for Wilson is a vote
for Wilson.”
This curious thesis is worked out
with minute detul, through the pe
culiarities of the law regulating the
count of the votes and the order of
succession and the present strength
and le’nlion of pastes actually ex
isting iu the two H vc-os of ' rngress,
in the event that m -andidate re
ceives a majority oi. the electoral
vote, 'the nominal candidates for
President of the United States, ac
cording to Col. Harvey, being
Woodrow Wilson, William Howard
Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt—the
actual candidates are Woodrow Wil
son and James S. Sherman, with a
remote possibility of Philander C.
Knox becoming acting president
pending a new election in the event
of a failure to elect both in the
House and Senate as well as the
Electoral College, requiring such a
contingency in 1913. This, he says,
is “the only conclusion deducible
from a discerning analysis of the
unprecedented political situation
which has developed as the conse
quence of the formation of a third
party under aggressive and popular
leadership.”
Col. Harvey thus classifies the three
leading candidates: Taft, Conserva
tive; Wilson, Liberal; Roosevelt,
Radical, and continues: “The con
test has already narrowed, as in
1824, to the Democrat against the
field. Now, as then, the Democrat
is practically assured a plurality of
votes in the Electoral College; and
now, as then, his defeat can be ac
complished only by withholding from
him an actual majority over all,
thus again imposing the election of
a President upon the House of Rep
resentatives.”
It is then shown that if the States
should vote in the Electoral College
as they are now represented politi
cally in the House of Representa
tives elected in 1910, the result
would be: Walson, 298; Taft, 167;
Roosevelt, 66. Thence Col. Harvey
proceeds as follows:
“Without assuming that the vot
ing in November will follow closely
the lines indicated, we nevertheless
find in these actual results of 1910
tue best basis obtainable for intel
ligent sepculation. Certain deduc
tions, for example, seem fully war
ranted—to-wit:
“1. Roosevelt cannot #be elected.
“He may expect with reason to ob
tain the sixty-six votes allotted to
him in the above table. Give to him
from the Taft colmun: Illinois, 29;
Pennsylvania, 38; Wisconsin, 13;
Michigan, 15; Massachusetts, 18;
and Delaware, 3—a total, with the
original sixty-six, of 182. Add from
the Wilson column: Arizona, 3:
Colorado, 6; New York, 45; North
Carolina, 12; Oklahoma, 10—total,
76; grand total, 258, or eight less
than the requisite number. The
wildest imagining cannot accord
Roosevelt a majority.
“2. Taft cannot win.
“Allot to him 167, as recorded
above, including the doubtful fifty
four from Illinois, Minnesota and
Wisconsin; from the Roosevelt
Column: Utah, 4; from Wilson:
Maryland, 8; New York, 45; Ohio,
24; West Virginia, 8—total, 256, or
less than a majority. This must be
regarded as the topmost of Mr.
Taft’s possibilities.
“In case Wilson should not ob
tain a majority over both Taft and
Roosevelt the House of Representa
tives would be called upon to elect
a President on the second Wednes
day of February. Each state would
have one vote, and the result would
be: For Wilson, 22; opposition, 22;
divided, 4—Maine, Nebraska, New
Mexico and Rhode Island. Neces
sary to choice, 25. Only Taft. Roose
velt and Wilson could be voted for.
uuviuusiy neiiner i ait nor Koose
velt would have a chance. Wilson
would have to win over three non
Democratic states— a virtual im
possibility. The House of Repre
sentatives, therefore, would be un
able to elect a President.”
Meeting such a situation, the law
puts the Presidential boot on the leg
of the Senate. The array of forces
in the Senate is as uncertain as it is
in the House. The Senate is ‘‘all
broke up.” As matters stand it may
be thus ticketed: Republican, 50;
Democrats, 44; vacancies, 2. The
vacancies are likely to be filled by
the Legislatures of Colorado, and Il
linois next January. Apparently,
therefore, the Republicans would
have surely one and possibly three
more than the 4 9 required for the
election of a Vice President, who
would become President on the 4th
of March. This, according to Col.
Harvey, means that, in the event of
Wilson failing to obtain 266 elec
toral votes, Sherman would succeed
Taft.
The Republican “majority” in the
Senate, however, is illusory. Here
is how Col. Harvey works out his
sum in single-rule-or-three. We
quote again:
“But here enters another factor.
The Republican majority in t]ie Sen
ate is not only scant, but also nom
inal rather than actual. Promising
that both Illinois and Colorado re
turn Republican, the total Repub
lican vote would be fifty-four. If
for any reason four of these Senators
should abstain from voting the Sen
ate would be unable to elect a Vice
President. Now, it is quite con
ceivable that Roosevelt might con
sider it adviseable to prevent the
election of Sherman. If so, it would
be most surprising if four out of the
so-called Insurgent Republicans—
Dixon, Clapp, Bourne, Wtorks, Bor
ah, Poindexter and the two new Sen
ators from Colorado and Illinois—
should refuse to act in conformity
with his wishes, especially in view
of the position which Sherman holds
In their estimation as a pronounced
reactionary.
“In the event, then, of the House
of Representatives failing to elect a
President and the Senate fails to
elect a Vice President, the proced
ure would be as follows: Presi
dent Taft’s fixed term of office would
expire at midnight of March 31, and
the Secretary of State, Mr. Knox,
whose official is indeterminate,
would become acting President. As
such, he would be obliged to con
vene Congress in extraordinary ses
sion on the 24th of March, and Con
gress would "determine the time of
choosing the electors” — certainly
not later than November of the
forthcoming year. In this manner
Mr. Rosevelt and his new party
would have a second opportunity to
win the Presidency within a twelve
month, greatly, no doubt, to the sat
isfaction of both.”
[leasing question and set forth answers to the inquiries pro
pounded by Congressman Robinson. Residents of the inter
ior who may not have an opportunity to personally be pres
ent at the meeting are invited to address letters to the Sec
retary of the Chamber and express their views on the questions
submitted by Mr. Robinson. In his letter to the Chamber, he
says:
“I should be glad to have your suggestions and views con
cerning these topics. You are aware of the fact that the Del
egate from Alaska is opposed to any leasing bill, and that
much opposition exists in Congress to the leasing system. At
the same time there seems to be a determined effort on the
part of many members, as well as citizens, who are interested
in the bill to prevent legislation unless it embraces some, if
not all, of the principles in the above inquiries. I have been
giving very careful attention to the subject for a long time,
and have introduced a bill that I believe, with some amend
ments, will prove satisfactory legislation if enacted.”
The inquiries propounded by Mr. Robinson are as follows:
1. In your opinion, is it desirable that the Government attempt,
in this bill, to deal with the question of monopoly? Should an effort be
made to prevent a possible monopoly for all time of tiie output of Alas
kan coal mines?
2. If yon answer “No” state briefly the reason you assign: if you
answer “Yes” suggest the language which, in your opinion, is best cal
culated to accomplish that end.
2. Should tiie question of transportation be dealt with, and if so,
what language do you suggest?
4. Would a provision in the bill reserving to tiie Government for
ever the right to tlx a reasonable price of the product to be sold prohibit
the development of the Territory, and if so, why?
5. Is not coul a public necessity, and should not a guarantee of a
reasonable or even a liberal profit before the Government attempt to re
duce the price obviate the objection to Government interference in tills
particular.
ti. Is it not true that nnless limitations and restrictions lie placed
in tiie bill giving the Government some right over tiie mint's in profits
and products of the mines it would be better to patent tiie land outright
than to lease it?
(From Tuesday’s Cordova Daily Alaskan.)
The Alaska Railroad Commission has given evidence that
it is not running on any schedule that cannot he changed on a
moment’s conference. When the revenue cutter McCollough
sailed from Cook’s inlet yesterday morning it was intended to
run direct to Valdez, and up to this afternoon the people of
that town were anxiously looking for her arrival. Instead,
however, the cutter, containing the commission steamed into
Katalla harbor about noon today. The people of that town
were greatly surprised, as they had no intimation of the conic
ing. It is presumed that fair weather induced the commission
to make the change, as there was some doubt about the ves
sel getting there later in the season, after the stormy weather
had set in. The members of the commission immediately
went ashore in a launch and looked the the town over. They
stated that they would go out a distance over the railroad line,
but were non-committal as to their plans. They did state,
however, that from Katalla they expected to go to Valdez and
go in over the trail to Fairbanks. One of the members was
heard to remark that they might go to Cordova first. So it
is only a guess as to what they will do, and when.
(From Wednesday’s Cordova Daily Alaskan.)
The United States revenue cutter McCullough is now sup
posed to be speeding on towards Valdez. With the members
of the Alaska railroad commission the cutter anchored in
Katalla bay yesterday about noon. The commission immed
iately went ashore and soon were on a hand car and went out
to Brussel’s Point, on Martin island, and along the old rail
road of the Copper River and Northwestern railway. Re
turning they looked over the town and arranged for the
launch Imp to go to the cutter this morning to convey the
party to Controller bay. The members then returned to the
cutter. When the launch reported for orders this morning
about nine o'clock the man in charge was informed that the
plans had been changed and that they would not go to Con
troller bay. Shortly after the McCullough pulled up an
chor and at ten o’clock pulled away from Katalla, with the
declared intention to proceed direct to Valdez. It is expected
that the party will then go over the Valdez-Fairbanks trail
to the interior, although it would not be surprising if a de
cision was made to return to Cordova and go out over the rail
road, to Chitina, there to take the trail for Fairbanks.
VALDEZ, Sept. 26.—The revenue cutter McCullough
bearing the members of the Alaska Railway Commission, ar
rived at this port this morning, and will remain three days.
They say that this is the finest harbor on the coast, and that
it is also a fine location for a terminal city. The Commission
has been presented with the complete survey and notes of the
city. From here the party will go over the Valdez-Fairbanks
trail, returning by way of Chitina and Cordova. They are
very much interested in their duties and in the advantages
that Valdez presents. PAUL D’HEIRRY.
VALDEZ, Sept. 28. — The Alaska railroad commission
has had a pleasant stay in this town, and has been given every
facility for examinating the harbor and our facilities and ad
vantages for a terminal point. Every preparation has been
made for leaving over the Valdez-Fairbanks trail and the
commission will start tomorrow morning. They will go
through to Fairbanks, and it is expected that it will be four
weeks before they reach Chitina on the return trip. They will
go over the railroad from Chitina to Cordova, where the cut
ter McCullough will be awaiting them.
GILMORE THANKS
HIS SUPPORTERS.
In a letter to the local committee
man at Cordova the lately defeated
candidate for Congress, William A.
Cilmore, states among other tilings:
“While we lost out on the elec
tion I want you to give my thanks
to all the Cordova friends, who stood
by me so loyally. I appreciated the
splendid vote your committee rolled
up. I am unable to decipher the
reason for the switch of votes at
Chitina and Kennecott. When I was
there in June there were really no
Wickersham voters in evidence, but
I suppose it was like the vote at St.
Michael and Gibbon—there was a
good reason. Aside from the sup
port I received in the Third Divis
ion it was most gratifying to see
how loyal the home people were to
me in the face of a most active fin
ishing fight here. I may be able to
take a run down through the terri
tory in the spring and if so will
meet you all and be able to thank
Cordovans personally for their loy
al support.”
-o—o—o
WHAT GROWS IN
ALASKA’S INTERIOR.
—
That the interior of Alaska can
grow the finest kind of grains and
vegetables was demonstrated recent
ly at the government experimental
farm near Ester Siding. Falcon
Joslin took a party out there over
his Tanana Valley railroad and the
Fairbanks News-Miner refers to the
visit as follows:
“At the farm, the visitors were
shown around by J. W. Neal, the
government man who has charge of
the experimental station. Without
an exception, all were astounded at
the remarkable showing in produce
and grain-raising that has been made
at the farm. Mr. Neal explained
that there were sixteen different va
rieties of potatoes growing on the
place. He pointed out the various
grains, part of which had been cut.
The hull-less barley, the buckwheat,
the Finnish oats, the red Fife
wheat, the Romanoff wheat, the rye,
the alfalfa and clover patches, were
all looked, over.
“Photographs were taken at dif
ferent places in the grain fields and
of the buildings on the farm. Final
ly, a big panoramic view was taken
from the roof of the electric car on
the track below the farm. It is the
intention of Mr. Joseph to have huge
transparencies made of the pictures,
to be used later in connection with
the Alaska exhibits at the Portland
and St. Louis land shows.”
-o—o—o
NEW YORK, Sept. 30. — Emily
Sebastian, two years old, died to
day as the result of a fall from the
fire escape of her father’s home on
the sixth floor of an East Thirty
first street apartment house. Thirty
bones in the child’s body were broken
by the fall.
-o—o—o
The Chltina Pharmacy has the
freshest, most up-to-date stock in
Chltina.
MANY CANDIDATES
ARE COMING FORTH
SEWARD,| Sept. 28. — Frank E.
Youngs today announced his candi
dacy for Representative to the Ter
ritorial legislature, standing on a
non-partisan ticket. He is a min
ing man and has a large element of
strength.
\ALDEZ, Sept. 30—On Sa.urday
night a number of voters gathered
under the name of the Home Rule
Party and held an harmonious and
practically uncontested primary.
They named George E. Baldwin for
Senator and Dr. Boyle for Repre
sentative. It Is the intention that
these men will combine with candi
dates of similar sympathies in other
parts of the division and form a tick
et of two Senators and four Repre
sentatives.
KATALLA, Sept. 30.—On Satur
day a non-partisan primary was
held at this place to designate a
choice for Representative to the new
legislature. Two names were put
forward and during the afternoon
there was considerable activity in
bringing every voter to the trolls. The
res-’U demonstrated that Bob Gray
was an easy victor over Attoriey Ar
thur Thompson. The vote sood:
Gray, 39; Thompson, 14; Ramsey,1.
Bob Gray is an old-timer here and is
tne present owner of the dock. It
is expected that he will be placed
on a ticket with the names of other
non-paritsans. It is believed here
that the importance of Katalla as
u coal and oil center entitles this
locality to one member of the House
of Representatives.
ALASKA COAL CASES
(iO OVER TERM.
The Charles F. Mundy and Cor
nelius Christopher Alaska coal land
case will not be tried at the pres
ent term of the federal court, which
convenes in Seattle October 1. Both
cases were dropped from the cal
endar hv Judge Cushman until the
November term of the court on the
ground that B. D. Townsend, of the
department of justice, Washington,
D. C., who is to try the cases, is
unable to come to Seattle at the
present on account of court engage
ments elsewhere.
o—•—e ..
PRECINCTS ARE Cl'T
DOWN TO SEVEN.
- -- - - -
In issuing his notice establishing
election precincts in his district, U.
S. Commissioner Shepard, of Val
dez, discontinued Mineral creek and
Wortman's precincts, and included
that section in the Reservation pre
cinct. Landldck voting precinct was
established, dividing it from Ella
mar precinct by a line running due
east from Boulder bay, Bligh island
being Included In the Ellamar pre
cinct. Otherwise the voting pre
cincts remain unchanged from the
last election, there being now seven
precincts in the district instead of
eight.
NEWS FROM TERMINAL
COASTTOWN
(From Monday’s Cordova Alaskan.)
Geo. C. Hazelet returned today
from Seattle, where he went with
the remains of his late wife, which
were interred in the cemetery there.
He was accompanied by his sister
Mrs. N. Porter, formerly of Omaha,
who will spend the winter here with
him.
Additional slides are reported out
the line, so that the running of the
next train Is uncertain. The in
terior mail is expected to start from
here on the winter schedule on
Thursday. It Is believed now that
the rainy season is about at an end
and that repairs will be pushed vig
orously.
Geo. E. Baldwin, who has been
here for the past few days, will go
to Valdez on the Alameda to trans
act business and consult with his po
litical friends.
The many friends of Archie W.
Shiels were pleased to greet him
this afternoon. He came up on the
Alameda from Seattle and will re
main a short time. He is here to look
after some business Interests.
The tug Redondo, which is a ten
der at Blodgett’s cannery, at Ko
diak, came into port yesterday. She
brought several sacks of mail and is
going south for the winter.
About noon today the government
cable was reported o.-k. The line
has been interrupted for nearly three
weeks past. The first break was
close to Seattle and a few hours af
ter it was repaired another break
occurred 35 miles ofT Cape Hinch
inbrook. The cableshlp Burnside
was sent north to make the repair.
It was found necessary to cut out
about ten miles of bad cable. After
this was renewed it was found im
possible for the past three days to
make the final splice because of
stormy weather. Both ends had
been buoyed and it was not until
this morning that the final connec
tion was made.
The steamer Alameda arrived in
port this afternoon shortly before
one o’clock and will sail to Valdez
and the westward about six this
evening. Purser Lodge reports that
the vessel had a smooth passage
and was very little affected in cross
ing the open sea by the remnants
of the recent storm. The follow
ing pasengers were aboard:
For Cordova: C. M. Beckfinger,
Miss E. Kiley, G. C. Hazelet, Mrs.
N. Porter, Mrs. A. Johanson, Miss
Helen Lunde, Mrs. M. Scott, S. E.
Reed, Harry Warren, A. W. Sblels,
G. H. Chadwick.
For Valdez: Mrs. Marlon Leach,
Mrs. Mayme Thomas, J. R. Krumm,
Mrs. Rudolf Schmidt, H. L. Staser,
W. S. Crouch, and G. S. Rankin.
For Latouche: E. W. Dlckensen
and wife.
Judge Peter D. Overfleld did not
come on the steamer Alameda. He
decided to prolong his stay In Seat
tle and enjoy a short vacation as
there is nothing of pressing import
ance to demand his attention In this
division until the terra of court opens
at Cordova on Oct. 14. He expects
to leave Seattle on the Mariposa, due
to sail on the night of the first.
United States Commissioner Chas.
A. Scott removed his office and resi
dence to the second floor of the
Adams building.
Harry Warren is one of the pas
sengers on the Alameda. He
brought twelve head of cattle, which
he expects to take over the trail lo
Fairbanks.
-o—o—o
TUSCON, Sept. 28. — General
Campa charges that General Oro
zco, leader of the Insurrectionists,
has a million dollars cached hi a
European bank. This money he al
leges has been raised from sympa
thizers and that Orozco Is holding
onto it so that in case of failure
of the rebel fight he will be well
repaid for his efforts in behalf of
himself and his followers.
.o—o—o ■ •
Magazines and post cards at the
Chitina Pharmacy.
■-••i —... ..j. .