The Chitina Leader
CHITINA, ALASKA.
Entered as second class matter, November 12, 1910, at the postoffice
at Chitina, Alaska, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.
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Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—Harry G. STEEL
Office: Hote IChitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
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One Year.. 3.50
CHITINA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1911.
WILL CONGRESS MAKE GOOD?
The hue and cry going up all over the United States upon
questions pertaining to Alaska does not mean much to tlie
average citizen because he is not interested, but it does mean
a great deal to the people of Alaska. To sum the whole con
troversy up in a nutshell, it is up to Congress to move and move
promptly. We are not in need of any more fool laws that tend
to conserve our resources to the detriment of our own develop
ment, nor laws that force us to give up a portion of our own
property to the people of the States for the privilege of earning
an honest living. We want to open our coal mines and pay our
miners good wages and we are willing to pay a reasonable
price for the coal to operate smelters and railroads and steam
boat lines, but we do not want to be hampered by prohibatory
laws that make the privileges inoperative. Too much law, like
an overdose of medicine, may make the patient mighty sick
if it does not kill him outright; so Congress in prescribing for
Alaska should foster and not crush our industries by burden
some laws and fool restrictions. We of Alaska have real blood
in our veins and we breathe and move as other ordinary mortals
and being under the same flag and the same constitution as the
parent states, we are rightfully entitled to the same privileges
and rights. If Congress fails to give us less, it fails in its
sworn duty. It cannot entirely hide behind the inefficiency
of our own delegate as an excuse for its misdeeds. W ill Con
gress make good ?
-oooo
ASSOCIATION REFORM.
With a strong editorial article on the association claim
evil, the Yukon Valley News once again enters the ranks of
Alaska newspapers. More than 160,000 acres of placer claims
were staked and recorded in the Kuskokwim district last
year, says the News—enough for 8,000 ordinary 20-acre claims;
but more than 32,000 acres were staked by one man in one
season. It is unquestionably the greatest evil interior Alaska
suffers from, because the hog-tied claims lie idle and unde
veloped, while prospectors and population dwindle in number
for want of ground to work on.
The remedy, says the News, is the simplest thing .in the
•world. “Ten lines of an amendment to the existing law pro
viding that $100 worth of work should be done for every 20
acres, whether in single claim or in an association, before the
claim could be recorded, would end the whole absurdity.'"
In other words, require location work and treat every asso
ciation claim as if it were a group of eight twenty-acre claims,
and the evils of the association claim and the power of attorney
will speedily disappear. Ground that is now lying untouched
but barred to the prospector will be thrown back into the public
domain, because the stakers can not perform the legal re
quirements on it, and it will be impossible in the future for a
new camp to be gobbled up by a few within a week, while
later stampeders must either take lays and pay tribute in the
form of royalties, or quit the camp.
It is the strangest thing that in all the years Alaska has
had a delegate in Congress, some amendment to the mining
laws to correct this evil has not been secured. There is every
argument in favor of the amendment, and nobody seriously
opposed to it. It would seem an easy measure to get through
congress—far easier than home rule. The trouble seems to be
that although our delegates leave Alaska with every intention
of attending to such matters, when they have been in Wash
ington a while they become worked up on the home rule ques
tion, and in their eagerness to secure the whole thing, neglect
opportunities to take parts of the whole. It would seem to us
that by taking part at a time, we would eventually get the
whole, or so much of it that it would be comparatively easy
to get the rest.
---oooo
MAKING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW SECONDARY
I
President Taft is to be commended for bis courageous dec
laration at St. Louis against the recall of judges. Such a
departure would mean the destruction of constitutional gov
ernment as we have known it.
To date a statute in violation of the fundamental laws has
been annulled. The constitution lias been something more than
a mere suggestion. The recall of judges would make it purely
advisory.
Advocates of the recall of judges will not deny that one of
their purposes is to amend the Constitution indirectly; to re
move all judicial check on legislative bodies; to prevent the
annulment of unconstitutional statutes.
With the establishment of the recall of judges the statute
would become supreme over the constitution. The fundamental
law, adopted by the people, would become secondary to a law
enacted by the Legislature.
Recall of judges would mean the construction of law upon
the basis of appeals to popular prejudice and passion. It
would place the safety and security of the State at the mercy
of the sand lot and barrel head agitator.
As Mr. Taft suggests undesirable and unworthy judges
can be removed by impeachment proceedings, the method of
which could and should be simplified before resorting to a
method that would undermine our established institutions.
FISHER AND BRISTOW.
The press dispatches from Hutchinson, Kan., leave in
doubt whether Secretary of the Interior Fisher referred to a
certain class of Republican Insurgents as “heretical, dema
gogic progressives,’’ or as “hypocritical or demagogic prog
ressives.” Both version appear in the text. The difference is
immaterial. Perhaps it would have been better, in view of the
good feeling incident to the president’s visit, if the secretary
had indulged in no such characterization at all- But let that
pass.
Everybody knows that the country today lias any number
of so-called progressives of the kind Mr. Fisher had in mind.
—progressives by word of mouth, but not of constructively
progressive acts; “progressives who,” as he pointedly obser
ved, “declare for a progressive policy and then oppose every
measure put forth;” in short, progressives who only make a
noise. Himself a progressive, and of very high standing among
the progressives until he entered the Taft cabinet, the secretary
utilized the opportunity—unwisely, perhaps—to make clear to
the Kansans that the particular school of progressives to which
he belonged was the school that is doing something to solve
American problems, not the school of mere propaganda and
outer}’. He may have meant, by way of unexpressed illustration
that he was a progressive who could see the light and receive
and accept the truth, even if the light and truth did not happen
to be momentarily popular with the other and noisier school.
He may even have been prompted to say the thing he did by
his discoveries in Alaska. Who knows!
But now turn to the other participant in this Hutchinson
episode—Joseph L. Bristow, junior United States Senator of
the state of Kansas, who so quickly picked up the imaginary
gauntlet thrown down by Fisher.
Did the characterization fit him, that he should instantly
resent it? Surely not! He has opposed, somewhat obstinate at
times, certain governmental policies which, by any fair and
rational analysis, could truly be called progressive. His point
of view usually has not been the administration’s point of view.
He entered the senate in hostile, unfriendly attitude toward the
administration, and has leaned backward ever since, figurative
ly speaking, to prove his independence.
But everybody recognizes Bristow’s sincerity and rugged
nonesty; his own people recognize these qualities best of all;
then why should he take the characterization unto himself?
Evidently he prefers to be the steadfast desciple of LaFollette
and follow the progressive byways that lead nowone knows
where rather than join Taft and Fisher in the progressive
middle of the road that leads to safety, security and equitable
adjustment.
The Kansas senator’s rejoinder, in words, was the veriest
clap-trap and unworthy of him. Who in the broad land is
questioning Kansas’ right to have her part and her say? Kansas
never yet has been silenced and never will be. She has been
making the kelkiu ring since the days of Sockless Simpson
and will go on doing likewise until the end of time for all we
know or care
Kansas is not exclusive or exceptional in standing for
“equal justice to all and special privileges to none.” The
whole country stands for that. But Kansas’ past offers no
acceptable guarantee that a complete and enduring consumma
tion of that doctrine is to be secured, and secured only, by the
Kansas method. Far from it.—Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
-oooo
When Pincliot and Poindexter confer with their lieut*-Hants at
Seattle on Sunday they will no doubt tell them all about the
conservation converts made during their recent trip to .Masha.
And what secrets they fail to unfold muekraker Lathi op will
supply, but Alaskans will have an opportunity of being heard
later.
-oooo
Interest in football will lag until the world’s series in base
ball is finished.
Pinehot has now undertaken the task of attempting to
discredit Secretary of Interior Fisher, who refuses to longer
support his theories in reference to Alaska?
-oooo
When New York gets a few bomb catchers she will have
less bomb throwers.
ALASKA COAST CO.
“The Inside Route”
To Juneau and Puget Sound Ports and Southwestern Alaska.
Steamer Sampson leaves Seattle Oct. 10..
Steamer Bertha leaves Saettle Oct. 20.
Steamers connecting at Seattle with the Alasi.a-Faclhc Steam,
ship Company’s steamers sailing from Seattle Monday and Thurs
day of each week for California points. Through service. Low
rates.
Right reserved to change steamers and sailing dates without
notice. ALASKA TRANSFER CO., Local Agents
B. F. WATSON, General Agent.
ALASKA STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Fast and Commodious steamers sailing between Cordova and
Seattle via “THE INSIDE ROUTE,” stopping at KETCHIKAN.
Sails from Seattle— Sails from Cordova—
Oct. 8.ALAMEDA.Oct. 17
Oct. 16.ADMIRAL SAMPSON.Oct. 24.
Oct. 24.ALAMEDA.Nov. 1
Nov. 1.NORTHWESTERN.. .Nov. 8
This company reserves the right to change schedule of steam
ers without notice.
Tickets on sale at up-town office Alaska Steamship Bldg.
Baggage or freight will not be received at dock later than one
hour before sailing time.
R. J. BARRY,
General Agent.
THOMAS TALLENT,
Ticket Agent.
! CABLEGRAMS IN BRIEF.
San Francisco, Oct. 14.—A cutter
from the flagship California, col
lides with a small boat and thirty
five bandmen are upset, one of whom
was drowned.
Baltimore. Oct. 14.—Tne govern
ment wins its suit against the bath
tub trust.
Santiago, Oct. 14.—Pedro Aguiler.
an engineer, is held for $20,000 ran
som by bandits.
Kansas City, Oct. 14.—Frank
Gotch defeats Padonbuy, the Russian,
in two straight falls.
Chicago, Oct. 14.—Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson writes that he
will positively address the National
Brewer’s Congress on Wednesday.
San Antonio, Oct. 14.—Should
President Madero force the electoral
college to make Suraez vice President
Reyes and Gomez threaten another
revolution.
Los Angeles, Oct. 14.—Charles
Merz, driving a heavy car, breaks all
records by covering seventy-four
and four-tenths miles in an hour.
Los Angeles, Oct. 14.—The trial of
James McNamara is on, but no juror
has yet been selected.
Manila, Oct. 14.—Midshipman
Brice, of the cruiser New Orleans,
commits suicide.
Tokio, Oct. 14.—The fall of the
Chinese capitol into the hands of the
revolutionists is imminent.
BEATSON IX OAKLAND.
A. K. beatson "is now located at
Oakland, California, and has an of
fice there. Mr. Beatson is the man
who opened the famous Beatson mine
on Latouche island, which bids fair
to become one of the greatest pro
ducers in all Alaska.
ISN'T WORTH-CONTROLLING
While walking the beach at Kat
alla near the midnight hour, the
weather being cold and rainy, W. E.
| Smythe, the representative of the
Scripps-McRae Press Association,
which news organization sent broad
cast from Washington the famous
"Dick-to-Dick” fake story said to
Governor Clark: “I am convinced
of two things, governor. First, that
the Guggenheinis did not seek to
gain control of Controller bay.”
Smythe hesitated a moment. "And
second?” queried the governor.
"Second, that the damned thing isn’t
worth controlling.”
NOTICE.
All persons indebted to the Chit
ina Grill prior to this date are here
by notified that said bills are due
me personally.
JOE JANEY,
Chitina, Sept. 25, 1911.
FORFEITURE NOTICE.
Notice is hereby given Charles Gar
wood that his interest in the Tjose
vig rgoup of mines, will cease at the
expiration of the publication of this
notice, unless he pays $50 as his
share of the assessment work for
1904, $50 for 1905, $50 for 1906
and $50 for 1909.
CHRISTIAN TJOSEVIG.
Dated this 14th day of Aug., 1911.
P H O T O G It A I* H Y
We do all kinds.
DEVELOPING:
3A Films.10 cents
3A Prints or postcards ... 7 cents
Other work in proportion.
NELSON & NELSON
Chitina, Alaska.
D: A GRIFFIN,
DENTIST
All work guaranteed. Prices reason
able. In Tibbs’ Building.
Chitina, Alaska.
DR. CHAS. THOM
Physician and Surgeon
Now permanently located at Chitina,
Alaska.
▼TTTTTTTTITTTTTTTTTTTTTI
Just Open
Billiards Pool
CIGARS
Confectionery
Soft Drinks and
Solo Tables
Bowling Alley
TIBBS BROS.
| Chitina Bakery
| & Coffee House
I GESSNER & RTANGNETH
t Proprietors
X FRESH BREAD
J Cakes and Pastry
♦ Always on Hand
j Main Street, — Chitina.
PUBDIC LAND AND MINING
CASES.
If you are interested in any contest
or any matter before the Interior De
partment, write to Clark & Wright,
registered land lawyers, <j02 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen’l Land Office>,
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatable upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
. . %_ .t. -t'J.A.f, t|t
TvTTTTTm TTmnm »■ r » I 1 "
i OSBORNE j
:the i
!! j
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i:
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CHliiXA HEIGHTS
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CHITINA
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OPEN ALL NIGHT
Dinner 75c up
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Cafe in Chitina.