CHITIXA, ALASKA, 'SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1911.
NO. It.
VINDICATED BY
The Seattle Times has an ac.
count of a matter of interest to
Cordova people as the former offi.
cial concerned was deputy district
attorney here and the alleged brib.
ery was supposed to have been the
result of an incident that occirred
here. Those who are familiar with
the circumstances realized the ab.
surdity of the story and are now
glad to know that Mr. Martin has
been set right with the public. The!
Times says:
“I have evidenced,” declared Dele
gate Wiekersham, before the House
committee last summer, that $3,000
was used to bribe a deputy district
attorney. This is the kind of mat.
ter I vainly have been trying to get
the government to investigate and
prosecute."
Like the “Dick to Dick” letter,
the charge which was made against
Harrison B. Martin, now of Seattle.'
and formerly of Valdez proved ut_
terly unfounded when investigated.1
Martin was accused of inducing a |
grand jury not to bring indictments j
in connection with certain election |
frauds at Cordova, alleged to have j
been committed in 1908, and that in
return for this he had received a j
bribe of $3,000 from the Alaska
syndicate. The report of B. D. I
Townsend, special assistant attor
ney general, who was sent to Alas,
ka to investigate the facts dis
closes an exactly contrary condition
to have been the case. In reporting 1
the result of his investigation to the !
attorney general. Special Assistant ;
Townsend says:
"The charge is entirely ground,
less, and is as vicious a slander as
could be imagined.”
After reviewing all the evidence
collected verified by bank books and
the records of the court, the report
says:
‘ The charge that the -Alaska syn_
dicate poople bribed Martin to neg
lect the presentation of the election
fraud cases before the grand jury
is too palpably false to require much
comment. In the first place, it was
uct within Martin’s power to prevent
indictments. District Attorney J. J.
Crossley, his cmef, was on hand and
had direct charge of tne work. In
the second place, the record shows
that Martin left Alaska thirty days
before the investigation was com.
pleted. In the third place, it is ab
surd to suppose that those people
would have waited till two or three
months after Martin nad left the
office to pay the alleged bribe and
nearly a year after the grand jury
session before paying the bribe
money.”
The record clearly shows that
Martin borrowed $3,000 at a Seattle
bank; that wishing to evade the $30
exchange charge for sending it to
Cordova, he paid the money to the
Alaska syndicate in Seattle on be.
half of the Cordova Townsite com.
pany, in which it then had an in
bable there was a law which pro.
vided that a sea faring man could
vote at any place he happened to be
on the date of an election. This
fact was magnified into a charge of
wholesale election frauds and led
and upon it was based a charge that
the attorney General of the United
States had been a party to shield
ing criminals in Alaska,
terest.
The evidence develops the fact
that the whole trouble arose because
Capt. John O’Brien went to the pel.
ling place at Cordova, and asked to
be allowed to vote. There was no
lawyer present, and the election
judges, after dise asing the propo
sition in the preesnee of about 20
persons decided tnat it was pro.
Washington, Dec. 5.-—Representa
tive William Sulzer of New York
introduced a joint resolution pro
viding for the abrogation of the
treaty of 1832 with Russia. He
claims that the American He'otevis
now and for some time past in R..s_
sia have not beet treated in accord
ance with the treaty and it has i«ea
persistently violated.
Washington Dec. 8.—The Comp
troller of the currency in his an
nual report calls attention to repre.
hensible practices that exist among
many bank officials throughout the
country. He declares that the dis.
honest practice is indulged In by
whereby they receive personal com
pensation for making loans to pat.
rons of the money of the banks. He
charges that this practice is growing
and that it is a matter that calls for
criminal action.
Brownsville, Tex., Dec. 8 —Uen
eral Reyes, the Mexican insurgent,
for whom troops and Texas rangers
have been seeking, arrived in this
city last night and then suddenly
disappeared. He was disguised as a
laborer. He later crossed the river
and was received by a band of his
followers.
■
HAPPENINGS IN TIE UVftY TOWN Of QIITMA
Alva Eames, chief clerk of the,
postoffice department was in town
between trains Monday night.
G. A. Hunter, manager of the Pin.
ska store in Fairbanks, came in on
the stage Monday on his way to the
states.
R. Blix, postmaster at Copped
Center was in town Monday.. He
reports business at a standstill in
his section.
J. A. Sargent, of Portland, was an
arrival on the stage and has gone to
the states.
Mr. Sam Blum was a Chitina visi
tor this week and while here ex.
pressed his pleasure at the bright
prospects ahead for Chitina. He was
busy every minute of his stay here
renewing old acquaintances and talk
ing business with his many pat
rons.
Deputy Marshal Geo. Goshaw was
a passenger on the Fairbanks stage
Tuesday morning.
For a drink of good whisky go to
the Fairbanks saloon.
Jake Nafsted, of Nafsted’s road,
house was trading with our mer.
chants Monday. He says that the
trail is now getting In fine condi
tion owing to the late snows and
heavy traffic.
H. E. Elliott, who has been ser.
iously ill in the hospital for several
days has sufficiently recovered to
leave for California where he has
just been informed his aged father
is nearing death.
J. A. Smith, postoffice inspector
was a passenger on the Fairbanks
stage as far as Copper Center Tues
day.
The license for the new saloon
failed to arrive Monday night so the
place could not be opened on sched
ule time, notwithstanding everything
else was in readiness including a
very thirsty crowd.
See John Gage at the Fairbanks
saloon for a smile of Golden wed_
ding Rye.
Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Newhouse en_
tertained Mrs. Wallace and Dee Dav
is to dinner on Thanksgiving.
Belmont on tap for the boys from
Kentucky—Fairbanks saloon.
Messrs. Gage and Burns opened
their saloo nin the Tibbs building
on Wednesday with a grand free
lunch which drew a large crowd and
the place promises to be one of the
most popular resorts in town. Mr.
Gage is a thorough business man
and understands the saloon business
from A to Z and promises us that
his place will offer only the purest
and best liquors that money can
buy. The spread on the opening
night consisted of a great variety of
tasty viands including meats and
salads in great variety. It can be
safely said for the new place that it
will be conducted in an orderly and
businesslike manner and nothing
whatever of a questionable nature
will be tolerated.
Fairbanks saloon for pure whis,
ky—try it.
Mr. and Mrs. John Gage enter,
g
tained Deputy Mar.-,at Bright well,
Mrs. Wallace and P thorn at din.
ner Thanksgiving e\ ; c
Mrs. C. L. Hoyt, of Gulkana
roadhouse passed •; „ sh Chitina
this week enroute t v lez. where
she will visit her , . wno are
in school there
If you want to see the Fairbanks
papers go to the F.i :. antes saloon.
Snow began falling ,u,ain Thurs
day morning and . ntfnued all
night which now lea , the trails
in the very test possibp condition.
If you want ;e, me. a triend go
to the Fairbanks sal. •
The dirt has all b,,., removed
from tne has necessi.
‘tated a reduction in - force of
men working there by about thirty.
Trains will be permitted to pass
through for the first time about
Monday. Most of the men who were
laid off are remaining in town tor
the present.
Arri\als on the stage Thursday
mornino- were: A. F. Herpeck. P. R.
Mason, J. E. Barrack, and W. H.
Powell, of Fairbanks; F L. Gibbs
J. H. O'Connor, Tonsina: Wm. E.
Chrvsbar Wenna, and Guy H. Berg
man and John A. Brown, of Tanana.
Messrs. Smith and Eames. of the
postoffice department also returned
from Copper Center where they had
been on official business.
Deputy Marshal Georgs Goshaw.
of Valdez passed through Chltina on
his way to Fairbanks with a prisoner
last Tuesday.
HANFORD’S COAL DECISION REVERSED
Washington, December 4.—Late today the Supreme court
rendered a decision in the appeal taken from the recent de
cision of Judge Hanford in the Ohas. F. Munday and Archie
W. Shiels coal cases. The court decides that a person or as
| sociation is limited to one coal land entry in Alaska. This
reverses the opinion rendered by Judge Hanford. In its de
cision the Supreme court upholds the indictment of Munday
and Shiels. This decision will also have a distinct bearing
on similar cases where indictments have been issued in Spo
kane, Tacoma. Detroit and Chicago. They will all have to be
tried. Had Judge Hanford been sustained the Alaska coal
question would practically have been settled.
WICKERStlAM, HARMONY, UNITY, AGGRESSIVENESS
By WILL A. STEEL.
Advices received from Seattle indicate that the new
Alaska organizations are desirous of paying tribute to the
generous policy promulgated by Hon James Wickersham, dele
gate to Congress. They expect to hold a public meeting and
to be addressed by Judge Wickersham. Now that the delegate
has so strongly indicated that he has decided to abandon his
former tactics of “objection” the Alaska workers are anxious
to have him in their ranks to assist in the great work that the
Pacific coast seeks to accomplish in Washington. These lead
ing spirits of Seattle have always recognized and appreciated
the talents and agressiveness of Judge Wickersham, but dur
ing the past year particularly they nave lamented the fact that
those characteristics have been so widely misdirected. As a
consequence when the delegate returned from Washington in
September he was greeted more in sorrow than with gladness or
effusiveness.
But all is now changed and the Judge declares that in the
future his efforts will be devoted to secure something favorable
for Alaska; not all that he might wish, but some appropriations
for needed improvements and protection, and much desired
legislation that will tend to increase the welfare and content
ment of our people. He will work with delegations in harmony
and .undoubtedly effectiveness. He will not be too insistent in
always carrying out his own ideas, where there is an honest
difference of opinion, but will bow to the superior judgment
of others. He will forget his personal differences with any
big combination of capital and will cease to assail men who
have expended millions in the effort to develop a part of
Alaska. Rather will he now seek to paint the glories and rare
opportunities of Alaska in their true light, and so earnestly
that capitalists will be rather attracted than repelled to this
northland of golden promise.
Judge Wickersham’s recent address in Cordova made a
strong impression upon the minds of all who heard or read
it. They were the words of a rejuvinated man who had seen
the light of a better understanding and had the courage to
publicly testify to that fact. In his remarks at Valdez, where
it might have been pleasing to hear denunciation of capitalists
whose foresight failed to grasp Valdez as a superior seaport
railway terminus, he was temperate and fair, paying tribute to
the genius and courage of the men who constructed the mag
nificent railway from Cordova into the interior. He over
looked his personal differences with Col. Richardson, which he
wisel>' oliliberates, rather than to give expression to any thought
that might interfere with securing liberal appropriations for
trails, roads and bridges. At Seward the time of arrival and
departure of his steamer did not permit of any public declara
tions. However, he told the people that his personal views on
the question of government ownership and operation of mines
and railways in Alaska would be subordinated to the one great
demand of securing some aid for Alaska NOW.
The writer, in the columns of the Daily Alaskan, lias
said many harsh and seemingly unkind things about delegate
Wickersham, during the past year and a half. But these were
by reason of his own public expressions and record, not prompt
ed by any personal enmity.
We have been just as much opposed to him as we were
strong in his favor in the early days of Nome- In 1901-2, when
Judge Wickersham was in bitter controversy with U. S. Mar
shal Frank Richards, the writer believed the Judge to be
in the right and sustained him in every way through the col
umns of his newspaper, even though public sentiment favored
the marshal. And we would hope that his public course and
actions were always of such a tenor that we might speak of
them in words of commendation.
And there i- a f -ther devout hope that during his future
days in Congress Ige Wickersham may prove himself a
tower of strengti lie deserving cause of Alaska. He cer
tainly is taking t right methods to accomplish this aim.
Instead of antag" ig he now seems willing and anxious to
conciliate. While ays gone by he seemed to regard certain
men as his nature lemies, he now appears willing to treat
with them in rea> and listen to their views with respect.
WpU informed nn ike R. ,). Barry, general agent for thp
Copper River tk \ t western railway, and the Alaska Steam
ship company, lie wishes to consult with. While in Cor
dova the Judge s a couple of hours with Mr. Barry going
over the splendid k of the railroad, rates established, the
mining country < oped and other contemplated improve
ments- And these a ters were undoubtedly gone into at great
er length on the ti o Seattle, both the Judge and Mr. Barr-V
being passenger- te Alameda, which reaches Seattle today.
As a result the dc _ate will be more thoroughly informed on
the transportatioi uestion and be better equipped to do
battle for Alaska.
And now that egate Wickersham is receding from pre‘
judiced opinions a: -i going into his work with an open and
fair mind that will suit in accomplishment, he is entitled to
encouragement. It - known that his heart is set on securing
the passage of his ue rule bill. There has been some criti
cism of this measun but the judge assures the writer that he
will favor various -r.ggested amendments that will strength
en the bill. Having onceded much to others it now behooves
all fair minded Ala- ans, who have been rather lukewarm on
the idea of territori; government, to .ast aside prejudice and
give hearty support to Judge Wickersliam’s bill which on the
whole, with amendi: cuts that he will favor, is a deserving
piece of legislation at Congress would do well to favorably
consider and adopt.
JAMES, FOR LIFE; JOHN, 15 YEARS
Special to Daily Alaskan.
Los Angeles, December 5.—Excitement was intense in this
oity today, in anticipation of the sentencing of the McNamara
brothers- .There was no lawlessness, however, and the sen
tences were about as generally expected. James B. McNamara,
who confessed to having dynamited the Los Angeles Times
building and caused the loss of many lives, was sentenced to
the penitentiary for life. John J. McNamara, who confessed
to having blown up the Llewellyn iron works, was given a
sentence of fifteen years in the penitentiary.
Los Angeles, December 4.—Public interest and excitement
remains at fever heat over the confessions of the McNamaras.
Various details are now coming to light that add to the in
tensity of the feeling. Clarence 8. Darrow, counsel for the de
fense, has made a statement in which he credits the business
men’s committee and Lincoln Steffens as the large factors in
bringing about the confessions. He states that he hesitated
from the beginning about getting into the case, having serious
doubts as to the innocence of the McNamaras’ Soon after he
entered upon his duties he realized fully that they were guilty.
Nevertheless he believed it his duty to save their lives if
possible. A defense fund of $200,000 had been raised but it
was practically exhausted. Darrow has been under a heavy
strain for weeks past, and is now seriously ill, almost on the
verge of collapse.
The Examiner prints the story that the wife of Robert
F. Bain, the first juror sworn, has confessed under oath that
her husband had been bribed by the defense to hold out for
he believes will prove to be one of the most gigantic con
fession.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Ford states that the
federal and state authorities are co-operating to uncover what
he believes will prove to be one of the most gigantic con'
spiracies in the history of the country.
j Los Angeles, December 5.—It is expected that the Mc
Namara brothers will each be sentenced today. In all prob
ability following their sentence they will appear before the
■ federel grand jury and tell all they know about the conspiracy
that caused the dynamiting of the Los Angeles buildings and
the consequent death of many men. District Attorney Freder
icks states that the prosecution had already unearthed much of
the evidence that positively established the guilt of the Mc
Namaras and showed a conspiracy upon the part of the others.
He admitted, however, that both the McNamaras furnished
James B. McNamara was much agitated when he read
the newspaper reports where labor leaders demand that he be
given the death penalty. He said, “Let them call me yellow.
I did the deed in the cause of labor. When I saw a chance to
save my life by making a confession I took it. Gompers and
every man who contributed a cent to the defense are interested,
but they ought not to blame me for doing what most any man
would do to save his neck when he knew the proescution had
the evidence that would hang him.’’
Excitement is running high, and many fear that there will
be riots and bloodshed on Tuesday if sentence is pronounced
and leniency is shown the men who have confessed. The radi
cal element in labor circles are very bitter against the Mc-:
Namaras, as they are certain it would be so arranged that there
would be a hung jury and thus the ignomy would be thrown
upon organized labor.
Washington, December 4.—Congressman Berger, of Wis
consin, emphatically declared that the McNamaras should get
the limit and no leniency shown them.
Indianapolis, December 4.—United Btates District Attor
ney Miller declares that the investigation of the dynamite cases
growing out of the arrest of the McNamaras has uncovered the
most damnable plot ever entered into in this country
“information of signal value to the state,” and which will be
valuable in implicating others.
Los Angeles. December 4—It is currently reported this
afternoon that a man high in business and labor circles has
been arrested for*attempting to bribe a juror. While his
name has not yet been made public it is stated that he will put
up a strong defense.
New York. December 4.—Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor, answering the demand
of many unions that the McNamaras should hang, says that the
death cry is wrong. He realizes that it will further injure the
cause of labor.
Los Angeles, December 6.—When the men under indict
ment and who hail confessed their crimes, were brought into
court yesterday afternoon the room was crowded to its capac
itv and was an int«^> and anxious throng that awaited the
words that was to mete out punishment to the McNamara
brothers- The prisoners rather looked relieved, as though a
great responsibility and uncertainty had been lifted from their
shoulders. Judge Bordwell first addressed James. He stated
that the dastardly crime which he had committed deserved
the gallows, but that under the circumstances and upon rec
ommendation of the -tate’s prosecutor, he would commit him
to San Quentin for the balance of his life. To John J. Mc
Namara he said: ‘“You are fully as guilty, and deserve very
little consideration, but as you pleaded guilty and I am inclined
to make the concession as suggested by the prosecuting attor
ney, will therefore sentence you to fifteen years.”
In part of a signed confession James states, “I placed in
Ink Alley, a part of the Times building, a suitcase containing
nineteen sticks that were eighty per cent dynamite, set to ex
plode at one o’clock the next morning. My intention was to
injure the building and scare the owner, but did not intend to
take life.”
> — ■ ft
IS INTERESTED IN
OUR MINES
New York who has been In the Tan
ana district examining properties
for his clients, passed through Chit
lna Thursday enroute to New York.
He says that the mining industry
is steadily going forward in the sec.
tion visited by him but that many
of the finds would prove failures as
is always the case in every miner,
allied section. He reports that the
McCarthy property near Fairbanks
was the most promising group he
visited this season and from this
212,000 was taken in driving the
first 100 feet of tunnel. Mr. Mas.
on wag investigating the prospects
around Chitina as far as he could
without actually seeing the ground
and intimated that he would return
here at an early date next spring
and make a personal study of the
O’Brien creek and Tiekel claims.
He says in his opinion tne Fair.
banks-Chitina trail can be made
suitable for automobile travel in
two years with a far less expendl.
ture of money than has been esti.
mated. ■
The following have letters in the
Chittna postoffice unclaimed: Ann.
derson Oscar: Anderson. O. W. M.;
Carlson. Gus; Chase, Ben; Carroll,
W. W.; DeBrain, Ike; Dalton, Ray;
Jelsma, James; Lawson, John H.;
Lewis. J. T.; McGillary. J. M.; Mc
Donald James; Patterson, Miss;
Radovich, Marion: Rustin. Christ;
Salmon, M. J.; Sterness Miss Anna;
Whitman, Frank; Zamboini. Antoni.
A. G. MOREY, P. M.
James Hartney pulled out for
Fairbanks with a load of freight
this week and will be absent about
three weeks. He left a substitute In
charge of his dray business while hy
Is away.
Steps were taken the other day
\t San Francisco in the organize,
km of a new coastwise steamship
anpawy when the flaal arrange
ient« were made at the Palace hot.
1 for the merger of the Alaska Pa
iflc Steamship company, the Alas,
ka Coast Steamship company and
the North Pacific Steamship com.
pany H. F. Alexander, of Tacoma
president of the Alaska Pacific and
the Alaska Coast Steamship Com
panies and C. P. Doe, president of
the North Pacific Steamship com.
pany, together with Capt. Frank
Smith, formerly with the Ward
line of New York, and Richard Saxe
Jones, of Seattle attorney for the
Alaska Pacific Interests, completed
the arrangements and signed the
papers for the taking over of all the
interests concerned by a new com
pany, which will make application
for a charter within a few days
The ships affected by the new
organization are the Buckuan
Watson, M. F. Plant, and the Ad.
miral Sampson, owned bv the
Alaska Pacific company; the. Ber.
tha and Jeanie, owned by the Al
aska Coast company, and the Roa.
noke, Elder, Santa Clara. Ktlburn,
Yucatan and Eureka owned by the
North Pacific company.
It is understood in shipping circ
les that the new company which is
to be organised is the one composed
of German and English capitalists
who are represented by Capt. Frank
Smith. Under the plans laid down
the property of the three companies
Is placed at about $1,500,000 and
the* capital stock of the new corpo.
ration Is to be in the neighborhood
of $5,000,000. It is said by several
of the persons who attended the con.
ferences that the new company will
build several vessels and enter the
trade with South American ports.
There Is a strong fee ing <n Con
gress that there should be some
speedy action on the persistency with
which Russia disregards the question
of passports held by American Jews.
In accordance with many expressions
Congressman Sulser Introduced the
Joint resolution.
Wasmngton. Dec. 8.—Attorney
General Wlckersham, who was taken
111 at a recent meeting of the cabi
net, has since been confined to his
home. He is improving, however,
and expects to be abcut again in a
day or two.
Robert McIntosh, with his freight,
ing outfit, consisting of twenty head
of horses, sleds, etc., is now on his
way from Valdes to Chitina, where
he will engage in business this win
ter. He will be accompanied by his
crew consisting of Fred Collins, Phil
Wilson, Guy Birch, Charles Rlts
Cliff, Post and Jack Silverman.