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.
- ONLY NEWSPAPER IN CHITINA
Published every Saturday by
WILL A. STEEL—Editors, Managers and Proprietors—HABBY O. STEEL
Office: Hotel Chitina Building. Cordova Office: Daily Alaskan
Seattle Office: 551 Colman Building.
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given. Official publication for legal advertisements pertaining to mineral lands
of the Copper River district.
CHITINA, ALASKA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1912.
AVOID MAKING IT A JOKE.
The legislature given to Alaska may not be able to alter
the conditions of the world. It can hardly compare with the
Roman or American senate. It may indeed partake very
largely of the functionary capacities, external appearances and
the possibilities of a small municipal corporation, but still it
is the best we have got and it should not be made the medium
for showing ourselves up as the laughing stock of the country.
It should be remembered in connection with the coming
election that if we prove ourselves careless in small things
we cannot expect to be entrusted with tilings that are greater.
For too long a time, men have been elected to legislatures who,
if they had followed different channels of activity, would nevei
be candidates for anything more exalted than dog catchers.
But some such take it into their heads that Providence created
them specially to lead their benighted brothers across the
desert into the Land of Promise, and the howling joke of the
whole thing is that voters sometimes take them at their own
appraisement.
Nome has some of the brightest and best men in Alaska
and a few of them, if they would be prevailed upon to run
would be worth a thousand of another kind. The position oi
representative or senator in the new* legislature is one that en
tails a tremendous amount of trouble without adequate com
pensation either in money or honor. But this fact should noi
permit the people to come to the conclusion that anyone is
good enough for the job. Anyone is not good enough. AYc
should remember that the coming legislature, no matter how
small its legislative powers may be, will stand as the criter
ion by which Alaska will be judged throughout the nation.—
• Nome Nugget.
: ■ --oooo
A PALL OBSCURES SUN, MOON AND STARS.
. . • I
The Detroit Free Press thinks that so far as climate k
concerned there are other places worse off than the “city beau
tiful” on the lake. And as Alaska is the dumping ground foi
all invidious comparisons we get it in the following para
graph :
“By the way, how’d you like to live, say in Alaska, right
now? To be sure, the place where you now dwell isn’t at all
suited to a person of your rare delicacy and fastidiousness
Besides, there is the climate, you know, which is so severe or.
your fragility, and the neighbors who constantly get youi
goat—that is, ahem! constantly rasp your sense of propriet;
—which is always in the way and always is getting chunk,
rasped off; it, isn’t it? Well, perhaps there are worse places
—which brings us back to Alaska. Since June 7, when vol
canic Mount Katmai blew off its top, a heavy, murky pall lias
shut out sun, moon and stars for a radius of over two hundred
miles.”
We really haven’t been affected very much by the vol
canic pall. The gloom that has overcast “the sun, moon and
stars” for a radius of thousands of miles in Alaska, has beer;
the pall and blight of Pinchotism. It has so blinded progress
that development is becoming one of the lost arts in this sec
tion of the world. But with the dawn of light will come pros
perity.
-o—o—o
UPHOLDING STERILIZATION.
A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Washington
that the execution of an act providing the penalty of surgi
cal sterilization for certain crimes is not dangerous, cruel 01
inhuman in the sense of the constitutional inhibition is the
first judicial declaration upon a subject that is of importance.
Many have advocated the enactment of this penalty for clear
ly proved cases of assaults on women, without regard to the
color, race or social standing of the offender. There have al
so been some propositions for its use in the case of habitual
criminals to prevent the perpetuation of criminal hereditary
tendencies. That is in some respects a moot question; but
the appropriateness of the remedy to cases of criminal as
saults on women is indisputable. As the prohibition of “cruel
and unusual punishment” is in the national constitution, a
decision by the United States Supreme Court is necessary be
fore it can be finally determined. But with the decision of the
Washington court it seems probable that such a law will be
upheld by the national tribunal. The penalty is not so cruel
as hanging, or even whipping; while it is no more unusual
than electrocution was a very few years ago.
-o—n—n
HOPE GOES A-GLIMMERING.
(From Thursday’s Cordova Daily Alaskan.)
Although it hasn’t been authoritatively announced, yet we
are inclined to infer from a wire sent us by Editor D’Heirry
that the work of the Alaska railroad commission is about fin
ished. The editor seems to have confidential information that
the members of the commission think that Valdez is the fin
est harbor on the coast, and that it is also a fine location for
a terminal city. So there really seems very little use for the
commission to try to scale the heights of Thompson’s pass,
as everything else is so satisfactory. Possibly it is their idea
to build the railroad from the Matanuska coal fields over to
Chitina, then use the Copper River and Northwestern railroad
into Cordova and .build a line from Cordova to Valdez. Bv
that means the “finest harbor on the coast” might be utilized,
not to speak of the fine location for a terminal city. We really
sympathize with our friends over at Seward who have been
deluding themselves with the idea that they had both the fin
est harbor and the most beautifully located terminal city in
all Alaska. And then, too, we hate to admit that all those
charts that have placed Cordova away up among the leading
ports of the world, when it comes to fine harbors, are all
wrong. But truth will out and Valdez has pronounced our
doom.
-o—o—o
A MUNICIPAL DIVIDEND.
_
If the success of the commission plan at Galveston led
to the emulous propaganda for the adoption of that form of
municipal government throughout the country, what may not
be expected from the example offered by Fargo, N. 1). This
happy community has just been informed by Mayor Sweet
that the city will pay the taxpayers a dividend of fiVa per
cent in March on the operations for the current year. This, lie
explains, is made possible because $10,000 has been saved dur
ing the year, and the city administration has decided to re
fund this surplus to the taxpayers in proportion to their as
sessments.
If this saving has been effected without injury to the ad
ministration of the municipal affairs, surely the municipal
millennium must have reached North Dakota. Any other city
with $10,000 to spare would probably find a thousand uses
for it. Wo. are in some doubt whether Fargo could not use
such a sum to advantage, but that, of course, is not the main
point, which is that the city administration having found the
receipts $10,000 larger than the expenditures, instead of spend
ing it anyway is to return it to the taxpayers. An administra
tion so little disposed to spend money when it has it to spend
is certainly a marvel in American municipal history. Usually
the trend is all the other way.
-o—o—o
WANT JUDICIAL REPEAL.
Every state having so-called “blue laws” will be more
or less interested in a movement under way in Maryland de
signed to have such statutes declared unconstitutional by the
federal courts. Certain amusement enterprises operating at
jlleii Echo, Md., having been repeatedly fined for violation of
the state laws, have retained counsel, who hope to appeal the
suits to the federal courts at Baltimore and secure a “judicial
repeal” of the statutes. Their plea will be placed upon a case
decided in the District of Columbia in 1908. A man arrested
’or working on Sunday was discharged by the police court and
the government appealed. When the District was ceded to
the federal goernment the Maryland police laws were adopted
bodily, including the “blue laws.” Judge Yon Orsdel of the
Court of Appeals dismissed the case, holding that the Mary
land statute of 17:23 was “intended to enforce the observance
)f the Sabbath as a religious obligation and was consequently
lot legally enforceable under our constitution.” The right
>f Maryland to prohibit labor on Sunday was not disputed,
but considering the “blue laws” as a whole, he was forced tc
the conclusion that they were designed to prevent a desecra
tion of the Sabbath rather than impose a day of rest. The
Maryland litigants hope to secure a similar ruling from the
supreme court.
There is, howeer, no possibility of the ruling one way oi
mother affecting the “blue laws” of other states, since this
sase arises solely through the complication growing out ol
the adoption of the Maryland statutes in the Federal District
of Columbia.
n A_a_
ALASKANS SHOULD START RIGHT.
The passage of the home rule bill by congress is an ex
cuse for rejoicing among the people of Alaska. As that bill
stands today, it is far from perfect—far from what we need
rnd should have—but it is an entering wedge. If the people
rt’ill take the conduct of the territory’s affairs in their own
hands, and send honorable and competent miners and business
men to Juneau to. legislate there for us, the result will be foi
the country’s good. Until now, the people have had no ap
preciable say in the conduct of their own official affairs, but
Prom now on they will have more and more authority—now is
the time to exert that authority in the right way, irrespective
of politics. Start right, and the finish will be a better one.—
Fairbanks News-Miner.
-o—o—o
FAREWELL TO PINCHOTISM.
There certainly is a reversal of opinion among the think
ing people and newspapers of the Eastern states concerning
the conservation of Alaska’s resources. They are beginning
to realize that our loeked-up minerals are of no more value
than would have been the vast grain fields of the United
States if their development had been forever stifled. While
the general belief in the idea of real conservation, the mis
taken notion that has deluded the people is gradually passing
away. Many newspapers are expressing themselves very pos
itively on the subject, in the line with the following editorial
which recently appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune:
If the report of Director Holmes of the bureau of mines
means anything, conservation of our natural resources should
extend from the farm and forest to the mining and consump
tion of coal and natural gas and the manufacture of coke.
What does Director Holmes know about coal mines or
natural gas or coke? Old Cornelius Vanderbilt on one occas
ion said that one of his sons-in-law was more kinds of a d—d
fool tha nany other man that he had ever seen. Had he lived
to the present time, he would take that back, especially if,
he were to make a visit to Washington. What does this Dir
ector Holmes know about howr oil wells are discovered or coal
mines worked ? What soi’t of a paternal government is he
working to establish in the United States? What does he
know of how the frontier has been pushed back and the savag
ery killed?
The struggle of the world seems to be to get something
for nothing. The old invincible spirit to forge out fortunes
and high names by individual effort seems to be dying out of
the American people. One crowd is seeking power on the but
thinly veiled process of compelling a division in which the idle
and incompetent are to have an equal share with the indus
trious and efficient. They are the hookworm of politics. A
greater number is seeking power by inciting the poor to hatred
of the rich, though it is the rich that hosts of working men al
ready here and the hosts that are pouring into the land must
look for employment.
And this director of the bureau of mines seems to be
steeped in Pinchotism, and wants to turn the government into
a wet or dry nurse and make it pick up one industry after an
other and make places for a million blood suckers as worthless
as himself.
What this country needs just now is a failure of crops for
a year or two, to turn the thoughts of the people back where
they may realize that this at best is a tough world, and that
for several years past the American people have lost grati
tude for the unremembered blessings that have been theirs,
and have apparently lost the energy to do their duty—in the
dishonest dream of getting something for nothing.
-u-u
It is expected that in the course of a week or two all the
candidates from this division who seek to occupy seats in
the Territorial Legislature will have been announced. A non
partisan primary is being held this afternoon at Katalla. The
Bull Moose following are also nominating at Valdez.
The latest aspirant for legislative honors is Frank E.
Youngs, of Valdez. We do not know whether this means the
withdrawal of Milo Kelley and that Seward has decided to
run both Mr. Young and L. V. Ray for the House.
No, gentle reader, the government cable lias not been out
of commission for a month past. It has only been half that
time. Its great strong point is not so much length of omission
as frequency of omission. Two or three weeks at a time is
long enough, with almost monthly frequency. And then you
know the cable is not intended primarily for commercial ac
commodation. It is intended as a war measure, and there is
no war.
The Copper river country is entitled to have a Represen
tative in the new Legislature. Two have already been select
ed to make the run and now information comes that a lot of
friends of V. J. Dwyer, of Strelna, will likely give him a non
partisan nomination believing that he is one of the strong
est men in the interior to make the race.
“Stag Hound” Bill Hunter, of Valdez, declares that the
present Legislative measure reminds him of an experience in
his early days, lake most boys he had an all absorbing am
bition to become the possessor of a jack knife. On one occas
ion, prior to the departure of his mother on a trip, he received
the promise that if he would be a very, very good boy, dur
ing her absence, she would bring him the much coveted knife.
On her return Bill was presented with the knife, but all the
blades had been carefully removed, so that he could not in
jure himself, and then he didn’t know whether to laugh or
cry.
If the tone of the press of England, Cuba and Nicaragua
is a valuable guide, the United States appears to be confront
ed with the peril of a triple alliance of these powers against
its role of policeman of the Western hemisphere.
The President’s son is quoted as saving: “There is no
room at the White House for a bear.” The two great par
ties also agree that accommodations are lacking there for a
Bull Moose.
In view of the old adage that “justice is blind,” might
not the esteemed American Bar Association perceive that it
must be unable to distinguish between colors?
Great Britain’s prompt announcement that it is to build
the last word in battleships following our own, which will" be
the last word anyway.
When it was generally accepted that E. F. Gray would
make one of the strongest and best men that could be sent to
the new Legislature, and when everyone admitted that his
election was beyond question, he comes forward and declares
that his business duties will not permit him to accept the of
fice. It is unfortunate for this is the kind of men that the
district needs, and in the case of Mr. Gray it certainly would
have been an instance of the office seeking the man.
Chitina has just held a non-partisan primary, with Ka
talla to follow on Saturday. In addition to Seward, Cordova
and Valdez, that makes a pretty good showing for the non
partisan sentiment in this division. Instead of politics it is
a case of securing the best and strongest men.
Soon the political combinations will have been made and
the voters will have an opportunity to select their legislative
ticket.
It is asserted by some of the New York newspapers that
the old vice resorts which led to graft and murder are doing
business at the old stands with the knowledge of the author
ities, who are supposed to make for the best of order. Little
old New York, like little young Newport, is apparently de
termined to maintain a well-earned reputation.
Without being unduly cynical, a study of the task of the
Government in persuading the populations of Central Amer
ica to limit their regular industry of revolutions, suggests
the pertinence of the precedent afforded by the justly famous
case of the Kilkenny cats.
A Washington report is that the Postoffice Department
has also established a laundry at Washington. Further, the
Senate authorizes some work in the soiled linen line during
the next two months.
j Chitina
| Pharmacy
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♦ Stationery
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l Candy
X Fruit
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♦ ... ..
j A. G. MOREY, Prop.
I GROCERIES, HARDWARE
| = AND ■ .=
j MEAT MARKET
T We have a big line of Sec
j onil-Haml Goods, and can
? save you money on your out
X fit. Bunk House, with free
X Cook House, in connection.
| CHITINA HEIGHTS
f C. A. SIMONS & CO.
PUBLIC 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, 902 F Street
N. W. (opposite Gen'l Land Office),
Washington, D. C. Free information
about contests and where to obtain
scrip, locatablc upon public lands,
without residence or cultivation.
Feed, Fuel
and
Lumber
HAV, 1SKAX, OATS, CHOPS,
KOI,Mil) HARLEY
We can make prompt ship
ments to points on the rail
road. Our feed, is the very
best quality.
0. A. Nelson & Co.
CHITINA
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