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THE ALASKA CITIZEN published weekly by J H. CASKEY Owner CITIZEN BLOCK. FAIRBANKS. 1,,.,. : matl.r. V..., H 1910. «t the March 3. 1879. THIS PAPER REPRESENTED FOR FOREIGN ADVER TISING BY THE AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION GENERAL OFFICES NEW YORK AND CHICAGO BRANCHES IN ALL THE PRINCIPAL ClllfcS SUBSCRIPTION PRICE One year (In Advance) I Si\ months (In Advance) .• 'i I nths ; One month ... .oc . _ -V"N" 1» H () N 1-: 2 6 2__ t ill. ALASKA COLLEGE. Yesterday the legislature passed the bill | providing lor the establishment and construc tion ot tin Alaska Agricultural and Mechani cal College, T1 is have the efforts of hair banks people and organizations, united, been rewarded. This .should bring home forcibly the fact that united work accomplishes won ders. Now that the institution is provided for,, we should not go to sleep on the job. It won't amount to much unless we get behind and push it along. A new school, iike a new baby, has to be given the best of attention in er to gr m to it- proper stature, and give: the service that it is intended lor. Our job is. in fact, just started, and, while we will have the help of the remainder of the territory in seeing that it lives, it is primarily up to us, as being the ones most vitally concerned. It is our duty to see that all Alaska realize- that it is not a local insti union, and that Nome, Juneau, Seward, Ruby or any part of the territory lias just as much to 'a\ about it as we have. In no other wa\ will it ever amount to anything. Great credit is due the representatives ot the fourth division in both houses lor the splendid figlu they have pul up. This, 01 course, excepts our amiable triend, the pro hibition leader. C. k. Snow, who has devoted liimself to trviug to defeat the measure. While; all of the remainder lucre been exerting them- j selves to the utmost and fighting an uphill | battle and one that up to the last minute] seemed to be a losing one, in the lower house he was crying “pork" and claiming that the college was not needed and similar rot. Ilis attitude has made the work ot his colleagues all the harder, and the credit which is given them for their splendid victory is all the more on account of Snow's narrow-minded oppo sition. In bestowing credit on our own repre sentatives we are not unmindful ol the debt that we, and in fact all Alaska, owe to those| members from the other divisions who stood with them and voted with them. The thanks and best wishes of every citizen of the Fourth j division are extended to them. vow that the bill has passed, we hope! and believe that the opposition to the college rs a thing of the past. It should be. We have no w ord of criticism for those who I held different opinions to ours, that was and j is their right. But with the creation of this Alaskan institution, the time for “knocking” has passed. It is the duty of every true Al askan to see that the school now gets the sup port which it must have to live, l.et us en deavor to make it one for Alaska and of Alaska, and so truly Alaskan that it will be one of the greatest forces in the development of our great country and reflect the glory ot Alaska throughout the remainder of the nation. TO HELP RUSSIA. The United States, in sending a commis sion to Russia, is showing that the country still remembers the difficulties which beset it in the days of its first formation. While this commission is not making the trip to try to saddle on Russia and the Russians any of the principles of government which have been tested and developed by America, it is there for the prime purpose of rendering the new government any form of aid that is desired. The formation of a new government for the Russian people is a big job. Her citizen ship is composed of about one-sixth of the population of the entire world, and comprises many races whose interests are vast and va ried. To establish a government that will be common to the whole body and at the same time representative of each division of the people is the task with which the provisional government is confronted. At the time of the establishment of the United States, no such task had to be accom plished, for the mass of the people were of English stock, with a few descendants of the French and Spanish in the southeastern colo nies. Every succeeding year has seen the addition of different nationalities, until today the citizens of America number among them descendants of practically every race. It is therefore very probable that Am erican statesmen will be able to materially assist the Russians in many ways. It is cer tain that when the needs of the Russians are definitely determined, the United States, with her vast resources, and her willing! ess ot spirit, can go a long distance toward relie\ ing these needs. The selection of Klihu Root as chairman of the American commission to Russia gives promise ol unusual ability and efficiency lot that body, and takes it out of mere partisan politics, since Mr. Root has been for war a leading spirit of the Republican party, and a member of Republican cabinets, a> well a> senator from New York He has always been primarily a man o action, his writings and speeches holding secondary place. He first came into national prominence in 1898. Prior to this time he' was known as a leading member of the New York bar, and a leading citizen of that com j monwealth. President McKinley, at the out I break of the war with Spain, persuaded Mr. Root to accept the position of secretary oi war, and his official career continued almost unbroken until last year, when he retired from the United States senate. During all this time he has been classed i as a man of deeds, and not of words, lie has been characterized as a “constructive statesman,’’ and not one who expounds it from the platform. Many of his achievements are a part of our governmental and interna tional history, While he was secretary of war, he brought about a reorganization of our army. Because of our military occupation of the Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba, the war department necessarily was charged with the administration of these regions. To him, more j than to any other one man, fell the task ot working out the problems of government for these island territories. Afterward, as sec retary of state, he played an important part in settling controversies over the North At ; lantic fisheries and other things between the United States and Great Britain. All these differences were adjusted by the rule of com | inon sense, and enlightened methods. In deal | ing with Central and South American ques , tions of more than casual importance he; showed himself to be a diplomat of high standing and a great pacificator. In dealing j with Japanese situations he was notably sue-! cessful. Mr. Root at the time of his retirement from the United States senate was in the height of his inte'lectual powers, and today he stands out as one of the foremost of Am erican statesmen. He will be able to render, the country, Russia also, valuable services,! and his selection by President Wilson is no j more that? a just recognition of his worth j With him as chairman, the commission is | sure to do great things for Russia. -- - THE LABOR SHORTAGE. No worse calamity could befall the in terior of Alaska than an acute shortage of labor. It would seriously affect the develop mcnt of the entire district and give us a black eye for several years to come. This early in the season it is becoming evident that there are not nearly sufficient workmen here to fill all the jobs which will be open shortly. The work of the Alaska Road com mission will soon begin with openings for from seventy-five to a hundred men. Mining j operations are just beginning, and there will j be numerous jobs calling for workers. The Alaskan railroad work will open up in full i blast in a few weeks, and this work alone is capable of draining the labor resources of the entire district, and then possibly being short of men. Just at present there are more men at Nenana than have work, but the surplus of labor is not sufficient to take care of the needs of the immediate future. Of course, many men will undoubtedly come in on the first boats, but not enough are expected to take care of the railroad commission’s wants.! If no new labor comes in, the experience of last fall will be again undergone, when min- j ing operators were unable to secure men to complete their season’s operations. With such a condition prevailing from the begin ning of this season, there will be a bad fall ing off in the camp’s production, and a con sequent loss of business. Nor will this be confined to the creeks immediately adjacent I j 10 Fairbanks. The new camp of Tolovana i will require a large number of workmen, and . j any shortage of labor there will be felt in Fairbanks almost as badly as it would if the j >hortage existed in the local market. 1 he Commercial club has been watching the situation closely, and several months ago realized that unless steps were taken to pre vent it a labor shortage this spring and sum mer was inevitable. However, owing to the uncertainty concerning both the Road commis sion and the Alaskan railroad appropriations, action was delayed until some definite move was made in these two matters. But now that these appropriations are assured, the lo cal organization has set the wheels in mo tion to secure the needed labor. It is extremely doubtful whether they will be able to get the number of men want ed. Information from the States indicates that there is a shortage in labor all over the country. Jobs are going begging for men. A recent arrival from Seattle tells of 1,200 men leaving there during the last few weeks. Out of these men, a large part of whom were bound for the interior in search of employ incut, only urn man got as tar as Fairbanks j The remainder found lob' along the coast The entire coast region is experiencing the commencement of a prosperous year. New canning plants are being constructed at several points, and hundreds of men are be ing employed there, and will i>e until late in | the fad; W ith these onditions prevailing, Fairbanks will indeed be fortunate if she se cures as many men as she is sure to need.! The Commercial club acted wisely in adver using for laborers. It should not stop with the mere advertisement. They should ascer | tain, and probably will do so, what results are obtained from the call sent out, and if! the responses are insufficient, more strenuous efforts should be made. If the interior is to enjoy the full benefits of the prosperous year that is facing us. we must be readv to keep all branches of work in the country go-j ing steadily, and enlarge our output in every line to the fullest extent. rHI-; HAND Ol' I-'KLUOWSUll’. It is rather difficult for us of this sec-1 tion of the country to appreciate the real ex tent of the damage and injury done to the j town of Douglas, and in a smaller degree to Juneau, by the flooding of the Treadwell properties hist Saturday and Sunday. But even at this distance the losses and resultant' trade depression are staggering. The com-} pany, we are inclined to believe, are well able, to stand their part of the damage, hut forj some time to come the surrounding towns and Douglas city are sure to he hard hit. Juneau, of course, having a greater diversity, of resources, will feel the effect of a smaller payroll much less than her neighbor. W e extend our sympathy to our sister Alaskan towns, and at the same time express our belief that the setback to them both is only temporary. The northern spirit of fight ing best under disadvantages is sure to over- j tome this obstacle to their prosperity, and we hope that this tear will he to them, as to the remainder of the Alaskan towns, the best in their history. A STATEMENT BY THE EDITOR. (Juneau Empire) (Note—The following statement was writ ten by the editor of the Empire more than two months ago. Il was not printed then because of a fear that it might he considered as indicating the assumption of too much importance. How ever, it was true then and is true yet. The re cent action of the Democratic Territorial Cen tral Committee, and various comment in the press and otherwise, would seem to justify its publi cation at this.-, time) The statement: Individual Alaskans have written and sent word by word-of-mouth urging, and others have personally urged, the writer to become a candidate for appoint ment as Governor of Alaska. The suggestion has been the subject of articles in several Alaska news papers. To all those who have given expression to the j gratifying opinion that his services to the public as ■ editor of the Empire indicate that the writer could and would serve the people well as their chief execu tive, however misplaced their confidence or errone our their judgment, lie in this public manner ae knowledges his thanks. However, the writer is con- 1 vinced that in justice to himself he should sav to the people of Alaska publicly what he has ever said i personally to those who have made this suggestion ; to him. The editor of the Empire is not and has not been a candidate for appointment or election to any office, and he does not expect to become a can didate for such. No editor can afford to be a can didate for office. No newspaper can rightfully ini • pair its usefulness by permitting any one to have a pretext to confound its utterances with anj po j litical, social or other ambitions of its editor or pub- | lisher not connected directly with hi- newspaper and the general welfare. The writer has no other ambition than to make the Empire as good a newspaper as it.s field and support will permit. That means that his ambition is for the Empire to continue to disseminate the news of the world in general and Alaska and Gastineau chan nel communities in particular to serve its country, Al I aska and the communities which constitute its particu lar iield in a manner becoming a legitimate news ! paper, and to improve its service as fast as it ma\ From this ambition he will not swerve. Before he would take an office of any kind, high or low, it would ; have to come to him unsought, and with the coming would have to come the conviction that he could serve all concerned better in office than in directing his ne vspaper. It is proper to add that important offices do n-i come to people that way, and there is no oc casion tor one to come to he editor of the Empire in that manner or any other. JOHN W TROY Juneau, Alaska. Jan :'M. iSlT As wo have said before v e belli ve that Mr. Troj could fill the governor's chair wit hi ut slipping about j in it. Some men achieve governorship and others have t thrust upon them. Why should not he belong’ in this latter class? B you are too bashful to "speak for yourself. John,” we will do it for you. WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. The people of Interior Alaska are taking occasion these days to congratulate themselves on Ihe work of some of their representatives in the Alaska legislature, particularly in regard to the passage of the bill giving Fairbanks an Agricultural College and School of Mines. On the other hand, some of his most ardent supporters prior to the election are now vilifying Representative C K Snow for the part he took in trying to defeat the passage of the bill, and also for having attempted to pass a bill giving to the incorporated towns fifty per cent of their school funds instead of sixty per cent, as is provided for in the hill passed Iiut with all of their talk about credit and where it is due. nine-tenths of the people are forgetting to credit the man who first made an agricultural college possible, before the matter was ever brought to the attention of the territory's legislators Wo refer to the former delegate to congress from Alaska. Janies Wickersham Kven those who have most strenuously opposed Mr Wlckersham's candidacy during the campaigns when he was victorious and during the one when he was, pre sumably. defeated, cannot deny that this honor belongs to him and to him alone. For it was Mr Wickersham. although opposed on all sides, who finally pushed a bill through congress enabling the people today to con gratulate themselves on having secured such an insti t.ution for Fairbanks as the Agtlcultursl and Mechanical College. The passage of the original bill in congress necessi tated a large amount of work on the part of Mr. Wick ersham. He was openly derided on nil sides by vari ous members of congress, until he made them, sit up and open their mouths as well as their eyes by show ing them samples of what is produced here in an ngri cultural way. He ilid not need to show them anything regarding mining; Alaska was too far famed for that; but he proved to an extent that was next to unbe lievable to Outside congressmen that the Interior is a place where such an institution as an agricultural col lege could he of value to the entire territory of Alaska The people of Fairbanks have particular reason to bo grateful to Judge Wlckersham, for. although It was possible for him to ask congress to pass the bill so that it would provide that the college could be placed in tiny part of Alaska, he asked that Fairbanks be given the preference. The bill, as passed, therefore stated tHat the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines should be located at Fairbanks, and it is undoubtedly due to that fact, and to that alone, that the interior today finds itseelf, with the exception of the construc tion of the necessary buildings for the institution, in actual possession of the college. For the larger part of the fight in the legislature against the bill pro viding money for the construction of these buildings was made against establishing the college at Fairbanks. Our former townsman, John Ronan, wanted the col lege for the Third division, which he represents in the Alaska senate. Senator Aldrich, it is stated, wanted It for Nome. But neither of these men could gainsay the fact that the bill for the college, as passed by congress, expressly stated that the institution should be established at Fairbanks. Consequently it is to Judge Wlckersham that the people of Interior Alaska owe the larger part of their thanks for the establishment of the college here. This can be said without showing any political preference whatever, for, the law having said that he is defeated. Mr. Wickersham is once more a citizen of the country and not an official. From our point of view, however, we would say that ho is one of its most representative citizens, and is justly entitled to the credit for what he did do as the representative of the people of Alaska in congress. THE CALL TO ARMS. It is now very apparent that the actual call to arms in the United States is but a matter of hours. It awaits nothing more than the passage of the administration's war and army bill containing the conscription clause. And that conscription clause means that every eligible > oung man in the country, whether lie is wanted or not, will at least have to go so far as to register his willingness to fight at the word. Whether or not anybody will yet be called upon to light remains to be seen, but the call means that it is the intention of the government to he ready in case of emergency it also means that in future years the United States will have an army of two million trained men to depend on in time of need The dispatches regarding the matter state that every township and polling precinct in the country is to be made a place of registration, but says nothing regarding who shall be registration officials, and such are necessary. It is supposed, however, that ample provision for that deficiency will be made by the war depart meat. The passage of the bill containing the registration clause will mean that all of the young men of Fair banks and vicinity will be expected to register. There are no organized townships here, consequently it is supposed that the registering will be in charge of United States commissioners or other federal officials, official. The entire matter, however, is yet in abeyance, the dispatches being but preliminary to what will be done in the event that the bill is passed. Consequently Fair banksans need not worry themselves over registration until the bill becomes a law and until registration is compulsory. All that they have to do is to be ready for the call to arms when it does come. It will undoubtedly be an easy matter for the gov ernment to get the first 500,000 men it requires, and probably just as easy for it to get the second half-million contingent Consequently the Jury selecting method, as stated in the dispatches, will be rather to keep men out of the army, at least for a time. And those who are selected by that, or whatever other method the government devises, will be the most envied of every community. The most important meaning of the passage of the selective conscription bill will be that in the future the United States will always have a trained army of men at its command For there will always be 2,000,000 men at least In training, and in addition, after the first few years, a force of reserves unsurpasssd in the world. LLOYD GEORGE candidly admits that the subma rines are putting the imp into Imports and leaving little more than visions in provisions.—Anaconda Standard. GERMANY HAS HER TROUBLES WASHINGTON. Ii < . Apr. 2fi According to official dispatches re celved b) i • partment, in temal conditions in Germany are much upset by numerous strikes, and scenes of violence and disorder are widespread throughout the German empire The disorders are taking the shape of strikes and lockouts as a protest against further con tinuance of the war, and to empha size the demands of the Socialist Democrat parties for radical reforms of the existing form of government There Is nothing resembling an active revolution in these strikes, and it is thought that there is not much possibility of a revolt ngainst the government at this time. The government has too much power to enable any organization of the mass es to use much force REVENUE BILL IN COMMITTEE (Associated Press) WASHINGTON. 1>. C\. Apr. 26.— Is is amhoritatively stated tonight that the sub-committee which is in charge of the matter will probably submit a tentative draft of the war revenue bill which is to be intro duced in the house soon to the ways and means committee of the house on Monday or sooner. It is under stood that the bill, as drafted by the committee, follows closely the suggestions of Secretary of the Trea sury McAdoo. it Is thought improb able, however, that it will contain retroactive income and excess profit tax provisions or tariff charges. From present indications the bill will carry a total of items aggregating a bll lion and a half dollars. PAY RESPECTS TO PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, 1) D, Apr. 26. General Joffre. Admiral UeChair© and other of the leading members of the French commission sent to the Unit ed States for a conference on the conduct of the war with the ceil tral powers formally paid their re spects to President Wilson today by making an oilicial cull at the White House. They also called on Vice President Marshall and Secretaries Baker, Daniels and Lansing. Later | in the day General Joffre and sev eral members of his staff held a long informal talk with Secretary ot War Baker. General Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff of tin' United State.* at my. and other prominent army of ficers. MOTION ARGUED. A motion for a new trial In the case of the United States vs. Louis Goyette was argued yesterday by Attorney T. A. Marquam and Dis trict Attorney R. F. Roth. Judge Bunnell took his decision in the matter under advisement. Goyette was recently convicted by a jury of tho charge of assault with a dan gerous weapon on Dick Creighton. Four volumes short stories. $1.50 per set. Inquire Citizen. ALIAS SUMMONS.—NO. 2252. In the District Court for the Terri tory of Alaska, Fourth Judicial Di vision. Rosalind H. Tiffany, Plaintiff, vs. Eugene A. Tiffany, Defendant. The President of the United States of America, To Eugene A. Tiffany. Defendant: Whereas on the 25th day of Sep tember, 1916, the said plaintiff filed in the above entitled court her com plaint, wherein she prayed for a dis solution of the marital relation now existing between the parties hereto on the ground of the wilful desertion of the plaintiff by the defendant; and Whereas, on the 26th day of April, 1917, the Judge of said court made and entered an order for service of the summons in this cause by pub lication once a week for six (6) con secutive weeks in The Alaska Citi zen, a newspaper of general circula tion published at Fairbanks, Alaska: Now there fore you, the said Eu gene A. Tiffany, are hereby sum moned and notified that you must appear in said court and answer said complaint within thirty days after the completion of such publi cation, that is to say, within thirty days from the 11th day of June, 1917, otherwise your default will be en tered and the said plaintiff will ap ply to the court for the relief de manded in her complaint, viz; for a decree of absolute divorce and for the costs and disbursements of the action. Witness the Honorable' Charles E. Bunnell, Judge of said Court, by the Clerk of said Court with his seal of office, on this 26th day of April, 1917. J. E. CLARK, Clerk District Court, for the Dis trict of Alaska. Fourth Division. E. H. MACK, Deputy. Date of first publication. April 30, 1917. Date of last publication, June 11, 1917 O