Valdez Daily Prospector
I'UIILISHED By THE
Prospector Publishing Co.
TKHMd
One Dollar iwr Month: TweWs Dollars per Year
MONDAY, APRIl. 2!), 1912.
THE NEW ORDER.
Much is being said by the re
actionary press and public speak
ers, notably tin; president,
against the demand of the peo
ple to control their own officials
and to compel the enactment of
such legislation as they may de
sire. There is really no occasion
for the frenzied denunciations
portrayed by the publicists and
speakers. We feel certain the
people can be trusted in matters
of government. They will make
mistakes and they will rectify
their errors. They never will be
quite as bad as the Stephcnsons,
the Larimers, the Ouggenheims,
Aldrichs and their ilk. There is
no occasion for alarm over the
iniative, referendum or recall.
The American people have a
genius for self-government, a
love of fair play and self-control.
After all it has been the people
who have finally decided all great
questions affecting the weal or
woe of this nation. The iniative
and referendum are merely in
struments by which the people
wish to make their wishes more
directly and more expeditiously
felt. Oregon, by the use of these
political methods, has not suffer
ed, but on the contrary has gone
ahead by leaps and bounds. No
one will claim the slate is mis
governed, save it. be the politic
ians who have lost their voca
tion. The recall—of the judic
iary if you will, will create no
revolution save in the character
of the men who fill the bench.
We do not believe any judge, will
be recalled by reason of a de
cision rendered, but he may be
recalled for placing himself in the
altitude of defender of certain in
I crests.
When a judge or body of judges
lose their standing with the peo
ple as honorable exponents of
I he law, there is most general
ly the best of reasons for the
public mistrust, as has been so
well evidenced in the cases of I he
supreme courts of Washington
and California, An honest judge
need have no more fear of the
people than he entertained for
his father and mother during lhe|
days of his minority when the!
"recall" hung over him.
The fad is the people have
come (o the conclusion thai the
affairs of government have slip- j
ped from their hand. That we
have so far departed from the
teachings of Tims. Jefferson that
they have determined to extendi
the active list of governmental J
work so as to include all citizens.!
the majority of whom shall rule. I
This new order of things will j
simply mean "a condition re
quiring wider publicity in public I
matters." 11 will do away with
the "middleman arid hi* profit."
as they say in commercial life.
Those reactionaries of the Taft
slripe, in attempting lo stem the
tide «»f au awakening public sen
timent are as fulile as Moham
et's attempt to have the moun
tain come lo him. We believe
this country needs al Ibis time
more of "the rule of the people"
and less centralization in Wash
ington of bureaus and agents not
responsible to those who pri
marily are the cause of their be
ing there.
ANYTHING FOR DELAY.
Governor NVallor K. ('.lark's
suggestion thai congress should
not adopt a territorial bill for
Alaska until a joint committeo of
congress visit Alaska, will tin-:
doubtedly be adopted by the sen-]
ate majority as a subterfuge
against giving home rule to this
northern territory. The wants
and necessities of the big inter
ests demand this and the Repub
lican party does not propose to
run counter to I he claims of I hose
who furnish it with its immense
slush fund. Alaskans have no
vote, while the (luggenheims,
Morgans el ol have plenty money
to place where il will do the most
good and bring in the greatest
returns. Ilenee we have a right
to conclude our hopes of self rule
will be deferred until a congres
sional committee visits Alaska
and reports what is best for us.
How long are we to be governed
by visiting statesmen? When are
we to be accorded treatment giv
en other frontier countries? We
huvo had committees of congress
visit us before—cabinet officers
as well. Their visits have dem
onstrated that no good at all
conies from these excursions at
public expense. What can a body
of men unused to the experiences
of Alaskans accomplish in a few
weeks gadding: on our outskirts
during the summer months?
Those committees are no more
qualified to legislate for Alaska
than for Patagonia. Such a com
mit lee as has been so arduously
urged by CJovernor Clark, in the
interest of the large corpora
lions, will only afford Ih«» people
of Alaska another opportunity to
impress upon its members their
desire to govern themselves, and
this will not be news to either the
committee or the politicians in
Washington, hence we are forced
to conclude that a congression
al committee will be sent to Alas
ka for the purpose of side-step
ping the main issue until after
election, when the canneries, rail
roads and other big interests will
resume their undisputed sway ov
er this much imposed upon land.
UNPOPULAR ADMINISTRATION.
It cannot bo denied the admin
istration of President Taft is de
servedly unpopular in Alaska.
This unpopularity it not political
in its nature, but is based almost
wholly upon the apparent antag
onism of the government to the
people who are building up this
vast domain. The president ap
pears to be distrustful of Alas
kans in general and («> lean upon
tin* politicians ami interests for
his inspiralion in matters per
taining to the welfare of the ter
ritory. The administration is re
plete with crimes of omission
and commission. Not a single act
of his has redounded to the ben
efit of Alaska during the three
years of office. He has insisted
and still urges a commission
form of government. He has fail
ed to lake one single step l<> an
nul (he infamous executive or
ders of his predecessor, who
throttled all enterprise in Alaska.
He has complained of Roosevelt's
disregard of law. and yet has per
mitted of congressional acts be
ing disregarded and nullilied dur
ing the three years he has been
in office.
Mr. Taft and his administra
tion have been endorsed by the
Republican convention, bul this
endorsement carries with it lit
tle else I ban I lie slain of the worst
form of political jobbery. To
Imil it down to its essence, Mr.
Tafl has been endorsed by Shack
leford, national committeeman;
Clark, governor: lloggatl, ex
governor, and-the federal office
holders. II is not departing from
Ih«* absolute truth in declaring
llial an overwhelming majority
of Alaskans are hoping that I hey
are enduring the last year of
Tafl's adminislral ion. Anyone
hut Theodore Roosevelt would be
preferable, to Tafl/
EDITORIAL NOTES.
K. I*'. Ritchie, whom Martin
Harrais announced as one of his
strongest, supporters, has called
a Republican convention lo "nom
inate a candidate for delegate lo
congress." Martin's strength ap
pears to lie well within Hie Wick
ersham lines.
The itmiounccmcnl made by flie
( iilrnore managers to I lie effect
thai Judge Wickersliam favored
the Nome man's candidacy was
somewhat premature. The Shack
le ford collar worn by the Repub
lican nominee was an uulookcd
for obstruction.
A Now York policeman wn» re
tired on a pension at I he ago
of no. H«» died recently aged 102
years, all of which goes to show
that doctors occasionally guess
wrong.
Mr. Taft. was much pleased, so
they say, nt tho eteam roller en
dorsement received from Alaska
Republicans. The other, branch
of tho family are yet to be hoard
from.
"Header" is wrong; vox populi,
vox Dei would not apply lo I he
Cordova convention. In thai case
Ihe quotation would read, vox
llerroni, vox Clarki, Shacklefordi,
Tafti..
Congressman Hulzer made a
0,0(10 word speech in favor of Ihe
Alaska home rule bill. If ho was
up here he'd got a vote fur every
word, including thn conjunctions.
The governor of Alaska is of
tho public b— d—■ kind. He owes
the people nothing, and repre
senls the president, and not the
people.
The people of Oregon have
told Senator Jonathan bourne, of
Massachusetts, (hat ho cannot
come hack us the representative
of Oregon in the upper house.
The most interested advice'we
can give the Republican parly is
to nominate either Tuft or lloose
velt, hut for ourselves we prefer
Clark.
THE MAJESTIC
AMUSEMENT CO.
H. C. DAVIS, Mgr.
Complete change of program on
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
Week days one show at 8 p. m.
Sundays two shows at 8 and
9:15 p. m.
VAUDEVILLE 8PECIALTIE8
PICTURES WORTH WHILE
Jack Surryhne, Musical Director.
INDEPENDENT MESSENGER Co.
and
VALDEZ VACUUM CLEANING Co.
LATOUCUE & PECK. Man.
Office Smythie'* Tailor Shop Phooe™102
Strric* ta AH Parti of Town. Cillt Auvird Prwpll;
Bumeu CaafiJcatia!
House and Carpet Cleaning
Valdez Sheet Metal Works
Manufacturers of
YAKSHAW STOVES
Plumbing, Steam and Hot
Water Heating, Pumps and
Well Points.
Sheet Metal ^Vorlc of Every
Description, Hose Valves,
Iron Pipe, Fittings.
MINING ENGINEER
L. W. STORM. E. M.
VAt-DHZ. ALASKA
Rkportb ON Minkb
Patent Surveys
QmNmeAL. Mining Enoinmkrino
Phonk No. 103
F. BUTTERWORTH
Civil Engineer and
U. S. Deputy Land and
Mineral Surveyor
OMco in Ilurrint'ton Hlrttr.
on Wuler Front lies- I'honc. 1S9
MISCELLANEOUS
«•
CAMP VALDEZ No. 10
VN..B
Meet every Tuesday evening ut H o'clock in
Katrle Hall* All members requeste I t° at
tend T* (J. QUINN. ArtlcChicf
Valdes I/Odge
No 168.
Free and Aeccnted Masons
itCKiiiar i omniiiniciitions tlrst Wednesday io
eiwh month in McKlnley Hall. Visitors always
wclconie,
James H. Patterson..W. M
C. C. Reynolds. Sec
1.0.
0. F.
Vlsltlnjf and local Odd Fellows nre re
quested to register their name with the
Valdez Oild Fellows* Club. Regular
meetlDKH, Hrst and third Monday.
Cull on P. S. HCTNT. Secretary.
FOE
VALDKK AEHIK No- 1971
Meet every Friday. 8 u. m. Katfle Hall
BUY YOUR BREAD at
VALDEZ BAKERY
Nothing bnt beat material* used.
FRESH BREAD DAIL\
All kitulfl of Oaken, Plow, oto.
made to order
WOOD A HENRICH, Prop..
— j
DYKE BILL PASSED
Good Things are Coming our Way
Steamship Sampson, Just in, Brought us Many
Good Things, Including
MEN'S SPRING SUITS,
STRAW HATS
PANAMA HATS
Brown Suits are Stylish THis Spring
See Our Brown Window
Copper River
Draying Co.
Kreiithtinir und j>assentfers to nil purls
of the Interior. General Trucking
bid. Wood, 2 - Proprietor
MoKinley St,» Valtlcz
M*m> Hotel
EUROPEAN
SEATTLE
Cms. Perry, mop.
THE BEST Or EYEPYTHING
iNTntniARTorniccin ,
135RooKsWiTHBwti-505imHiRooM5
When In Seward Stop at the
COLEMAN HOUSE
GEORGE SEXTON. PROP.
strictly fir§t class
FuunTk Ave Seward, Alaska
FISHER'S BLEND
FLOUR
AT
DOUGHERTY & FERGUSON
i'HONE 2.
Valdez Undertaking Co.
Undertaker, Embalmers
Funeral Directors
Phone M8 GEO. ROBRINS, Mgr.
Steam Heat ct . . ...
Electric Light*
THE COPPER BLOCK
Finely Furm.hed Room. AI1 Modern Convenience.
Good
Goods
THE BUFFET
Good
Goods
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OF
Native and ¥ ¥ Tli/IOII'ID ant^ Building
Puget Sound JLi vJ IVIJLpILiIY. Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 18
Patronize a Home Industry
the
Tairbanks Bar
George Krau, Proprietor
Pool, Cigars, Liquors
Courteous Treatment Phone 100
Ingram & Bush Dealers °
Just Arrived Direct from the
Factories a Large Shipment of
INTEGRIDAD, Rex, Regal* EL SIDELO, Senators. Millionaires
SMOKECRAFT, Reina Victoria, Delmonico BELMONT, Monarch
REPRESENTA, Medio, Full Value, Madrid
Box Trade Solicited at Seattle Prices
Special Price To The Trade
We do a
general
Banking
Business
S* BLUM &. ©•
— incorporated —
' c A p ! f A L 20 d.O 0 O."0
I Bank in
rear of
mercantile
department
Fagerberg Bros.
NIZINA, ALASKA
General Merchandise
Miner* A Prospector* Supplies
Fraih Goodi-RMtonabU Prkct
We Pay 4 Per Cent Interest on Time Certificates of Deposit.