The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-22
The Manner in Which the Governments Tel
graph Business Is Conducted-The Tele-
graph Company's Best Patron.
An American Apostle of Oscar Wilde
on a Missionary Tour.
An Effort Making to Secure Let-Up on the
Tariff AgitatiOn-The Question of
POstmasters Responsibility.
AFFAIRS IN ALASKA.

Charges of Outrageous Conduct on the Part
of Judge McAIister.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-A story is current to
the effect that many of the New York members
of Congress would join in an effort to induce the
President to refrain from sending in the nomina-
tion OF Mr.. Dawne. of Oregon, to be United
States judge for Alaska. The reason given is
that in the first place Mr.. Dawne is the judge re-
to in those scathing letters which startled
some OF the promiscuous indorsers of candidates
for office, some weeks ago. Also, that McAlister,
who was appointed by Arthur, was displaced be-
cause of the opposition of certain church people
who were dissatisfied with his ruling in case
which came before him.
Congressman Darwin r. James, who has been
very active in Alaska affairs, was asked to-day
by your correspondent what there was in the
story of the unity among the New York mem
bers in behalf of McAister
II certainly" said Mr.. James ''shall make no
effort towards securing the retention of Judge
McAlster, and if I am correctly informed, he,
as we'll as the other officials appointed a short
time ago, is entirely unfit for any place under
government. and if the stories told of the short
comings of federal officials in Alaska are true,
and have no doubt they are, these men are
unfit to hold places in any civilized country
Why" continued Mr. James, II am fairly
astonished when l read the letters showing the
corruption which has existed in that far-off
section of the country. Many Eastern people
have been trying to better the condition of the
natives there by establishing schools and bring
ing children up with realization of the Chris
tian religion. These people have met with strong
opposition on the part of men who ought to be
severely dealt, with In many instances the
girls have been torn away from the
schools and placed in brothels by
these men, who have been, in some instances
government officials; that is, if my information
is reliable, and have every reason to believe
that 1t Ia Here" he said, sis communication
which l have recently received from Alaska
which will perhaps throw some light upon the
controversy between Judge McAlster and the
other court officials, on the one hand, and those
who have been lighting hard for the education of
the natives on the other. This letter you will
see is dated Oct. l, just after the new officials
appointed by President Cleveland arrived in
Alaska
SAT the May term of court in Alaska, United
DAohiASI
malice against missions, by means of subser "
lent grand jury, number of whom could not
understand English secured four indict-
ments against Rev. Sheldon jackson, who has
been superintendent of the Indian training
school at Sitka. The alleged offense
was that in building fences and other
improvements on the school property, he had OBJ
structed socalled public highway. THE school
buildings are upon government land, for the land
laws of the country have not been extended to
Alaska But the land was specially reserved for
the school by an act of Congress- The four in
dlctments were for different stages of one and
the same offense, and the question has often
been asked why separate indictment had not
been secured against each post in the fence If
the alleged acts had been really committed, the
penalty is fine of from $50 to $780, The bail
was placed at the extreme limit, $500 for each
case. and accepted by the judge, aud the trial
set for the November term of the court
"Dr. Jackson is now the United States gener-
al agent of education in Alaska. Receiving in
structions a. Washington to establish certain
public schools, and have the fall term commence
early in September he went aboard the August
mail steamer with school furniture charts,
books, ETC., to make the round of Southeastern
Alaska and set the schools in operation.
Just as the gang-plank vas to
be drawn in and the steamer leave,
he was arrested, and, with unnecessary rudeness
on the part of Deputy Marshal Sullivan, hustled
off the steamer The warrant was issued at
o'clock in the morning for DR.. Jackson to appear
before the judge and increase the amount of his
bonds. The serving of the warrant was inten.
tionally delayed six hours until the steamer was
leaving.
'"rhe judge is supposed to be party to the
conspiracy; for, instead of having the warrant
made out, as usual, by the clerk of the court, it
was privately made out by the judge and dis
trict attorney, and when the attention of the
judge was called to the delay in serving the
warrant, he made no earnest effort to probe the
matter The warrant called upon the marshal
to bring DIR. jackson Immediately before the
judge Instead of being taken to the court,
where his bonds could have been fixed up in ten
minutes DIR. jackson was locked up in cell
and refused even an empty box to sit upon
After the steamer left and was safely out of
reach. he was taken before the Judge, arrange
ments made for increasing his bonds, and set
free. But as there is only one steamer month.
the purpose of Judge McAlister and District At
torney Haskett was accomplished. DR.. Jackson
is compelled to remain at Stka a month, until
the next steamer.
by this detention four government schools
that were to commence at the usual time OBJ
strncted and will not be able to commence until
October. and possibly not until November.
THE feeling of indignation on the part Of the
citizens is intense All classes and nationalities
unite in condemning the outrage. There was
strong talk of tarring and feathering the district
attorney, ducking him in ll-pond ETC., but
better councils prevailed.
Judge McA!ister and District attorney Has
kett have recently been removed by the Presi-
dent, When their successors arrive the law
abiding people of this section will breathe freer
"P. S.-Oct 1.-The new officials reached
Alaska in the September steamer AT once the
United States District attorney entered upon an
examination of the Indictment cases against DR..
jackson. Becoming fully satisfied that the goY-