San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-09
LIFE IN ALASKA.

LIFE IN alaska
The New Governor is Expected to Put
Down Lawlessness.
The nomination Of John G. Brady to
be governor of Alaska will give sat
isfaction to the best people OF that
sometimes badly governed territory.
c. s. Johnson, who was United States
attorney for Alaska in President Har-
rison's administration, would have
liked the appointment, though Mr.
Johnson's chief desire is to obtain rep
resentation in Congress for Alaska He
has lived in Alaska ten years, and Is
now settled at Juneau, the principal
town in the territory, 40 miles from
Sitka, the capital. Mr.. Johnson was
q delegate to the Republican conven-
ton at st. Louis, and as a member of
the committee on platform succeeded
in getting the plank adopted to give
Alaska representation : in Congress.
The bill to give Alaska a delegate is
pending, and Mr.. Johnson is in Wash
ington to aid in its passage. He says:
"Our people want two things-home
rule and representation in Congress"
Another resident of Alaska who is
familiar with affairs up there said to-
day: 1.-The statement that the presi-
dents selection of John. g. Brady for
governor is a victory for the mission
airy element, as against the business
men of the territory, is not fair state
ment. So far as the missionary work
goes, am an outsider. But I am
ready to say that the missionaries at
Sitka have been long suffering and pa
tient under extremely trying circum-
stances. They are doing splendid work
among the natives by their schools
with Industrial departments, where
various trades are taught and train
ing given for self-support. Nobody
away from there knows, however, what
the missionaries have had to contend
against because of the liquor brought
into the territory in spite of the law
prohibiting the sale of liquor except
for medicinal purposes, and that on
high license. Liquor is struggled in
to Sitka and every other port in SOUTH
eastern Alaska on the regular stea-
mers, which arrive once fortnight.
The native Alaskan takes kindly to
civilization, and behaves beautifully
as long as he drinks water, But when
he gets whisky he is much like the
white man under the same influence.
Though the mission and the native VIII
lage at Sitka are a mile apart, there
is necessarily more or less communi-
cation between them. 1t is not simp-
ly the natives getting drunk, but at one
time, when the company of marines
Z was stationed here, some, of them
would get drunk, too, and go into the
native village. Then things were
about as bad as they could be. The
governor was a good Presbyterian and
a strictly temperate man, but absolute
ly without backbone. He could hard
ly walk a stones throw from his own
house without passing more than one
saloon with its wide-opened door and
unlicensed bar, yet he confessed him
self powerless to correct the evil. And,
to a certain extent, he was. For, on
the other hand, the judge Of the high
est court in Alaska was strictly tenn
perate men, and, with the officer in
command of the marines, who sell
dom drew a sober breath. the two were
loft in the Silly night" engaged in moi
sy demonstrations making sleep impos-
sible for quiet, respectable people. The
missionaries complained, and protests
were sent again and again to Washing
ton 1t was a long time, however, be-
fore anything was done to put stop
to such, disgraeeful things, but finally
President Harrison removed the judge.
The captain of the marines got fright
ened and eased up little, though he
was allowed to Serve out his detail.
There was absolutely no use for the
marines at Sitka, anyhow, as the ma
tives were never troublesome, except
among themselves. When these dis
turbances happened the little, wheezy
old gunboat Pinta, which has been in
Sitka harbor for the last twenty years,
would cruise around among the islands
and with her two little cannon warn
the Alaskans. not to do so again. No
powder is ever wasted on those war;
like cruises, for the sight of the gun
boat, cannon and the uniforms of the
officers is quite sufficiently awe-inspir-
ing to settle all quarrels,> whether of
domestic or public character. OF
course, there is law enough in Alaska
in regard to the liquor question, and If
the new governor has the stamina to
enforce it, not only the missionary peo-
pie, but the business people will be
glad of it, N. Y. Tribune.
nnAT urSn r11 Tp ANSEERS