The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-09-14
G, w. Johnson 6 Company,
The Peoples Clothiers and Furnshers

and probably never read, and maybe
never saw this iniqutous measure.
II is certain that congress was warned
Of its Objectionable features. The mem.
bers Of congress from Oregon and the
senators were written to look out for II
and protect the miners rights. As Gov
ernor Geer had son among the gold.
seekers at Nome he probably appealed
too. Whether he notified the powers at
Washington is not known, but II he did
they paid no attention.
To satisfy demands for republication
Of the statements made by returning
goldseekers, we reproduce them. They
are backed up by reliable men and their
truth has not been challenged:
great many people have wondered
why, il IL we're possible to make from
two dollars TO eight per day washing
out gold on the beach, that 80 many
are leaving that country for their homes
in the states. When the cause is fully
understood, the action OF these people |
will not be wondered at. While the
gold bearing sands Of the beach are
pretty well exhausted, yet that did not
account for the early retirement Of the
miners from that country, Tor poor az
the beach now Is, II afforded the thous-
ands who were working the only pos
sible opportunity Of making a dollar
TO get out Of the country.
Well why did they leave no early? We
have asked this question OF Mr.. J. II !
Fletcher and others who have recently |
returned from these gold dpgings, and
from them we have CLEANED the infor.
nation that they we're forced to leave
in consequence Of the cruel and vicious
law enacted at the last session Of con.
gress and duly signed by President
Mckinley.
Last year the beach Mt Nome was free
to any citizen Of the United States who
wished TO mine il, and the courts then
held that the beach could not be staked |
by any person and held as mineral prop.
erty. Before the rush took place at
Nome last spring prospectors from all
over the United States, and from Oregon
and Washington in particular, wrote TO |
senators and congressman requesting
that in the new bill about TO be submit.
ted for legislative consideration, that the
beach be left open to free mining; that
miners themselves be allowed TO regulate
this business, and that the infamous
clause which enabled people in the states
10 stake this beach by power.o oiattorney
be denied place in the new law. All
this was promised, and the fullest assur.
ance was given 20 those bound for Nome
that the beach would be free as before,
and that the power oi.aitorney clause
would not be re-enacted. Well, the pco.
Pile were no sooner on the ocean on the
way 30 Nome than the bin was brought
down leaving out the power.of attorney
clause, but allowing the beach TO be
taken mp for mineral claims under the
provisions of the placer mining laws for
other lands in the United States. When
the bill was presented to the president
for his approval he refused TO sign il,
unless the power-of attorney clause was
restored, AZ stated by the press. When
this WAS conceded, he signed the bill
June the Sth, while most of the miners
were yet at sea aud could not know any
thing OF either its provisions or passage.
But the m1 Hent II received the presi.
dents signature 1t was known all over
the United States aud rich spectators,
sitting In their cushioned chairs in New
York, Chicago aud other great centers of
trade, Immediately took advantage of
the situation and wrote ON TO their
friends at Nome TO stake the beach by
power-ol'attorney This was quite un
known TO those who went out TO mine
the beach as soon as they had arrived AZ
Nome. The bin az il passed did not
reach Nome until about August LIST, but
by this time II was nearly all taken up by
outsiders One firm from Now York had
taken up two miles of il, which was
about the sixth part Of all the gold
bearing sands. Then all OF a sudden the
poor fellows who were standing in the
water all day rocking the sands aud
gravel, making few dollars day in
order TO got the means 10 carry them
back TO their families and homes, were
ordered OIL the beach and thus denied
the poor privilege OF earning dollar ia
that way. But they paid little attention
to the order at first. They could not
belleve that congress aud government
which so many of them supported, aud
which made So many tlattering promises
To them before they left for the north.
could go shamelessly violate their prom
ises and Disregard the conditions of the
laboring people. Hut they were mis-.
taken. That very thing was done, and
not that alone, for the military was
employed TO execute the demands OF the
beach'grabbers.