Douglas Island news., 1900-05-02
WEDNESDAY,, MAY ?, 1900.
MEN WANTED.

Under the above caption the Alaska Truth, a paper published in Juneau, launched forth last week a scurrilous islander directed at the Treadwell com pany and its employees. We readily conceive that the position taken is not endorsed by the conservative, sensible business men of that city, but never theless the article comes with poor grace from a city that enjoys so much of the patronage of the aforesaid em- ployes.
 The article attributes the scarcity of laborers at Treadweu to three causes: First, the Nome excitement. Second, improved industrial conditions in the Pacific coast states. Third. the treat ment of employees by the Treadweu company. The first two causes alleged may have their bearing, and in fact it is readily agreed that they do, but the third is false entirely and completely The misguided Truth man then goes on to assert that the"rules and regulations" of the company are such that self respecting" man would refuse to add his name to the pay roll and would "curse the outfit" This statement in itself is a base insult to the hundreds of good, brawny, brainy men who are now in the employ of the company and have been for years. The inference that insurance companies discriminate against these mines is also palpably false. The Treadweu company asks no man to sign a labor contract the terms of which are in violation of any law.
 It is a fact that these mines and mills are in operation every day in the year except two, and that is creditably more than can be said of some of the i'm crow enterprises that form the groundwork for the hopes of some Alaska towns. It is because of the en- terprise and push and good business management of this company that the Treadwell mines are today known throughout the world.
 The last vile insinuation that the writer hurls at the great industry To- cated on Douglas Island is in regard to the disposal of the dead. When he wrote that foul slander, "a cemetery, cared for by the citizens of this town meaning Juneau he struck home to the pride and manhood of every citi- zen of our happy little Island. It is a fact that the cruel hand of death has taken from our midst some of the army of toilers who are wrestling from these rugged hills the ransom of a nation With tears of sadness and regret we have carried them to the Evergreen Cemetery and as christians, Americans brothers, neighbors, bound together by the ties of love and fellowship, we have laid them down in their last sleep anc bade them long farewell. Who is he who dares to chide us in our grief? Lei him answer Have pot the citizens O. Douglas Island contributed for tht care and improvement of this cemetery Have not the hands of the wives, moth CTS and sisters carried wreaths o flowers and laid them on the graves o those buried there? Have not thC tears of the widows and orphans fallel upon these graves like rain? Cared fo by Juneau, indeed!
 As we said before, the people of Ju neau are not in sympathy with the at tack made by this paper. There ha always existed most friendly feel ing between the two towns. Gu young people mingle freely. Our churcl societies and fraternal organization are an additional bond of sympathy The merchants across the channel re eeive large share of our trade and W are confident that they will not applau an effort to blight our good name.
 Men are coming to Douglas Islam and bringing their families, and are er abled with the wage paid them at tn mines and mills to provide for thei loved ones all of the necessities an many of the Iuxuries of life. There