Yukon Valley news., 1906-05-09
CREDIT TO WHOM CREDIT E DUE.
tContributed.l


 took a very active part In the organisation of tho miners union. In fact. he cams far short of telling all the interest As took In the organization of tho said union. This might be attributed to modesty if it were not for the fact that hs fails to state the deep inter- est taken by Donald Mclean In perfeoting said organization. In order that my readers may understand fully tho situation, 1t is necessary to go back to the spring of 1908.
 Chamber of Commerce.
 During the spring of 1sOs. Mr. Haven con ceived tho idea that tho next congress would mako some large appropriations to build roads and trails in Alaska, and that largo sum of that money would be expended in building trails In the Rampant district; that if four or Ave persons would associate them- solves together, and represent that they were tho representatives of tho precinct. they could rot the handling of those funds, con trol tho letting of contracts and get large rakeoR from the contractors. He also cOn- ceived the idea of correspoading with di6er- ent manufacturing firms with view of getting tho agency for handling their goods. This, 1t was thought. would give them potter standing and mako 1t doubiy sure that they would get the handling of the road fund, and If tho agency was . success, all we'll and good; but if 1t was not financial success, all tho promoters could got . good thing in tho shape of large salaries.
 After the four senators visited Rampant that summon, Mir. Haven claimed that SenA- tor Nelson assured him that such bill would be introduced and he felt sure 1t would pass. During the winter of 1908 and 1904 1t was nor tied that sscret meetings were being hold in tho back room of Haven's saloon. The Forum was also publishsa In the back room of tho same saloon. On one or two oocasiOns the Forum contained . notice of . meeting of the chamber of commerce. No ono seemed to know who tho personnel of the chamber of commerce wore, or what It's aims and ob- jects were. |.
 Some time during the progress of affairs. Mr. Haven had Mir. Strong. who l. now at Chsna. mako . tin box. This box was filled with some heavy material, locked and placed in the safe of the N. c. Co. at Rampant. Ths box being worry heavy. tho presumption was that 1t contained goiddust. In March, 1904, Mr. Haven died, and after his death tho box wss withdrawn, and it was found that the heavy material contained therein consisted of nails done up in packages. It was also found that there had boon letters written to forty senators In tho interest of said cham ber of commerce by members of that body; also, great number of letters to different manufacturjnG firms in different parts of tho United States. They also conceived the idea of procuring 3 seal. and ono was pro- cured. This seal came into the possession of Mrs. Haven. and the chamber of commerce wanted 1t. Mrs. Haven claimed that Mfr. Haven had paid for the senl, and refused to turn 1t over. At the death of Mir. Haven 1t lars In monsy and gOlddust In sOmo of tho pockets of his clothing, which. If there, has nsver boon accounted for Mr. Wingate was the only person that was ever alone with Mir. Haven immediately preceding his death, and sn unfriendly feeling existed between Mrs. Haven and Mir. wingate. During tho strife over the seal N developed that Donald Mo Lean v e . member of said chamber of com msrcs: also, Mir. Wingste. Later it was learned that Charles khrhOrn was also . membsr. He had spsnt the previous winter in the States. and it h not known - hcther he Joined before he went to tho States or after hs returned.
 Ths manufacturing hrms corrssponded with by the said chamber of commerce re- fussd to furnish goods without substantial cash paymsns. Cash was what tho chamber lacked. Poor Wingass and Mclean wers thea facing failurs-thsir iesasv gone. no cash, and no goods could bs procured with out cash. 10 vas hard to ses their lofty castle crumbls so dust. Is happened about