The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-09-07
NATIONAL
ORGANIZE
GOEBEL
Reports Work Success
fuI IN Alaska
Dear Comrade Barnes:-

l write this. thinking that you
and the National Executive Commit.
tee would like at least n brief re.
port OF my work in Alaska. to- date
In time for the August meeting OF
the National Executive Committee
which ! VIII not be able to attend as
| feel that l should go on in to Fair
banks and Nome.
Examination of the map OF Alaska
Will show a long stretch OF coas
reaching from Ketchinkan TO Seward.
This stretch of coast divided into
two sections by Alaskaus. The
southeast from Ketchinkan to Ju-
heau and Skagway, and the South
west from Juneau to Seward-from
Skasway to Fairbanks and out TO
Nome is considered a different coun-
try with great differences of climate
soil. etc.
/ nave practically completed the
tour of the Southwest district. The
coast districts are pen to naviga-
ton the year round but from Octo-
Der to June. bad weather and little
daylight Even in summer. the per-
centaGe of steamships wrecked is
very large. Communication two
all coast points is by boat. and un-
certain as to precise hours of arrival
and departure except from Seattle
rms means, IN certain cases, one has
to stay in a town a week and in
Others, may have but one day or two.
II you would not be there for a weei,
or two weeks.
In these coast towns. open air
work is practically impossible, even
IN summer, as it rains frequently.
cold at night and generally cool in
the day, and as halls cost from SIS
TO $25 per night, it makes many
meetings in one town an experiment
financially. On the other hand. the
fact that all these towns average
but from 500 TO 1000 population and
nave little in the way of special
amusement Except watch ing the
tourists) make it comparatively Ger
tain with thorough advertising that
n large part of the population will
attend and that the audience will
compriseSall classes and OCCUPATIONS
The people no matter what their oc-
cupation grade higher in Intelligence
and freedom from prejudice than in
the states. 'pheir manner of life
means at certain seasons of the wear.
leisure to. read and discuss with little
else to do. have never found n
section of the country, where with
systematic effort it would be so easy
to reach all the people and enlist
them in the Socialist ranks as in
these coast towns. am told that
the same is true of the interior.
AS my work is hat of the pioneer
II usually l know no one in a town
| have to exercise my own Judgment
as to methods and when to spend and
when not to spend. Generally, I
nave to raise money for the hall rent.
in addition to other items. have
been, in most cases, successful in
getting donations for this purposc.
My general plan has been to nut
up my small posters. then large ones,
made by hand by myself. in every
available spot. then on the day OF
the meeting put in every house n
special Tonight" bill. having these
piils printed at the local
ONCE, has meant | have gotten gem
erous items in papers and no oppo-
sltion. In addition l have made a
point OF mixing with all classes O.
people, which is easier here than
elsewhere. This not left many idle
moments but it has yielded surpris-
ing results.
h towns on his southeast and
coast are Ketchikan, Wran
Sen, Petersburg. Juneau, Douglass.
C~ordora, Valdez and Seward. In
every one of these towns have
spoken in the largest halls from
once to three times to audiences
that filled the hall. and showed en-.
thusiasm, sympathy. and intelligeu:
appreciation.
In every one of these towns pS.
cept Petersburg. ! have =
local. At Petersburg, where n local
already existed. L have increased
their umbers and helped them to Z
better knowledge of work.
In none of these towns outside OF
Douglass, is there any industrial es
ADJUSTMENTS. other than PERTAINS :
small saw-mill OF amer employ.
ing Chinee- Japs and Filipinos. Thi,
means that the w~orkinS-class mus,
be away a good part OF the tim,
prospecting. fishing, etc. and make,
the establishment of permanent or
l SaniZatiOns even more difficult thar
IN the states. However. from ral
to late spring. the men usually ar,
! in town as great SHOWS. etc. proven
I work in the hills. | have been for
tunate in almost all, if not ever,
, town. in getting a certain p~ercecnt
age of the among the clerk
= or others staying in town the yea
round and practically all the officer