The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-05-07
Country Looked Upon as Home of
Grafters, Sharks and
Wolves.
OUTLINES VIEWS OF NORTH
Jap" is Considered as the Most
angerous Foreigner in the
Land.

f1onFy funKley, VINO recently re-
turned from a trip to Alaska, writes
letter to the Pioneer expressing his
views on the legislature and laws of
that country. The letter in full fol-
lows:
'The first legislature of Alaska has
just concluded it's sixty days session.
The writer is personally acquainted
with nearly every one of it's members
From first to last, inclusive, it can
we'll be said to be one of the wisest,
fairiest and most fearless legislatures
ever assembled.
"The first law passed by it was the
women suffrage law 1t was passed
by both houses without a dissenting
vote.
ALASKA has been slandered into
an uncomfortable and paralizing will
derness, invaded only by grafters,
sharks and wolves.
"But this, the first act of the first
legislative body of the territory
placing woman's rights as the first
foundation-stone for Alaskan legisla-
tion-must for all time, in the face
of fairnes, reflect most shining
example.
"The last bill passed was the Anti
Alien law, aimed to exclude Jap fish
ermen from Alaskan waters. 1t was
vetoed by Governor Clarke.
"Without criticising Governor
Clarke's action, the writer thinks it
safe to say that the bill would have
been approved by Mr. Strong, who is
about to be installed as the next gov
ernor of Alaska.
"However that may be, the action
of the legislature in passing the bill
must be looked upon as both wise
and fearless-wise, because it savors
of the ultimate solution of the Jap
problem-and fearless, because the
little legislature of Alaska dared to
do right, being under the guns, as it
WclCS dAu 0Cpdl dICu IL Jill tAC AACA l.
can mainland.
"The Jap will not Americanize
any more than the Chinaman. They
both are invaders, the former more
to be feared than the latter, for the
reason that the Jap predominates in
cruelty and cunning, and for every
inch given him will take a foot, if
permitted.
"Weird tales are told in the North
of the cunning and brutality of the
Jap, showing his disposition toward
other nationalities, especially the
American.
~, sit is said that upon his fishing
schooner he picks up runaway Amer
lean boys, agreeing to show them ad-
venture and to pay them for packing
salmon during the season, and, after
working them all summer like slaves,
tying stones to their necks and shov-
ing them overheard for their pay, in
the harbor of some desolate island.
"These stories the writer can Meth
er prove nor doubt the truthfulness
Of. y @ss.>.~->. -, 49,
"The fact remains that the people
Of the coast understand the situation
better than the people of the east.
The Jap problem must be looked
square in the face some day, and it
must be solved.
"The feeling now existing against
the Jap in Alaska and on the main
land coast will some day be cristaliz-
ed into law. The longer that day is
delayed the more difficult will be the
task of enforcing it.
"The Jap must and will be taught
to keep his place but the stronger the
foothold he acquires the harder 1t
will be for him to let loose.
"Such were the impressions act
nating Alaska and California and
they are on the ground floor of the
proposition.
Z s Respectfully,
@HENRY FUNKLEY."'
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.