The Alaska citizen., 1915-12-20
THERE IS NOTHING IN IT.


 IL has been tried time and time again and nobody has succeeded in getting away with 1t yet. The great royal grafters of nations and the lesser ones of localities all get theirs in course of time. Eventually the historians place the former and their misdeeds in the proper light and the journalists see that the latter are featured and marked.
 A serial story is now running m the Saturday Evening Post entitled The Gray lawn" It Is writteL by Stewar, Edward White and 1t relates to the early history of San Srancisco. MT. White tells of the blacklegs and criminals and the men in business and in the professions who co-operated with them. He mentions their true names, or the names they went by at that time. Who they were. whence they came, and what they did. How they, fo : the time, controlled the city and its departments, and how they corrupr ed the courts and made law and justice a farce and mockery, What crimes were perpetrated with the connivance of the corrupt officials, how they were aided. and the man. ner in which their murderous mem bers were acquitted. Terry, Brod erick, Morrell. Calhoun, Sansome and Ned McGowan. It is said the last is relative of Our Tom" the present boss of Erwin McGowan is also given a special mention In an article by Michael Williams in Pearson's magazine for June lst.
 The early history of San Francis co is the early history of too many frontier cities. It seems fated that new countries shall go through pret- ty much the same experiences. Fair banks is no exception. With the Sldu6C Ol lcV lIdIIlco-SJLlc Hceu not be changed, the early history of San Francisco is the history of Fairbanks, although there was lar ger class of substantial citizens in San Francisco which rose when the occasion demanded and acted vigo- rously. sweeping the city, for the time being. of its undesirables Fair banks is without that militant law abiding class. and the only recourse here is publicity and appeal to the administration at Washington.
 Every person should read "The Gray Dawn" by MT. White, and the series in Pearson's by Mir Williams They will furnish food for reflection for many well-meaning people who are too much inclined to believe that corruption and injustice are somewhere else than in their home town. Our officials, Roth and Erwin. should read them, although it is to- much to expect these two worthies to be impressed. Men whose minds have become prematurely hardened can scarcely conceive of anything else than grand stand insincerity and general political pose. Unpreju- dice and fairness are things only to be talked about, not practiced. President Cleveland once said "a public office is a public trust and not a private snap" but it is not known whether he was acquainted with Roth and Erwin and at the time was speaking for their benefit
 It might not be amiss to remark that Mr. J. E. Clark. who is still a young man. could greatly profit by reading '"The Gray Dawn" and the Pearson's articles. Clark is just starting out and his mind ought to be susceptible to some of the good influences and be impressed by some of the sure results of keeping bad company.
 Clark never had any political strength or any personal following in Fairbanks or anywhere else and hasn't now. Three years ago Dan Callahan made up 8 primary ticket and to fill it up placed Clark's name on it. Callahan and his num- erous friends elected his ticket. whereupon Clark forgot Callahan and immediately became afflicted with an extraordinary attack of swelled head. He swaggered about town. pushed himself into promt- hence upon every occasion, and fin ally. by his pretensions. succeeded in sliding into office as clerk Of the federal court He now has a chance to make good If he Is so disposed. He may follow ex-President Cleve- lands admonition and make the ad- ministration of his office a public trust. act impartially, fear and favor no man. forget politics. party, and particularly partisanship in every form. and really become a good and emcient oficer with credit to him. self. his family and to Judge Bun nell, who appointed him, or he may ally himself with the numerous job. bers and corruptionists whom every hoAv knnvs nol0ant}vnlv and trdj~%d