The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-09-07
THE CASE OF MATT JACOBSON

serves a passing word. He was beach miner. He has mined for good many years on the beach and had to work hard for every cent he got Most of what he did make the saloons got, and every cent he earned was spent in this com munity. All the time he contributed to the wealth of this town and those who reside herein.
 Last week he came into Nome. He was as usual welcomed by the saloons with their keen scent for live ones. The mans age did not prevent some of them from pouring their poison into him, and he was taken from one of them, sodden with drink and dangerously il to die in the Hospital. On Monday he did die. On Tuesday the city with indecent haste inferred him in the Belmont Point Cemetery, He was taken to his grave without a soli- tary friend being advised, or as far as we can learn, an effort made to discover if he had any friends.
 The Industrial Worker mentioned the fact that his partner was work ing up the beach. In point of fact as soon as it was known that Jacob son was dead, another friend walked thirty miles to notify his partner and other friends and acquaintances of the fact, so that they would come to town and make arrangements for the funeral They arrived in town on Wednesday only to find that his body had been already laid to rest and the matter disposed of to all in tents and purposes.
 The public is certainly entitled to know why there was this unseem- ly haste to bury Jacobson and whether or not, the fact that the man had been supplied with drink for several days regardless of his condition had anything to do with his case. Jacobson was a member
 
 would have thought that that fact alone would have saved hls friends the humiliating condition of his burial. And we are glad to learn that it is the intention of the orga- nization to investigate the matter of his hugger mugger interment.
 It is not because of the fact that Jacobson is a Pioneer that this mat ter should be looked after. That Is purely a matter between his friends and the other members of the orga- nization to which he belonged. But it is that the significance of the mans destitute or apparently destitute condition which is responsible for this outrageously indecent haste in putting him away. Jacobson's pow erty, the only legacy of his years of toll, is the cause of this un- seemliness. And it may well occa- sion some comment when the local saloonists can defantly ply intoxi- cated men with liquor until they drop over in a state of coma, with no responsibility fastened upon the guilty ones by legal investigation.
 The law insists that drunken men be not supplied with liquor, and the fact that liquor was primarily the cause of Jacobson's death is also prima facie evidence that the law has been violated by some licensed premises.
 In any event the whole matter is such a reflection upon the humanity of this city, such a slur upon the decency of Nome, that in order to prevent any such an outrageous re- currence, the fullest publicity should be given all the facts.
 Usually such condition as Is here commented upon is rare indeed in Alaska Usually even Tn the hardest circumstances, feelings or Kindness and finer sentiment pre- vents any such a gross outrage upon the feelings of the departed ones friends, be he poor or otherwise. And this makes the whole matter all the more inexcusable.
 We do not see how the members of the Pioneers of Alaska can re- lieye themselves of all responsibil- ity in this case. It is however not too late to make an investigation,