The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-05-24
IRy JOSEPHUS)

During these times or price regula- ton of coal by the government, as well as the time and attention, and unkind words, directed at food spec ulators and others who attempt to corner markets, it does not seem amisS to turn an investigating eye upon a local situation which has been over looked by most of us while busily en- gagged in the tasks of our daily life.
 The person who attempts to control all of the available supply of any product and thereby regulate the price of the same, especially during times when the world is at war and millions of people starving and 1T . need of everything, characterizeS hin. self as being selfish and undesirable That Seward should come in contact and realize at close range the abnor- nal workings of a moEopohstic mania ia particularly sad because of Us truth.
 The inner workings of locai cen. bination has just been exposed, the calcium of publicity has been thrown upon the cringing octopus; the cards are upon the table, .ace up-witness the plot in detail;
 With the passing of winter and the subsequent birth of spring all Seward put forth its new regalia and engaged in the outdoor activities usual to such a season. The snow melted, as snow usually does; the leaves and buds sprouted in a manner becoming to tSem; the little children bounced from their winter havens and engaged in the sports of the new season; they skated on their skates, kiddied on their ears, and in due time marbled with their marbles.
 'Tis at this point that the two vil- lains enter and We witness their plots of monopoly and control. With their sombreros strapped firmly to their heads. with their heels and neckS well Iubbered, they approached quietly upon the marble arena on the thor oughfare. Challenge after challenge was hurled by them against the com peting athletes, with finally an ac- ceptance by the lilliputian champions who paced the proper distances and the c6nflict began.
 The battle of the marbles was on and for the villains Hammy Graft shot first, followed by Joe Bradshaw of the Champions, then in quick sue cession the other villain, Billy Ellis, throws his Jaw, and Tea Fathers does the same.
 The contest was one sided, the vil- lains, bent on controlling the current supply of marbles, were succeeding and the ruin of the little champions was imminent when on the distant horizon appeared the dark shadows of two fast approaching warriors. Heroes they were, and they swooped upon the villains, throwing challenges upon them. The villains turned upon them and recognized the heroes as being Doctors Romig and Heating,
 They knew the stuff was off," but realizing that they could not retreat with the huge stakes they had won, they had to stand and battle the fheroes. For an hour the air was rent with the piercing commands of "knuckle down boney-tight," event dubs," went scrapes," "three fingers lflat," and both sides showed the exc cution and technique of champions, which was equalled only by their var jed interpretation of rules and their ext@ @poraneous announcements of vital marble law It was evident that the heroes were besting the villains who were forced time after time to borrow "stakes" or "dakes" from the l TCTENJ