The Cordova daily times., 1919-11-12

 AMERICANISM IS THE ISSUE

The following editorial, which ap- peared recently on the front page of the Ketchikan Chronicle, is so well written and presents the facts of re- cent occurrences in that town in such a concise manner that we are reprint ing it. It follows:
 Shall Americanism or Bolshevism prevail in Ketchikan?
 Shall the minority in the form of a soviet dictate the manner of doing business and the mode of life?
 Shall a cheechako of but few months residence in Alaska, who has admitted utilization with the I. w. w., become kaiser of the North, dictating the policy of the growing and ever struggling industrial life of the coun- try?
 These are questions that are con- fronting the greatest fishing center on earth. And there is but one an- swer-Americanism and democracy will prevail The public must be American or un-American, and in Ketchikan, the town the honorable fame of which spread even to the war trenches of France during the war for going so promptly and so gloriously over the top in it's Liberty loan cam paigns, there is no question that there are few-though vociferous-of the un-American type. But those few must be put in their places.
 Labor Union of Ketchikan has be- come un-American, because it has fallen into the hands of radicals and I. W. w., H. V. Hendrickson who has served as it's secretary for months, and who was primarily responsible for it's growth from few hundred to approximately 1,500 members, felt compelled to resign, to sever his con- nection with the management of the institution. And in his stead was elected one Bradley R. Sawyer, who has admitted utilization with the l. W. w., who now stands indicted by the grand jury in Ketchikan of being stacker, and who promptly en- thrones himself as an industrial die tator, soviet fashion, of the economic life of the town and the district
 The Alaska Labor Union at Ketchi- kan boasts 1,500 members or there abouts. Approximately one hundred men were on hand to elect Sawyer How many of the 1,500 members of that union have ever seen Sawyer who knew where he came from, what his record is? How many would rec ognize him if they came face to face with him on the street? Very few.
 What are the first two acts of his official career as secretary of the labor union? They are worthy of note
 No. 1. He proceeds to have the union authorize him to engage, at the expense of the organization, one George Vanderyeer as attorney to de- fend him in the case wherein he is | accused of being a stacker; the same | George Vanderveer who is general | counsel for the Industrial Workers of | the World And every one of you 1,500 members of the Alaska Labor Union who contributes a dollar in monthly dues is giving money for the engaging of Vanderveer to defend an alleged stacker, one who has been but | a few months in Alaska, who is a for eigner
 No. 3. The second act is to notify the Heckman Wharf Company that it can employ no one except those des- ignated by the union, meaning Saw yer himself. Sawyer, this cheechako alien, under indictment, would tell Bob Hickman, a respected citizen Of Alaska for thirty three years, who in a signed communication in the Chron- icle today emphasizes the desire he has always manifested to play fair | with labor, whom he shall and whom | he shall not employ. The nerve and gall of the man is astounding, and it is time that people of Ketchikan awak- ened to the situation and to tell him where he gets off.
 "Now, it has been matter or com mon knowledge that for days during the absence from Ketchikan of the former secretary, Hendrickson, l. w. w. songs have been sung in the labor bou that w w literature has been