The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-05
REV. WIN. A. THOMAS COMPlET ES
5000 MILE TRIP FROM
FROZEN NORTH.
story Of Self Government
Established Above the Artlc
Circle.

| Chicago. July 4-ComplctinG SIX
thousand mile Journey from Point
Hope. Alaska. which consumed three
months and six days-two months
and eight days Of which was spent
in "mushing" a thousand miles be-
hind a dog sled through the snow,
Rev. William A. Thomas, Episcopal
Missionary at Point Hope. three hun
dred miles north Of the community
which has been successfully carried
on at Point Hope for the past six
years.
Under the tutclaSe Of the mission
aries equal suffrage has been cstaD'
lished among the Tigaras, who annu'
ally in town melting elect from amonS
themselves the Omalik, or council Of
Leading Men. ten thousand natives
Who inhabit the region. This demo-
cracy Of the frozen north even has
its own prohibition law. which was
adopted three years before the pro-
hibition amendment was adopted IN
the United States. says Rev Thomas
Unique House Rule.
This unique venture in Home Rule
was inaurated six years ago. after tn"
breakdown OF the autocratiC rule OF
tribal chief. and following the i'll
structicn which has been given the
Younger generation OF FSCuimauN
through 81 years 1T the Episcopal
School at Point Hope. Rev. Thomas
reports.
"OricnaIly the Omalik was compos'
ed OF seven men," says Rev. Thomas
Put il was found later that five was
a better number. From the beginning
Of the experiment the right of suf'
frage was given to mon and women
alike In the selection Of the council
Christmas was fixed as the day OF
the election because Of that day all
Of the tribesmen come into the set
tlement for fcasting and merry max
irC. and we are able thereby TO Get
the fullest expression of the scnt'
mrnt of the people Tho names arc
written on q blackboard, and tn"
five securing the greatest numcbr OF
votes are declared elected. while that
one of the five who receives the great
est number OF votes becomes the
chief councilman"
Orderly People.
Rev. Thomas points out that the
EscuimauX are singularly orderly
and law-abiding people so that the
work OF the Omalik is largely con
fined to tho enactment of routing
municipal regulations. He. SAYS
There are no police and no courts.
The missionary gives some quaint
illustrations Of the manner II which
EsQuimauX self-Coverumcnt works
For example, the Omalik has 4 recu
lation against gossips. Any person
male or female. found guilty OF COS
siping. Is called before the entire
community and publicly rchuknd by
the chief Omalik. All forms of Lyme
are frowned upon. but particularly
among the young. Young man
caught lying to his parents Is sen
fenced To carry certain amount oN
alter for the public use: or. as an al
Tentative. TO give days time To As.
sisting some aged couple in cleaning
up their iGloo or hut. a lad who
stole some tobacco was sentence tG
clean ont his victims doghOus. An
other native who was guilty OF u
trifling theft, was sentenced to ac..
company one Of the officials on a
jaunt Of 40 miles to Point Barrow.
walking I'll the way behind a doc
sled. He was furnished his meals on
the journey, and. Of course had his
rest periods, hut the penalty lay IN
being compelled 10 give his services
during the trip in the management OF
the dogteam.