The Wrangell sentinel., 1940-08-09

formed Alaska Retail Merchants As Isoclation. Hotelma Schoettler, faithful Periseope reader, writes to set Us right about the Merchants As sociation, the liquor referendum and the Republican party, which, he as- sures us, have no connection. It's broad field but Mr. schoettler coy- CTS t fully as follows:
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 Tn regard to the paragraph (re- ferring to Periseope, July 26) which refers to the referendum and states that after legislative action the ap- proYal of Congress is necessary to become effective. l believe upon in vestigation you will find that not necessary Also, the statement that the COP is going to make an issue against the Anderson referendum. On the contrary, the White Repub- l licans, as they are known under Al White, in their Sitka convention adopted the passage of the referen- dunn as one of their blanks (see Sen tinel August 2.) As to the fight against the referendum being sub sidized by the liquor interests, l am quite reliably informed that only Al askan merchants have made the con tribution which is only to be expec- ted in an attempt to save their bus iness.
 As to the Alaska Retail Mer- chants Association being a blind | (Periseope said 'frontD this state ment is entirely incorrect. In Ju- neau Mir. Mullen of the B. M. Behr- ends Bank is President U. F. Mullen President Behrends), I am the Vice President, and Los Bernard is Secre- Itary-Treasurer (Bernard is head man at the Empire). The fourteen dir Iectors represent every business in the city other than those engaged in the sale of liquor. The purpose for the formation of this association is to cope with many of the problems 1 that have developed with the influx | of new people to the Territory No one questions the honesty and in tegrity of a genuine Alaskan and we can all recall many instances when business deals amounting to thous- ands of dollars have been eonsum- ated by the serape of a pen and the signatures on the back of an en- velope.
 Recently newcomers to the Ter ritory have inauguAated an epidemic of going through voluntary bank ruptey for the settlement of their bills" (New Deal Congress amend ed bankruptcy law permitting debt or moratorium without taking paup- CTS oath.) Writer Sehoettler cites Dale Day, alleged embezzlement, Jo Thompson, alleged forgery, cases, and continues; "The situation of one man who has been using five aliases to defraud merchants throughout the entire Territory. Unless we as merchants throughout the Territory inaugurate a system of inter-eX- change of business principles we will continue to be subjected to the prac- tices so common in the States.
 There is absolutely no connection between the Alaska Retail MeT- chants Association, the Anderson re- ferendum or the Republican party.
 Personally, l am against the re- ferendum because there is no pro- vision made for the loss of income to every community in Alaska. In the city of Juneau 1t would amount to S22,000, or one-fifth of a citys income. This would have to be made up either through the increase of personal and real property taxes or by a change in the assessed yalua- tion of all property. I see no req son why the business men and citi- zens of this city should subsidize a patronage political payroll.
 ''I know you can readily see that to avoid duplication of freight rates it would be necessary for the Ter ritory to warehouse their liquor in Seattle for distribution throughout the Territory. We need all the bus mess we can get in Alaska. As far as earning more money for the Ter ritory is concerned the monopoly system in the State of Washington, which is considered the Utopia of some 23 states now operating under this type of control, has been able to earn only $40 per capita as against $9.63 under the Alaska sys- tenn and the cost of enforcement in the State of Washington is in ex- cess of $1.0O per capita whereas in Alaska it is only 36 cents
 q don't say we have the perfect system hut do say that nrefar inc