The Daily Alaska empire., 1944-04-11

very thing.
 We are puzzzled.
 While we are on the subject we wish to state that we believe it was unfortunate that before the mine closed the Governors office did not try to do thing to keep the mine in operation Harry Lucas, as far as we know, was the only person who turned hand After all this mine was authorized to continue operations only because it was deemed essential to the war effort.
 The company stated time after time that it was going to close Short notice be damned! The Empire carried President Philip Bradley's remarks to this effect more than week ago. The company stated in hearings here and in Washington it would have to close if the War Labor Board ordered the company to pay more in wages.
 Yet few people in Juneau could get excited about it believe it Few tried to do anything about it. That's why we had Pearl Harbor.
 The Governor threatened us over the phone yes terday if we did not print the release verbatim. We don't see how we damaged the intent of the article by our editing.
 But he made some other very serious charges in his talk on the radio.
 For one thing we were accused of suppressing news, if not in actual words, by inference,
 We are ready to admit to anyone that every now and then do refrain from publishing certain truths, truths, however that will hurt person. persons or firm and do not bit of good if published.
 You've all heard about letting sleeping dogs lie , We'll let's wake one up
 Most people in Alaska know it. and it isn't pleasant to talk about, but Claude M Hrst, former General Superintendent of the Alaska Office of Indian Affairs, one of the greatest men in any Federal office in Alaska, removed at time when he was most needed directly result of the Governor of Alaska doings. Well, we haven't printed that until now. What good would it have done? What good does it do now?
 Neither did we print that of the statements in the record against him in Washington. put in by his custer busters, that he had taken out a commercial fishing license This pure false hood.
 The Hirst deal" was just about the most dis graceful thing have seen yet
 A few weeks ago we received a communication from another Alaskan official operating under Fed eral regulations It was in very poor taste would have done no good would have been damaging to the writer We filed didn't use it.
 Later he asked for it back and upon being in formed that all letters to the editor become the property of the addressee this official sent word that unless the communication returned The Empire would get no more of the agencys printing
 How's that for political pressure?
  the that the agency required by law to give all of it's work to the lowest bidder This mans name is not being used because believe it would be in poor taste at this time.
 We have many other choice items, each as thor oughly disgusting.
 The Daily Alaska Empire proud of the support of its readers. new ones and those who have stayed with for many, many years.
 We do have a public trust to fulfill and that is why last fall we did not sell out to man by the name of E. L. Bartlett who wanted to buy and who also offered his services general manager. There were several attempts made to purchase The Empire fall when the base for the present political scene was laid
 However. we felt then, and still do, that the pro- posed purchase would have been to silence of the free institutions still left in Alaska.
 We glad of this opportunity to express ourselves We are glad that the Governor this one time forced to out in the open. We do feel, however, that he should have paid KINY for the political use of the stations time.