The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-05-18
Eskimo $ Bethel Friends Saw Him Spirited Away During
 Union Tug-of- War in Seattle


 native council of tribal chiefs, rep resenting all Eskimos of the Berinl Sea, to act as their union agen, to carry on activities of the Inter- national Fishermen and AllieC Workers of America, to which they belong as Local 46.
 For years the Salmon Industry negotiated successful working agree ments for work in the Bristol Bay canneries with them early in March.
 Joe Nashoalook went to Seattl, with some $8.000 of his union funds, made available to him.
 His people had complete faith tha, Joe would do right by them and ge, the best agreement possible. Btu in the meantime the CIO parenl body of Joe Nashoalook's IFAWA was among three CIO affiliate branded by the Central Committee as being far to the left. and slated to be purged from the CIO abou.  May l.
 Harry Bridges issued a charter through his International Long, shorenien's Union to group of lei. wing cannery workers in Alaska, and Nashoalook persuaded his ma tives to vote seven hundred to foui to join Bridges new Local 7-C.
 Friends at Bethel blamed Joe Jurich, regional head of the IFAWA, for Joe's recommendation. A rep resentative who wished to be anonymous was rushed to Seattle to try to show Joe the error of his ways.
 on May II Joe announced he haG made mistake and would advise his people to renounce their vote and join the Alaska Fishermen's Union--a middle of the road grouI of Alaskan fishermen and canner. workers.
 It was then that Joe was spirited away.
 Two of his Bristol Bay friends watched him as he left his room IT. Seattle hotel to keep an appoint ment with a reporter in the lobby
 After finishing with the reporter two young ladies approached the former Indian school teacher anc after engaging him in what was ap- parently pleasant conversation, eact took an arm and escorted him ou, the door. Joe was known to have developed a weakness for fire water during the past few years, and his friends feared the worst.
 After four days frantic search Joe was located at the home of O. T. Hatten, whose law firm of Hat ten and Caughlin defended group of University of Washington in- structors accused of Communistic leanings.
 Returning to Bethel, Joe's friends instigated series of telegrams tc Mayor Devin, Governor Gruening and Hatten-which resulted in yes- terday's quick denial by Jurich ana Gettings that Joe was a captive.
 Meanwhile, today Donald Hunter l>olf kI11l ,,otiuo oh irrpan nf the Indian Council at Marshall, Alaska, has served notice in telegram to Jurich that unless Nashoalook is returned to Alaska at once new representative will be elected ano negotiations will be carried on without him.
 Whites and native Alaskans in Bethel, where many council meet ings have been held over the past years, freely express the belief that Joe's spiriting away is the hlgh handed work of Bridges and his left wingers, in desperate effort to gain control of Alaska natives and fishing industry"
 One of the strongest statements was expressed by George A. More lander, administrative assistant of the Alaska Native Service in Bethel. who said:
 T would have no fear at all. were it not for the Communist elements and radicals who seem to be the moving force behind these move ments. In plain words I am just sick about the situation. and see only trouble ahead for our native people. I'm downright afraid of the situation confronting us this sum- mer, if our native people are to be controlled by radical element"