(03 of 09) 3. Coal; constitutional convention Coal was needed in Fairbanks and was shipped to Korea. Les believed that he was in the middle in terms of political knowledge. He believed there was some political maneuverings to make Bill...
(2:20 min.) (02 of 12) Toast Mistress Club and the Statehood Issue debating committee; debate -- Statehood issue; rules; politics, religion; appoint a committee to study issue of Statehood; too political -- couldn't study Statehood; Dr. Moberg...
(2:30 min.) (03 of 08) 3. Outside [non-Alaskan] control Still thinks at time of interview that becoming a commonwealth would have been better. Sees a major problem with control in Washington instead of in the states, and the same thing for...
(3:00 min.) (04 of 09) 4. Statehood issues Taxes need to be fair and equal. Money should not be raised except to fund services for the state. Church and State need to be kept separate.
(3:01 min.) (03 of 12) Ada studying Statehood Packets Hawaii -- Statehood for Constitutional Convention; State Constitutions -- compared all articles; Treaty -- Russia and the US; purchase of Alaska -- 1867; Article 3 -- Alaskans could choose...
(3:03 min.) (04 of 08) 4. Statehood changes Should be locals in control rather than those in Washington. Clem states we were given control over the natural and biological resources in the state and then the federal government reneged with...
(3:05 min.) (10 of 12) Ideas discussed at the Convention; common wealth; discussions -- Convention; counties versus boroughs; counties -- corrupt form of government; double taxation; Local Government Article -- last article; members attitudes;...
(3:05 min.) (11 of 12) Working behind the scenes -- behind the Convention and the effects of the Constitution on Alaska inexperience -- parliamentary law; rules; behind the scenes; 6 men -- spoke at length; time to think; delegates -- speaking...
(3:06 min) (04 of 17) Flying business
June '47 bought an airplane and started work mostly near Aniak, Fairbanks, Circle, Fort Yukon wound up in Central. Went to Globe Arizona in the winters to take classes in air mechanic and everything...
(3:08 min) (18 of 19) Put the gas car out of business Cost $0.25 a round trip in gas between the school and Fairbanks. Fall of 1932 he ordered a 32 passenger bus. Ran it as a bus in the winter and switched the chassis to a cargo vehicle for...
(3:09 min.) (01 of 09) 1. Early life Les's father went north with the gold rush; when he found that the claims had all been staked, he and his partners opened up a paint and wallpaper store. Les moved to Fairbanks with his wife and eldest...
(3:09 min.) (10 of 28) 10. Fighter planes
About 50 P-40's (fighters) were shuttled across by the aircraft carrier "Ranger". These planes were destined to replace the worn planes in China. One plane landed hard and lost a landing gear.
(3:09 min.) (27 of 28) 27. Pilot for Governor Egan George used to fly Gov. Egan back and forth to Juneau. Egan liked George's harmonica version of "Springtime in the Rockies". George then flew the Seattle run, which he had always wanted to...
(3:10 min) (03 of 04) Trying to organize in the wake of the earthquake. supplies -- washed out\ fishing -- nets\ gas drums\ fish trucks\ Akwe River\ Dry Bay\ steam -- sand flats\ Geddes, Bill\ foam -- insects
(3:11 min.) (08 of 12) Pork-Barrel appointment to judgeships and reactions to Ada being a part of the Constitutional Convention Fairbanks -- before Statehood; territorial form of government -- people had no voice; Washington DC -- grant favors;...
(3:13 min.) (04 of 20) Merger I--Northland trans absorbed by Alaska Steam--Pacific steamship co.--G. W. Skinner--Ray Anderson--D. E. Ned Skinner--William Semar--Captain Erling Brastad