The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-12
TROOPS AT NOME.

Seattle, Jan. II. 1900.
To the Editor: In your ISSUE Of Janu-
airy II appears an editorial under the
caption OF Troops for Cape Nome,
wherein is very ably discussed one of the
most important and vital questions reia-
tive to the territory Of Alaska. We re-
greet most deeply that you have misunder-
stood our position upon this matter and
make haste to assure you that we heartily
concur In a great deal that you have so
ably promulgated. We, as representa-
tives Of the great army OF individual
miners who were at Cape Nome last sum-
mer, with all due respect, accept the ad-
vice you SO kindly tender us, believing
1t to be given with due candor and con-
slderation. namely, that we do not pro-
pose to entertain fond remembrances OF
the oid-time reputable miners meetings,
nor of any blind spirit of Independence.
nor of any persuasive promptings or
adroit urging OF fee-seeking agents to
lead u.s. etc. But In dealing with this
question of military power in Alaska we
propose to be governed by ''our own firm
and unalterable experiences" these facts
we are willing to submit to candid
world. 1t is an open secret at Cape
Nome that the commander OF the troops
at that point has claims locat-
ed for himself by power of attor-
ney. As much as this association de-
plored the custom Of claim-jumping, we
still maintain that II any claimant Is
attempting to hold mining claim In an
illegal manner that claim Is open to
relocation by any bona flde claimant. and
the validity OF his title Is to be tried in
the civil courts and no other way. But
this eminently just and legal proceeding
was not the rule heretofore. On the con-
trary, under the military law as 1t ex-
listed at Cape Nome last summer, when
the miners endeavored to hold a miners
meeting and quietly and regularly came
together and were in a quiet and peaceful
manner formulating rules for the camp,
the moment any measure was introduced
trenching upon the interests Of certain
officers the meetings were dispersed at
the point Of the bayonet. The fact Is
clearly apparent that the military last
summer was practically monarch of all
1t surveyed" at Cape Nome. and 1t came
pretty near to surveying the whole thing.
You say that n committee was appointed
by this association for the purpose of Civ
Ing force and effect to a sentiment against
the use OF the military power in the new
mining district and employing counsel,
etc. Permit us to correct this, please
We assure you this association does not
now nor never did entertain any such
sentiments, nor has 1t ever appointed any
such committee. This association fully
concurs with you that next summer there
will be heterogeneous mass of humanity
at Cape Nome, and an sufficient number
of troops at that point is "a consumma-
ton devoutly to be wished" that they
may be called upon when they are need
ed. But, according to the Associated
Press dispatches from washington of re-
cent date, the sending of these new troops
to Alaska by the administration Is tanta-
mount to the Inauguration of martial law
there. If this is so this association
brands the proceedings as an insult to
every honest American citizen in Alaska.
To humiliate him to the extreme of hav-
ing some STRIPPING from West Point con-
stituted as his accuser. his Judge and his
executioner is certainly an alarming con-
dition.
The position of this association upon
this question Is expressed in resolution
which was adopted unanimously and
reads as follows. The military
power shall not be called on unless in
cases where life is In danger or property
threatened In a boisterous and riotous
manner, and then only when the civil
power is unable to cope with the diff
Guilty.
GEORGE M. HILL,
Chairman.
PETER T.. TROUT,
MICHAEL PHILLIPS,
F. p. CAREY.
]. H. HILL.
Executive Committee Alaska Miners AS