The Nome nugget., 1901-10-08
ALASKA AND ITS POOR. ,

ssThe poor ye have always with you" This was s&id by one'whd spoke as man spoke before" 1d all the centuries which have passed since the words were uttered iconoclast has arisen to sainssys thtan No system of government has yet been devised to eliminate the poor whether they be the Lords poor, thetlevil's the poor devils No Jack Gade of ancient or modern times has yet been found to"solve the probem" whereby none shall be qeedy or none superfdusly rich. Many reforners hkve come and gore, each with panacea to cure existing economic ills, but all have failed So the ptor have existed in all ages, and they will until tKSsriiliesiuni- shalt have arrived. But that time seerfs aaongway off! Reiormcrs have preached and tSeir dssciples have prsyed5 INopas have been built but have faNen like a house built of cards Wehave hid Georges and Bellamys and Sir Thomas Mores ih ehort we have had great and good men, whose earnest desires have been to eliminate poverty from our economic conditions. One of the earliest JdcktCads, who arose in the time of the sixth Henry of Englandi Though Cade could be called rether wise Kocvh tho world since his time has many of his-imtators, but upon different plans. It was CAds who; when he thought te'set himself up the King of England declared that there shall be in England seven half penny loaves sold for a penny; thG three-hooled pot shai have ten hoops and will rdakeit felony to drink small beer" He lost his head nsteadand the'poor poorer for his mis- gaided eforts.,
 IsAis the lack of pence" as Tennysen puts it, that has vexed men in all ages andconditions and tt will until the gecd time comes when all shall cat and drink and be arpareed in one livery and they agree like brothers.
 But this in passing. We started out to say that there is not state territory in the United staes savs and except the district of Alaska, where come rSo,N In ,bo indissnt. .and especially the ndigent Since We are "governed" directly from Washington, this fact may be accounted for. In the national capital it may be supposed that in acountry such this, whose rivers and creeks roll down the golden sands, suci thing poverty and the poor is never found At any rate, tkS fact remains that congress has never made any provision for the for the aiding of those who are unable to for themselves. It is popular eaptrsttion in Alaska that our government is paternal one, and stands with open hands ready to assist any unfortunate man or woman with temporary snhsstence> or the means to- leave the country In other states and territories the state or territory makes such provision, but with Washington super vsion of affairs have said, this necessity has b4en overlooked.
 The United States Marshal's office has nc fund for the aid of the desttute if such given succor the officials themselves must draw upon their own tcscuress if sick indigent persons sent out of tke country private citizens must furnish the means What s-needed is government appropriation for this very purpose 1t could and would be used properly, for the judge of the district court could order its disbursement upon the recommendation of Ne United States marshal orrdistrrct attorney, or beth This isa matter which we respectfully direct to tae attention of all persons who interested in Alaska and legislation looking toward its beterment