The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-24
.IVEY
ARRAIGNS
CONGRESS
For Its Neglect of
Alaska
He is Now at the Nations
Capital
To Lay Claims Before the
Government.

collector of customs of Alaska by Pres
ident Mckinley, and who, upon a mum
ber of occasions, has taken an active
part in the struggles of the Alaskan
miners against the aggressions of Ca
madam and British government offici.
ais, has arrived in Washington on a
mission relative to the development
Of the great Northwestern possessions
of the United States. AT the request
of numerous bodies of miners and res
idents of Alaska, Mr.. Ivey has made
the long journey across the continent
in order to lay before congress and the
departments having control of the af.
fairs of Alaska the urgent needs of
the district for legislation that will aid
In the progress and prosperity of that
territory, and will serve to check the
encroachment of the British govern.
ment upon American soil, and the i'm.
vasion of the rights of American citi.
zens by Canadians.
Although appointed for term of
four years by President Mckinley, Mr.
lvey retained his position as collector
of customs for nearly FIVE, owing to
the non-appointment of his successor
Only last month he was relieved from
his duties, and Immediately set out
for Washington on his present mis-
sion.
Speaking of his aim in coming here
and of the general situation in Alaska
he said:
Il am here to see the president and
two committees of Congress in the in
terest of legislation for Alaska, which
has not been as well treated as Russia
treats her colonies, The United States
| government has done those things II
should not have done, and left undone
] those 1t should have done. We are
taxed without representation, and II is
the first time in our history that the
people of an outlying district have paid
a tax into the treasury Of the United
States.
Alaska has been shamefully and
cruelty neglected. The feeling among
the people is fast becoming a settled
conviction that the tremendous intel
lectua forces of this nation are pro
ducing thought In advance of their
representative in Congress. Members
of Congress do not seem to apply busi-
ness principles to the conduct Of pub.
lie affairs, and seems To be lacking In
the power of concentration. They
should give MS less talk and more ac.
tion; less time-taklng chickering's over
petty and unimportant things.
This nation is not bounded on the
west by the Mississippi. nor does II
stop where the waters of the Pacific
lash the shores OF California, Oregon
and Washington. Thirty-hve years
ago We purchased Alaska from Russia
for the sum of $7,2OO,O0O. Russia prac
tcally made us a present OF IT, Il II
a country nearly one-third as large "a
the United States having today with
in its borders over $4,000 intelligent
rugged, patriotic pioneers, the flower
Of the young manhood OF the common
people OF the country
Alaska is rich in gold, silver. cop
per. iron and other metals, as well az
furs, timber and fisheries II also has
large coal resources. Portions OF IN,
country are adopted TO agriculture. an,
It's possibilities for stock raising are
vast. II is a country Of inestimabl,
value far beyond the dream OF IN,
people OF the states. Great ships. car
rying passengers and freights. ar,
leaving Pacific coast ports every day
for Alaska and they return with mil
lions OF our gold and other products
And yet the development OF the coun
try has scarcely begun
What does the ordinary senator oI
representative know about Alaska? II
81 their duty 10 know an about il
They still langlidly refer to II as the
land OF the midnight sun the 'hom,
OF the glacier and the polar bear; but
they have no intelligent appreciation
OF It's extent and territory. its value or
the rapidity with which il is being set
tied and developed by the sturdy men
Of the West who are blazing the trees
and cutting the trails for civilization
They are building railroads. opening
and working mines by the hundreds
navigating great riyers-in short cary
ing out an empire. For thirty-hye long
years Alaska has been waiting for
some recognition from Congress and
the departments. and she is still wait
ing.
Now and then senator or a con.
gresham will visit Alaska a. a sum.
mer tourist and pledge the people
what they will do when they return %
Washington But their promises are
still unfulhlled. Il Congress too un.
wieldly a body 10 handle the whole
country? ! read that Il Is talking oi
buying more territory. but IL had bet
TEN demonstrate its ability 70 properly
govern that which Ii already has he.