New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-12
ALASKANS DO NOT AGREE
Some Want Territorial Government,
Others Oppose 1t.

sitlxa. Alaska. Aug Is (speciaD.-The spectacle OF
a horde OF Statehood boomers urging the claims OF
their Territory to sovereign rights In the Union IS
common enough. But Alaska presents the anomaly
of not being quite sure that she even wants to be
Territory. Agitation there Is. and OF vocfsTOus
kind. that the territorial form OF government should
be conferred by Congress a. once. But there Is
strong party. headed by Governor John G. Brady
himself which believes that the district is mere
infant still and should be left for time longer In
present swaddling clothes. The kneebreeches Of
territorial government and the manly garb Of state
hood should not be 6Onned. they say. until their
huge land is thicky settled.
The committee OF the United States Senate which
has been looking into the legislative needs OF
Alaska this summer has heard great deal on this
particular subject. and its recommendation on this
point viii be received with great interest The
Senators have travelled many thousand miles in
the interior and along the coast, and have had an
exceptional opportunity to learn public sentiment
and to examine the facts at first hand
Meanwhile the merry war between the boomers
and the Observation-Disclosures party goes brisixly
The ter-itorialists had field day at the Trans
Mississippi Congress which was recently held IN
Seattle. Poor Governor Brady had no one 20 back
him Up. while dozen or more men identified with
Alaska went in hammer and tongs for the change
Of government.
~ p Swineford Ex-Governor OF the district.
pointed some OF the abuses OF having the laws
all made in Washington. Why he said. "A
woman dressmaker has got to pay license Of so a
year ! he2rG OF one case where a man VINO kept
a general store sold Official bottle Of arnica
ininent- The merchant was thereupon compelled
to take out a druggists license at $500 year"
John c. Green. for tNenty-e!sht years resident
Of Alaska. made these points:
We feel that We know what laws are best for us.
and capable Of making them We don't want to
be saddled any longer with the laws OF Oregon.
which govern US We want to elect
territorial legislature. instead Of being ruled BY
csst-on politicians"
Of AID ovr mir Ia 10
Interior attacked with malaria. and after much
trouble managed to get bottle OF whiszey. He
paid S. for it, Information OF this coming TO
government ofTciaL he laid complaint. and the
camp OF miners which had sold the stuff had to
take out a liquor license and TO forfeit its whole
outfit.
Mr.. Fletcher also described a IN -four
which vas managed by a big trading company in
the interior. There several small independent
merchants at the same place. and they sold -four
to the miners at So 4 sack Their stock was soon
exhausted. and then the company calmly an
nounced that it doing business at so sack.
and less The miners had choice. and paid
the big price. Mr.. Fletcher unfortunately. did
explain just what territorial legislature would do
to prevent transactions OF this kind
1t was further pointed out that Alaska now pro-
duced S25e00000 a year in metals. fish. furs. etc.
while it consumed an equal amount OF goods from
the parent country II the district allowed
to collect its revenues Of say. 100000 year.
half would suffice for expenses and the rest could
De used N the lnternai Improvements WHICH were
so much needed.
Governor Brady. OF course. believes that Alaska
needs money, but he thinks Congress should
appropriate #. He pointed the Seattle gath
e-ing that by the census Of 1900. the population
vas only 6s592. of whom only seso7 were white.
These were scattered six hundred thousand
square miles Most Of them were in a measure
sojourners as the total number OF families
h?Tfy 66T shh nae OF s went on would
be a delegate In Congress The expense would be
/ and lie mt var u-cU 70
ileeI IT, Besides the territorial form OF govern
ment is unsatisfactory TO many OF those who i've
under it
In an official document the good Governor goes
say that investigation Of the subject has
shown various people that the suggested remedy
for our Ills is the most brazen quackery.
for Mr.. Brady among business men. One Of them
who has been here many years said:
'Of course. should like a delegate at wash
ington. he would have no vote, but we should feel
that little more part OF the country X
there entitled TO express cur needs
ard wishes But this might have without be-
TO have things continue at present. We bolieve
that. in a few years. Alaska VIII have grcwn so in
people and wealth that Congress will gladly take
US INTO Statehood. without making us pass thr0usn
the purgatory OF territorial government Some
Would-oe politicians anxious to get offices, and
they want the change.
sentative men to 90 to the legislature. Some OF
thSm would rave 70 travel thousands Of miles TO
the capital Inc Suostantial cltlzenS are TOO nluch
occupied to be able to leave their business for so
long. Then Alaska has little taxable property. a
simply ruinous tax rate would be necessary to
raise the money 10 run the government. No; wo
are well satisfied 70 remain entirely in the hands
of Congress especially the committee Of Sena-
tors has studied the situation for itself this
mer."