The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-20
GOVERNOR BEGAN
LIFE AS A W AFT
BECAME MISSIONARY AND NOW
RULES ALASKA,
Found Means Of Supplementing Bibles
with Sawnills - When the Time
Was Ripe for Territorial Govern
nent He Secured His Own Appoint
ment and Has Stood Firm.

From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, May 20.-An interest
ing man who visits Washington only
at rare intervals is here just now, in
the person of Governor John Green
Brady of Alaska. His term will soon
expire and there is a political faction
at home opposed to his reappointment.
On the other hand there is a large
and important element, including the
most practical and progressive mis-
sionaries, who insist that Governor
Brady's retention is of the first inn
portance for the future Of our great
northwestern possession.
Mr.. Brady's rise in life is a hard
listed romance. He was born, as
nearly as he can judge, in the slums
Of New York about $780, and was cast
adrift almost in ,babyhood to pick up
living as best he could.
He is not sure where he got his
name. AS he had no one to care for
him, the Children's Aid society picked
him out Of the streets and saved him
from what might readily have devel-
oped into a life of crime.
He was one of a carload of homeless
and helpless youngsters whom the So
ciety shipped to the west, to find a
refuge among kind-hearted farmers.
ers.
Poorest Boy in Lot.
At Upton, Ind, benevolent citizen
named John Green came down to the
station and asked the man in charge
of the waits to give him the most rag
ged, ugliest and poorest boy in the
lot. With promptness equalled only
by his candor the superintendent
ordered Jack" Brady to step forward.
Under Mr.. Green's good influence
the lad took to study, and money was
found to give him course at school
and college. He had the missionary
instinct, and went into the Presbyte-
rian ministry, receiving assignm ents
in various parts of the rnirling-camp
west, and finding his way by degrees
to Alaska.
The natives interested him greatly,
and he soon discovered their best side.
The Presbyterian society that was sup
porting his mission could see the val
work, and were willing to furnish him
with all the necessary instrumental
ties for converting souls from sin by
the usual process.
When he wrote, 1--WE have plenty of
Bibles; what we need now is q saw
mill,'' there seemed to be technicalities
in the way of supplying this want
from the missionary fund. He was
able to raise the money elsewhere,
however and put his proteges at work
at a mechanical trade.
When he came east bringing speci-
mems of valuable ores, it was to re-
sign his ministerial office and start a
strong tide Of migration toward the
extreme northwestern corner Of the
United States.
Started Alaska Government.
In course Of time having proved his
mettle by a long and successful strug-
gle against the odds Of a new country
Mr.. Brady made UP his mind that
what was most needed in Alaska was a
firm organizing hand at the center OF
things. He believed that he was the
man to furnish it, and accordingly
came to Washington in the spring OF
1897 and procured an introduction to
President Mckinley in order to pre-
sent his own application for the gov.
ernorship.
There were other candidates, as g
matter of course, among them one
backed by Secretary Sherman and an
/! other urged by Senator Shoup. Blu
| an evenings chat at the White House
settled the matter, the president wisely
concluding that man who knew
Alaska from the bottom up would
make more efficient governor thar
one whose chief recomm endation wal
the patronage Of a prominent man. So
/ Brady went back with his commission
in his pocket.
Since then his labors in behalf O
Alaska have been indefatigable. Hi
/ annual reports have been by far tn,
most readable of all that have com,
/ from the same quarter. Practical.
i the only intelligent and consistent leg
islation in behalf C this little know
region has been procured during hi
1 administration, the value of his testi
mony having been recognized by con
| gress as that Of a man who under
stood his subject.
He has taken ground on certain
questions affecting the erection of
that were bound to bring him into col
lfsion with elements in the population
whose support he would have appre
4 ciated, but he has stood his groun,
and challenged criticism.
Sturdy Americanism.
On the liquor issue he came on
among the first responsible champion
OF high license system as contraste,
with prohibition. This he did, not Il
an ugly and unreasonable mood, blu
with a frank statement Of both side
LOT the controversy and showed tina
I prohibitory law could not be EN-
4 forced and a high license law could.
( He had some friction, also, wit
certain educational functionaries, VIII
sent to Washington complaints of hi
/ attitude; but the authorities here ap
4 peared to find his ideas pretty wei
Il grounded In common sense, and 70
some time nothing his been heard OF
4 All Inv In B. -