The Bottineau courant., 1904-12-02
FRIDAY :: :: :: DECEMBER
THE MATTER WITH ALASKA.

officials in that department, "What is
the matter with Alaska p 1t pokes
round in odd corners trying to find
the reason for the apparent prevalence
of desire to- use Office corruptly,
and seems undecided whether it is
the climate or the distance that lends
disenchantment to the view. Incl
dentally it makes the very amusing
remark that we are having no such
trouble in the Philippines, and is sur
sprised to find the colonial system
working so we'll there and working
badly in our own country, says the
st. Paul Globe.
The matter with Alaska is not far
to seek The fruits of the colonial
system under republic are bound to
be corruption on one side and injustice
on the other Our government of the
Philippines is still military to all in
tents and purposes and the high
standard of honor prevailing in the
military service is the best shield of
the people, AS far as civil govern
ment goes, the people of the United
States know absolutely nothing of
what is going on in the Philippines.
The very representation that things
there are not exactly as they should be
is set down as a political canard, and
construed as an attack to incite the
Filipiuos to mutiny. Therefore we
may as we'll drop that subject from
the discussion.
One who has seen the subject at
close range understands very we'll
what is the matter with Alaska The
whole trouble is the denial to a COM
munity of the most intelligent and en-
terprising American citizens of the
ordinary right of self government.
Alaska has no political rights what
ever. It is not state and it is not
even territory. 1t is governed ar
bitrarily from Washington. and there
fore it is very badly governed.
The federal places are filled by pres
idential appointment The candidates
for these are drawn from all parts Of
the Union. and are necessarily chosen
on recommendation Of senators and
congressman and other political big
weights. Occasionally they settle upon
an honest man. Not infrequently
they select man who could not be
induced to 90 to Alaska for any Office
under the sun did he not believe that
there were perquisites; that it carried
with it incidental opportunities to
make good financially. These men
have been the curse Of the country.
4 Alaska has immense resources, and
a number of tremendously powerful
and wealthy corporations are operat-
ing there. There is also in the
country that element of the speculator,
the gambler and the desperate that be-
longs to the frontier. There is always
therefore ready market for the sale
of justice or injustice if these can be
bought. If the administrators of the
law came from the people, we're chosen
by the people and were subject to pun
ishment by the people this situation
would regulate itself. Under carpet
bag government it becomes terrible in
the extreme. No care can prevent
this no watchfulness can guard
against it. There is only one remedy
the comforting upon Alaskan people
5of the political rights enjoyed by
states and territories.
s8 Alaska should be divided immediat-
ely into four territories and each of
those should have the regular terri
tprial form of government under strict
laws compelling all territorial officials
10 be taken from actual residents Of
the country. If this were done we
should hear less of scandals in Alaska
Than we do in Arizona or New Mex
leo; and the prosperity and develop
1nent Of that rich and mighty realm
would be immensely helped. There