The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-23
TELLS OF INJUSTICE
THAT'S DONE ALASKA
tx-GoW. Swineford Pleads the
Country's Right to Terrific.
rial Government.

Alaska wants a territorial form Of
government" said ex-Gov. A. P. Swine
1ord, Of Ketchikan, Alaska, at the
Windsor hotel last night.
we are not asking for anything more
nor less than was given the other terri
ooiles OF the United States, but we are
eE!uenuy destined to nothing but disaD-
Polntment from the present administra-
rioI. Inc senate's subcommittee on ter
IltoIIeS mas visited Alaska and has re-
p!oIteu IN IaVor of doing nothing at this
time. Senator Patterson, of Colorado has
mace a minority report and promises TO
Ilght the adoption of the majority report
on the floor.
In the meantime the great papers Of the
country ought to take Up the matter and
make our cause theirs. Simple Justice
demands that some relief be given us We
are being governed outside Of anv cOnsti-
tutlonal restraint or limitation Alaska is
simply the property Of the United States
and not a territory
1t has always been considered a part of
our theory of government that where the
nag OF the country went the constitution
was soon to follow. but Alaska has been
part OF the domain for forty years and
no sign OF the constitution has come to
US, and We are without a voice in the
ad dd I of our own affairs. We
branches of business, and every species
Of industry is burdened by taxes. Alaska
mas paid back in revenues 81, 900 600 more
IMAM the United States paid for the ter
ritory-and that was 81, 200, 00O-and all
cost of maintenance since.
Large White Population.
There are from $4,000 to 1O0 900 white
people In the vast territory known as
given no voice in the administration OF
the aIIalrS of the country but are given
no excuse for unusual acts of congress-
. We are told, 1t Is true, that our popula-
ton IS not sufficiently large, our territory
considered, to permit Of a territorial form
OF government being practical. A COM
parlSon Is not improper. The Northwest
territory contained less than 900 people
and embraced Michigan Wisconsin, Iowa.
Nebraska, Minnesota the Dakotas and a
part of Montana when the territory OF
Michigan was created. When the terri
tory OF Wisconsin was created its capital
was at Burlington, Iowa Its territory in
cluded all of the Northwest Territory ex-
cept Michigan. When Wisconsin was ad-
m1tted as a state then again Minnesota
territory included all but Michigan, Wis
consin and Iowa
The senators give us no promise of re-
lief. They say nothing except that they
VIII not recommend a territorial form of
government. Senator Patterson takes the
view that the national government can
not leglslate 1ntelligently for the local af-
fairs of a people so far distant from
Washington. The proposition is made to
give us a so-called delegate to be ap
pointed by the president or the Judges
This brilliant idea isn't acceptable-such
a delegate Is not acceptable to the people
of Alaska Hawaii was given territorial
rights when it had from 5000 to 900 peo
pie who could not be called Americans.
| Nearly all our population, save a few
| Japanese, are stalwart Americans. I ven
ture to say you cannot find one in a
| thousand Of the white people of Alaska
| who was not born or has been naturalized
| in one of the states.
Pay Too Much for Government
| We are paying two or three times as
much money as the administration of a
| territorial form Of government for Alaska
W 70 no az aGfG n
| 900 per 2nnum in licenses and from $780,
! 900 to $3.50 600 in fees for the admnistra-
| ton of courts. etc. There are scores Of
deputy marshals, United States court
| commissioners and kindred officials, and
/ it is almost impossible to mention an in
| dustry in which the license fee is not in
| Voked. Even widow Is taxed for the
| privilege of keeping few boarders Under
| the beautiful system in vogue in Alaska.
Gov. Swineford is interested in mines
/ at Ketchikan, which is located on an
| island in the Tougass naTrows, about
! fifty miles from the main body Of the
! Pacific and 900 miles north of Seattle.
He is also editor Of a mining journal,
and speaks from a broad, general
| knowledge of the territory. He was
! appointed governor of Alaska by Presi-
| dent Cleveland, and after retiring from
| office became a permanent resident Of
| the Northwestern possession. He says
| that gold, silver and copper quartz
mining is being developed, but that
! it is naturally slow, owing to the great
| investment necessary. He is a veritable
| encyclopedia of industrial statistics for
| Alaska, and his statements are made
! from an intimate knowledge of the
| mining, forestry and fishing through
out the great region.
Gov. Swineford is no stranger to St.
Paul, having been a printer in this
city as long ago as 1856. He established
| the second Democratic newspaper in
Southern Minnesota in 1857, issuing
| the first number of what is now the
| Albert Lea Standard. The paper was
| born in the first frame building in the
| present townsite. He is still an ardent
| Democrat, and after travelling through
| the East believes that If the Democrats
| nominate man of the Olney stripe
| he can be elected president He says
/ the people are in a mood for a change.
When 1t Changes.
| The Optomist-A thing Of beauty is a
! joy forever.
The Pessimist-Perhaps it Is, but not