The Alaska prospector., 1906-04-12
Missionary Makes Charges
Continued from First Page


 titute. All this conflict of report in reference to the condition of the Copper River Indians arises from the fact traders are determined to keep their true condition from the Government, so that the natives may not receive cheapened food. Ask prospectors or those who have no interest in stores, and they will tell you that these Indians are in a semi-starved state, at least one half of the year, and that there is no way that they of themselves can better their condition. * x
 think l wrote you that we have a saloon now in Copper Center. Indian women, or rather young young Indian women, have been seen coming from the saloon in a drunken condition. The parents of one girl have complained to us bitterly. This Andrew Holman, the United States Commissioner here, built the building for the saloon, shipped in the liquors and has saloon not to exceed p feet from his office. on his own land. If he does not own it, he aids and abets it. What can we do? x x
 Yours very truly,
 G. s. CLEvENGER.
 While these charges would on their face appear to be serious, to any one who is conversant with conditions at Copper Center they are absurd. It is well known fact that Andrew Holman has at all times been active in endeavor- ing to assist the natives himself and to secure government aid for them, and this fact is ably set forth in his answer to the charges. corroborated by mass of afliiavits and letters from all of the most influential and prominent citizens, miners and prospectors, who reside in the district. That Mir. Holman, who has given more to the Indians, and employed more of them at good wages, than any other man in the Copper River valley, would endeavor to prevent the govern ment distribution of supplies 10 thoso who are needy is beyond be- lief, and the statements made by Mir. Clevenger that Mir. Holman was instrumental in having false report made to the government Is without foundation.
 The charge that liquor is tein2 sold 70 the indians, with the know ledge and consent of Holman is untrue and incapable of proof. In fact it is well known to residents of this valley that the natives have never acquired the liquor habit and we have yet to find a person who has seen any of them, with one exception, under the influence of liquor. This exception is a woman who has been common wanton since 1900, five years prior to the starting of the saloon at the Center. Since the Commissioners office has been at the Center this woman has been kept under close surveillance, and has never been given or sold a drop of liquor at the saloon, nor has she at any time been seen intoxicated near the saloon. Mir. Holman does not own the saloon at Copper Center, and has no interest in 1t further than being interested in the company which owns the building rented by the saloon.
 The natives who live near Cop per Center look Upon Mir. Holman as good friend and always speak well of him, while in regard to Mir. Cleavenger they say Halo good, all time wawa skin ketchum, halo potlatch muck-muck" It is evi- dent that the charges made by the reverend gentlemen are inspired by personal pique at Holman, and any one who knows the partie sand the conditions can have no doubt as to the result of the Investigation.