New-York tribune., 1909-10-01
FAVORS SHIP SUBSIDY
Continued from first page.


lines and several lines from the East TO South
America. OF course, familiar with the
argument that this would be contributing TO
| private companies out of the treasury fund of
the United States; but we thus contributing
| in various ways on similar principles in effect
by our protective tariff law, by river and
harbOr bills and by our reclamation service. We
are putting money into the pockets OF shipOwn-
| ers, but are giving them money with which
they can compete for a reasonable profit only
| with the merchant marine Of the world.
From my observations think the country is
! ready 10 try such law and to witness its
| effects upon the foreign trade OF the United
States. If it is successful. experience will show
how the policy can best be expanded and en-
/ larged. and the American commercial flag be
! made 10 wave upon the seas il did before our
! Civil War. It is true that foreign trade is
| great and increasing without the merchant ma
| rine. But merchant marine would much en-
| hance the opportunities for extending trade
| STATES HIS POLICY FOR alaska
| When the President turned 10 Alaska and de-
clared that he was opposed to granting it a ter
! ritorial form of government the statement was
/ received i'll silence AS he proceeded, however
| ana outlined his policy for the upbuiding Of
Alaska, OF recommending government aid in the
construction of railroads. of a local govern
ment by a commission Of FIVE or more members.
! appointed by the President and cooperating
with the Governor, and told of the great possi-
blities that lie in Alaska. he plainly caught the
| favor Of his hearers and was loudly cheered.
! He said:
This great Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition
was the objective point OF my trip 70 the West,
and am glad to have arrived here after two
weeks travel from the old Bay State. As
| look about at this wonderful exhibition OF
the progress Of the Northwest, of Alaska and tho
racine coast, reel great pride In having
urged upon the proper Congressional committee
with all the emphasis Of which I was capable
the Importance and utility Of the enterprise
And ii is gratifying to know that under the ad-
ministration Of Seattle men, the exposition has
been a great success, both in arousing world
I -jd ", WFa = 0FV h
west and in showing a profit over the immense
| outlay needed in its construction and mainte-
nance
When I first planned my visit to Seattle had
included with IL a trip to Alaska in order that
I might. by personal investigation, make my
self better acquainted with the character OF that
great territory and with the best method of
curing its development. I greatly regret that
the time consumed by Congress in the cOnsidera-
tion of the tariff bill prevented my carrying out
that part OF the plan embraced in a visit 10 this
most interesting territory.
ALASKA AND ITS VALUE
one of Mr.. Stewards substantial claims TO the
gratitude of his countrymen and to a place
among the statesmen of his country was the
broad view which he took of the value of Alaska
and his wisdom in effeCting its purchase. The
cession Of Virginia and the ordinance of 1857,
which gave TO the nation the Middle West; the
purchase by jefferson of Louisiana Territory,
which carried our domain TO the Rocky Noun
tains; the acquisition of Texas and the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo which extended our
territory 10 the Pacific Coast were properly sup
exposition may we'll be regarded as a celebra-
ton of the foresight of Seward in his policy of
expansion
II would seem that the wealth of Alaska in
minerals in fish. in furs and even in agriculture
was still but inadequately known, and yet It's
value from money point of view to the
nation shown by the wealth which has been
extracted from it, exceeds by many fold the cost
of il 70 the government of the United States.
A review of the history of the territory will
show that Congress has been very slow TO
tend TO il a proper form of government. Alaska
is a country Of immense expanse, and the gov
ernmental needs OF the southeastern portion,
near TO Washington, and the northwest are quite
different from those of Nome and the Seward
Peninsula and of the valley or the Yukon. Such
a territory has need of a local legislation and
local government which be understood only
by those who on the ground, and IL is utterly
impossible and tmpracticable for Congress TO
govern the details of legislation required for the
best development OF the territory.
There has been authority in the territory
having adequate jurisdiction to meet the ext
gencies of such young but potentially prosper
Gus territory
AGAINST TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
II has been proposed that Congress should
give TO Alaska the regular form of territorial
government, under which Legislature might
be elected and Governor, and between the two
they might be given the powers ordinarily given
To the Legislature and executive of a regularly
organized territory. / think this would be a
great mistake because I do not think that the
territory has a population of sufficient stability
and permanence OF residence TO warrant the
delegation a locally elected Legislature Of
such authority. Many of the places in Alaska
where there is a considerable population
nothing but mining camps. with all the migra-
tory and temporary features of such settlements.
More than that, the population is SO small as
compared with the vast expanse of the territory
that it would be unwise to provide that
parativeIy small population in Southeastern
Alaska should elect representatives and legislate
for the enormous territory reaching from British
Columbia TO the Bering Sea and the Arctic
ocean.
Local self-government or home rule in coun-
try large Alaska. with scattered, nomadic
population. intense local and sectional feeling
should not he given serious consideration until /
country have increased TO such extent to
warrant the division of the territory into more
limited areas, where the inha bitants of each /
would have an opportunity of becoming ac- /
quaiuted and where there would he some degree /
of similarity of interests iefore such an ex- /
pertinent earnest effort should he made 20 I
secure a larger percentage OF permanent resi- /
dents and endeavor to attach some of the popu- |
la ton TO the soil
Nv own Judgment is that the only way prop
erly TO develop Alaska for the benefit of every /
body in it is TO bring the territory under the
of one bureau and department in
Washington, so that all the officials in the gov
ernment shall have to respond TO head. and
So also that the interests Of the entire territory
shall be centred IN one responsible bureau CHIEF
in Washington, whose business il shall be.
through his department chief TO present 10
Congress the needs OF the territory, 10 follow
legislation and to attend TO everything at the
national capital in which the people of the
territory Interested.
IL is not necessary that the delegates shall be
with. but executive office with
records. with information constantly active.
greatly contribute to the welfare Of a territory
Tor which II Il responsible, when located at the
national capital. and when understood To have
IN proper authority and responsibility
Certain general laws. like the mining laws.
the forestry laws the customs laws and the land
laws should be passed by Congress and perhaps /
executed by national officers. but this would
leave a wide domain for domestic legislation
which IL seems 10 me, ought be intrusted To .
some local authority on the ground sna aASses