Douglas Island news., 1909-10-06


 The regeneration of civic morals and the reassertion of high standards ot business dealing which have been w.t. messed in the last few years were not needed to carry conviction to every honest uind that an equal opportunity must be oforded, within the limit or their respective abilities, to rich and poor alike; and that to the one as to the other just punishment for wrong doing must be administered.
 Large bodies of capital, although long withheld because of ignorance or distrust of conditions in Alaska, have recently been invested here and should be encouraged here. Within reasona- ble bounds, moreover, special means should be provided for their encour- agemenE in proportion to the iocat adverse factors which teud toward their discouragement or which, tn the ab- sencO of these special means, absolute. ly forbid their authorization. Fair minded men acknowledge these truths, But does any fair.ainded mao believe that the administration of William fl. Taft will permit any grant or privilege to incorporated capital 10 be abused, if the administration Is advised of the abuse? If there are abuses at present, it will be the business of the appointed agents of the administration to find them out and to report them.
 There are business operations in this Territory which from their nature can be carried on only by large outlay of money, bat there are countless others which can be made profitable by the expenditure of modest means in the hands of men who's. chief capital is their Intelligent capacity for hard work So far as lies in my limited power, 1 shall see to it that the one class of operators does not oppress or crowd out the other and that 1t may oot be said truly that Alaska is no longer "a poor mans country"
 Although in sense @ newcomer, l am not B stranger to you or entirely without information as to tho condi- tiops that surround you. There are among us various opinions as to the political future of this Territory, and several contrary notions as to it's gov- ernment, am not yet committed to either of the extreme views pertaining to this problem, aud must withhold an Ru expression of opinion until my pre-. sent information shall have been enlarged. The honest and unselfish advocate of fully organized Territor- ial form of government in tho immedi- ate future will command my respectful attention, and such en advocate will i not have cause for quarrel with me unless he is of such intolerant temper as to war with all those who for honest and unselfish reasons may be unable to accept his view. It will likewise be my duty and pleasure to listen atten- lively to those of our citizens who l favor form of government which falls short of the fully organized Territorial form, and even to those who oppose any marked change at present in the existing form. While hear the ex- pression of these views in all parts of the Territory and while I pursue for myself conscientious examination ot conditions as they appear in the several districts, bespeak your patience and at the same time invite your earnest assistance On this subject of the form of government am prepared to make only one statement with conf dence, ia the present state of my kaowledgd, and that is that there is urgent need for improvement in the existing system of territorial control 1 am authorized by the president of the United States to say that the prob lem of Alaska government is engaging his earnest attention and that at a proper time not distant be will express some views and recommendations on the subject
 Until our political condition is im- proved let us devote ourselves to civic matters and to the earnest development of cur great natural resources. Until desired improvement in the form of government is effected we may still hope for continued and perhaps in creased federal appropriations for roads, telegraphs, lighthouses, postal communications and other internal