The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-10-01

gave to the nation the middle west;
the purchase by Jefferson Oh Louisiana
territory which carried our domain
to the Rocky mountains the acqusi-
tion of Texas and the treaty OF Gaudc-
.oupe Hidalgo Which extended our
territory to the Pacific coast. were
properly supplemented by the acqui-
sition of Alaska and this exposition
may we'll be regarded as a celebra-
tion of the foresight of Seward in his
policy of expansion.
Alaskan Wealth
ut would seem that the wealth of
Alaska in minerals. in fish, in furs,
and even in agriculture was still but
inadequately known and yet its value
from mere money standpoint to the
nation as shown by the wealth which
has been extracted from it exceeds
by many fold the cost of it to the
government of the United States. A
review of the history of the territory
will show that congress has been very
slow to extend to it proper form
of government.
Alaska is country of immense
expanse and the governmental 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 of the Yukon. Such a territory
has need of local legislation and To-
cal government which can only be
understood by those who are on the
ground and it is utterly impossible
and impracticable for congress in it's
legislation to govern the details by
legislation required for the best de-
velopment of the territory. There
has been no authority in the territory
having an adequate Jurisdiction to
meet the exigencies of such young
nut potentially prosperous territory.
1T 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 ordi-
narily given to the legislature and
executive of regular organized terri
tory. think this would be a great
mistake because l do not think that
the territory has a population Of suf-
hc1ent stability and permanence of
residence to warrant the delegation to
locally elected legislation of au-
| SHN0AASJs 4AoAy vi Illc plates IL Alas.
ka where there is considerable
population are nothing but mining
camps with all the migratory and tenn
porary features of such settlements.
More than that the population Is SO
small as compared with the vast ex-
panse of territory that it would be
unwise to provide that a compare
lively small population in southeast
A1ocko oh 4la
tives and legislate for the enormous
territory reaching from British Col
umbta clear to the Behring sea and
the Arctic ocean.
Local self government or home
rule in country so large as Alaska
with scattered nomadic population,
intense local and sectional feeling,
should not be given serious consider
alton until the population and devel-
oped resources of the country have
increased to such an extent as to
warrant the division of the territory
into more limited areas where the
inhabitants of each would have an
opportunity of becoming acquainted
and where there would be some de-
gree of similarity of interests Be-
fore such an experiment an earnest
effort should be made to secure
larger percentage Of permanent resi-
dents and endeavor to attach some of
the population to the soil.
MY own Judgment is that the only
way properly to develop Alaska for
the benefit of everybody in it is to
bring the territory under the manage
ment of one bureau or department in
Washington SO that all the officials
In the government shall have to re-
spond to one head.
"1t Is not necessary that the dele
gates be dispensed with, but an exc
cutive office with records, with in
formation constantly active, can great
ly contribute to the welfare of a ter
ritory for which 1t is responsible when
located at the national capital and
when understood to have the proper
authority and responsibility.
Certain general laws should be
passed by congress but this would
leave wide domain for domestic
legislation which it seems to me ought
to be entrusted to some local au-
thority on the ground and having a
knowledge of local needs"
Legislative Commission
President Taft here suggested that
local legislation be vested in a resi-
dent commission of five to be an
pointed by the president and to act
in conjunction with the governor of
Alaska.
ut will be observed" continued the
president, that this is virtual ythe
government given to the Philippines
although the commission there had
more legislative authoritive than it
would be wise or necessary to give to
the Alaska commission. objection
will be made on the ground that this
Is treating the people of Alaska. who
are generally free born American
citizens, as If the territory were a
dependency of persons unfit to exer-
else the power of self government.
Il cannot deny that the conditions
In Alaska are such as in my judg-
ment to prevent the extension of To-
cal self government safely to that
territory. 1t is not because of the
u