The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-03-03

operate, in the interest Of the Alaska
Gold Mining Company. the rich Nome
placer mines owned by the unletter'
ed but law-respecting prospectors. 1t
was proposed to steal these mines
either by an adroitly worded act Of
congress-just as Ballinger tried to
legalize the Cunningham claims by
having the laws amended-or, falling
that, to c0nfiscate the many decistou4
Of the Alaska courts, which were to
be of their own making and appoint
exactly as Ballinger sought to
have his subordinates create by the
Pierce decision special law for the
Cunningham claims. Alexander Nc.
Kenzie of North Dakota was the cap
tain of this filibustering enterprise
Donald r. Mckenzie is one of the
chief conspirators in the present at
tempted steal. Alec Mckenzie was
backed and ably defended by the two
Senators from North Dakota-McCum'
Der and Hansbrough Fred bennett,
the present commissioner Of the gen.
eral land Office, who figured actively
in the Cunningham cases, was a form
er private secretary of Senator Hans
brough. He was clerk OF the Senate
Committee on Public Lands, OF winch
Hansprough was chairman, for several
years Immediately prior to becoming
special land agent in the West by APP
pointment Of Ballinger, then commits
sioner OF the general land ONCE.
After all preparations had been per-
fected at the Washington end spur.
ious suits were brought in Alaska
against the owners Of most Of the rich
placer mines Of Nome. Mckenzie was
appointed receiver OF these claims,
by Arthur H. Moves his judge, and
under protection of the United states
troops proceeded to gut the mines
under the eyes of the owners. He
carried of the gold to his own vaults.
When the facts became known, It
was found that the stock Of the Alas
ka Cold Mining Company was dis
tributed generously throughout official
circles in Washington. Judge Noyes
denied appeals to the defeated liti'
giants whose properties had been con-
fiscated. Certified copies Of the court
record were filed with United States
Attorney General Griggs. Griggs re-
fused to take action.
Subsequently in certain legal pro.
ceedings growing out Of these Outrag.
es, Noyes, Mckenzie and others were
of information, and the leaders are
found guilty by the San Francisco
court of appeals. and sentenced to
imprisonment. Mckenzie served on.
~ part of his sentence. While in
jail he was, and for. long after re.
manned, member Of the Republican
National Committee, and powerful
politician whose influence at Wash.
ington did not abate because of the
little ;contretemps in his political
affairs.
Whitewash has always been cheap.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota
said he had known Mckenzie for 2e
years. Il know him." he said. ito be
noble hearted, generous. impulsvie.
sympathetic individual Senator Hans
brough of the same state in the SEN
ate, referred to Mckenzie as "a re-
putable man, an honest man, man
who in point of integrity is the peer
of any man in this body"-language
which pierces with strange light some
of the recent fulsome eu1ogies which
seem to be the only answer to present
specific charges. When Senator Ste
wart of Nevada afterward exposed
the whole crooked plot, tracing Its
trail from Washington to Nome and
back, involving United States senat-
ors, and government officials, entire
sections of his speech, exposing these
officials, were expunged by senator
ial courtesy" from the congressional
records.
It is common knowledge through
out Alaska and the West generally
that the Morgan interests are allied
with the Guggenheim mining interests
and that the same financial forces
are allied with the Hill railroad inter.
ests. When Ballinger was nominated
and elected mayor Of Seattle, he was
put forward by the Hill political man
ayers, ostensibly to put down certain
local evils, but really to put the Hin
forces in control Of local politics.
Ballingef> supported Levi Ankeny, the
railroad candidate who notoriously
bought his seat in the United States
senate. An important detail Of Bal
fingers record to remember is his
grant, a. secretary Of the interior of
the railroad right OF way along the
Des Ihutes River in Oregon. Balling-
Of. himseH WAS an iaess porAtor OF
slIo ofi9inx1 M NtAt lis railroad,
ana was IL vtes prssident and com
ssl He = ~ - have disposed o. ~
iglAs = - sslb . - 1lSleng