The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-14
SIS Involuntary
WARDS OF STATES
At PR|BYL0F
Aleuts Are Housed. Clothed, Fed,
Educated, Have Medical Care
and in Fact, Everything but
Their Liberty.
Colony of Servitors Has Been Main
tanned in This Way for
Twenty Years.


the federal COVE ~nnent abandon i,4
policy toward seal killing by NestinG
authority I'm the secretary OF com
merce and labor TO deal with the ques-
i.on as he deemed best, instead OF con
tinuing the presenJ long term contrast
lies concealed The surprising fact that
for two decades past the governmen'
unintentionally and unknowingiy mas
been holding 325 native Aleutians 81
both sexes and OF ali ages, In a io'a
of involuntary seTNitude on the Prlpy
lof Islands in order that ii might taith
fully execute it's part of the 2O-yea'
contract uttered into with the North
American Commercial company.
The discovery was made recently ID:
CHARLES Nagel. secretary OF commerce
and labor, and in the interests OF the
natives, who have been we'll cared tol
aud appear contented and for the m"
tner purpose OF conserving the sea-
industry, the executive appeal to coa
Eress is being effectively answered
Within few weeks il is believed tha'
these strange wards Of the nation VIII
be granted the right TO a liberty which
they have never known since they or
their ancestors went onto ST. George
and St Paul islands 20 years ago ult-
der the favorable inducements which
they were Offered for their help IN
killing and skinning seals.
There ere schools and churches on
the islands, and teachers have been
provided with some care and ply
eicians are there to minister TO the
sick and feeble. the natives have been
furnished houses and clothing, fuel
and food; those able TO work have
been guaranteed employment and the
widows ana aged have been cared Tor
the same as the youns and able-bodied.
and the sldggard has not been without
the ministering care OF Uncle Sam;
but the necessity that required espioG-
age TO prevent me smuggling OF Vaid-
able skins. and the rapid defamation OF
the seals brought about the establish
ment of a COLONY the like OF which
mipht never again be paralleled on the
face OF the globe.
over IL native chiefs ruled. but their
MOVERS were purely nominal, for the
federal agents who were required upon
the islands at all times, and the com
pany agents and representatives con.
stituted the real governing body. with
time TO time from the Washington au-
thorities.
There is no question OF the care
exercised by the federal government TO
protect the natives from harm, extor-
tion and misrule. At first II was
thought the contract with the com
mercial company would relieve all
their wants. but for many years con-
gress has been appropriating more
than $4,000 for additional fuel. cloth
ing and food for them, upon the dec
laration that otherwise they might
etarve.
The North American Commercial
company has been required 10 furnish
the schools, teachers, houses, churches,
physicians, medicines and medical sup
plies as well as fuel, and to keep IN
stock at their stores such necessities
as the natives might require, for there
are mo neighbors dropping in nor
are any of the natives permitted 60
leave the Islands except upon special
authorization from the Washington au'
thorities. Only the government an
commercial agents and a representa-
tive OF the Russian church are ad-
mitted. but ii was made clear from the
very inception Of the contract that
even the spiritual adviser would be de-
MED such rights where IL was shown
that they were attempted by improper
persons.
II was In pursuance of departmental
instructions that the federal agent $
were required 10 examine all goods
shipped out OF the islands. including
baggage and personal effects, as well
AS to inspect all casks, barrels ami
boxes about the native houses, IN or
der to prevent any possibility of con
cealment or smuggling OF sealskins o.
foxskins.
MAY and June have been the period
OF activity on the islands The seals
are driven, selected, killed. skinned
end the hides cleared then. The M
riyes who are capable of performiur
that work are selected by the chiefs
under direction of the governments
agents. and diviNed into numbered
groups. They are paid small sum
per skin, but IL is in the form OF az.
order on the store of the North Amerr
can Commercial company. Some years
the company declares, taey have pad
ont TO the natives as much AZ $lo.ouU
According to government reports
the balance of the year Is spent most
Nv I'm sleep. except the 200 whole das i
given over 10 the celebration of some
saints dav These events are OO'
served with the utmost care and the
church forms are followed closely. fhe
rove rnmeut ALLOW only one pair oil
dress shoes "A year 10 native. the
women ara permitted only one goCI
dress Ginghams. calicoes. muslina
and similar inexbcnsiye goods are PEI
nitted TO be issued TO the natives ~
the stores In reasonable quantitios
This regulation IL To- prevent eXtravs
ganoe.
Intoxica,ion is prohibited. and the
government agents are authorized "a
Geport any offender Sometimes IL has
reen found necessary to limit the sale
&C. sugar and other articles entering
into the manufacture Of intoXicants
Tea drinking is the fad. II Is esti-
mated that each native drinks on an
average pf gallon Of tea a day u
luts some life into the people who
Lave deteriorated greatly through IN
termarriage.
Each native has been given certain
orantity of salmon and allowed -
seal puppies for food e.Uh yea wi,r-
ont expense. Bv some strth.c fredk
tie natives care nUthing fof seal az,
and prefer 20 use their credit a the
efOre for kerosene. over coo gallons
are used By them each year. They are