The Alaska citizen., 1910-10-03
THAT SOUVENIR.

"A few of the members of the 1 Panama Club subscribed the s1 900 necessary to purchase the handsome souvenir From the News-Miner of August 13
 They have 45 names on the list of subscribers and wish to secure
 F more at $10 each to make up the purchase price,
 On the tusk itself will be en-
 graved the words: 'To President
 William H. Taft, from the citizens l of Fairbanks and the Panama val
 ley, in appreciation of friendly in terest in Alaskan affairs" From the
 News-Miner of September 2S.
 The first item quoted above ap- peared in the News-Miner the day 1 Attorney-General Wickersham and
 Secretary Nagel left. It is altogether reasonable to suppose that the Cabi- net ministers received the impression that the Panama Club was the donor and that at the time the club re- ceived full credit for the gift. In view of that fact it would ap- pear to an observer, from the second Miner. that the club was trying 10 renige. and now that it has receiv- ed full credit for it's generosity, is trying to make outsiders foot the bill But it may be. of course, that this 1 is as easily eXplainable as was the other little affair that is brought to mind by this episode. We refer to the time when Messrs Chilberg and Nadeau were entertained by the club, in 1906, and the city later call ed on to pay the bill for the wine consumed at the club banquet.
 But it is not this phase of the matter that the Citizen objects to in any way seriously. No one in par ticular will be harmed by it. and it will perhaps be boost for the clubs pI tStlSt u lS lO lIIt lol III Ol llIS inscription that it takes exception, and it does this in the firm belief that the sentiment expressed there in is traitorOus to the interests of Alaskans.
 An indorsement of this inscription is exactly equivalent to an indorse- ment of the Beveridge bill, and We are firmly convinced that number of the subscribers to the fund had no such intention. With all due deference to William H. Taft, as president of the United States, the Citizen can state that the majority of the people of Alaska have recent ly demonstrated that they are not anxious for a continuance of his so-called friendly interest" So far gard to Alaska he has to his credit two unfulfilled promises to visit the country, and his efforts to foist on it the Beveridge bill His first message made no reference to the country and his last shocked Northerners with it's almost insulting statements regarding the necessity of the ap pointment of bureau to govern the territory
 If the inscription indicated that the gift was from the Panama club, no one would object to the senti- ment, for that institution would have the right to say what it want ed without it being anybody's busi- ness; but if it is to be stated that the gift is from the citizens of the Panama there should be an inscrip- tion on it which would tell the truth. No two or three self-serving politicians have the right to put the rest of the community on record as voicing a sentiment it does not indorse. The inscription would be entirely proper if it simply stat ed that the gift was to President Taft from the citizens of the val ley, leaving MT. Taft to infer that it was sent as a mark of respect to his high office. To indorse his Friendly interest in Alaskan af fairs" or, at least such of it as he has so often indicated, is something which 75 per cent. of the commun- ity would draw the line at.