The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-15
325 INvOLUN AIRY
WARDS or STATES
At PRIBYLOF
Aleuts Are Housed, Clothed, Fed,
Educated. Have Medical Care
and in Fact, Everything but
Their Liberty.
Colony of SerYitors Has Been Main.
tanned in This Way for
Twenty Years.

WASHINGTON April 14.-Behiud
the recent urgent congressional rec
Ommendation OF President TAFT thai
the federal government ABANDON is
policy toward seal killing by NestinS
authority Ia the secretary or com
merce and labor TO deal with the quet-
ZION as ne deemed best, instead OF con
tinuing the present long term contrast,
lies concealed ths surprising fact that
for two decades past the government,
and unknowingly, has
been holding S25 native Aleutians, OF
both sexes and OF ali ages, in a form
nf Involuntary seVitude on the Priby-
lof islands in order that IT might faith
fully execute Is part OF the 20-year
contract entered into with the North
Anne rican Commercial company
The discovery was made recently b%
Charles Nagel. secretary OF commerce
and labor. and in the interests OF the
natives, who have been we'll cared for
and appear contented and for the fur
the. purpose OF conserving the seal
industry, the executive appeal 10 con-
gress is being effectively answered.
Within a few weeks IL is believed that
these strange wards OF the nation VIII
be granted the right to q liberty which
they have never known since they or
their ancestors went onto st. George
and St. Paul islands 20 years ago ul,-
der the favorable inducements which
they were offered for their help in
killing ana skinning seals.
There ere schools and churches ON
the islands, and teachers have been
provided with some care and ply
eicians are there 10 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 aud aged have been cared FOR
the same as the young and able-bodied,
and the sldggard has not been without
the ministering care of Uncle Sam;
but the necessity that required espioE'
age to prevent inc smuggling of valu
able skins. and the rapid defamation Of
the seals brought about the establish
ment of a COLONY the like or which
might never again be paralleled on the
face of the globe.
over ii native chiefs ruled, but their
powers were purely nominal, for the
federal agents who were required upon
tho islands at all times, and the com
pany agents and representatives con
stituted the real governing body, with
such assistance AZ was required from
time TO time froil the Washington al
thorities.
There is no question of the care
exercised by the federal government 10
protect the natives from harm, eXtor'
ton and misrulo 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 TO furnish
The schools teachers, houses, churches,
physicians. medicines and medical sup
plies as well as fuel, and 10 keep IN
stock at their stores such necessities
as the natives might require. for there
are no neighbors dropping in, nor
are any of the natives permitted 90
leave the Islands except upon special
authorization from the Washington au
thorities. Only the government ana
commercial agents and a representa-
tive OF the Russian church are adj
mitted. but II was made clear from the
very inception OF the contract that
even the spiritual adviser would be lie
MED such rights where 1t was shown
that they were attempted by improper
persons.
II was IN pursuance Of departmental
instructions that the federal agents
were required 10 examine all goods
shgpped out of the islands, including
baggage Jnd personal effects. as well
as 10 inspect all casks, barrels and
boxes about the native houses, in or
der to prevent any possibility OF con
cealment or smuggling Of sealskins or
f0xskins
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 na