The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-27

Its only significance is the light IL
throws on the bitterness and venom
OF some or those who take active part
In every discussion Of Alaskan issues.
The Intensity Of their desire to be-
smirch all who invest In that district.
ana all who are officially connected
with It's administration, operates upon
the minds Of weak or depraved human
instruments and prompts the fabrica-
ton OF such false testimony as this
postscript. dislike to dwell upon
this feature Of the case, but Il is so
full OF lesson that ought to be taken
10 the heart OF every patriotic citizen
that can not pass IL over in silence.
When / made this order / was
aware that the condition Of public
opinion In reference to Investments
In Alaska, famed by charges of fraud
some well founded and others OF an
historical and unjust or false char
acter--would lead TO an attack upon
II and TO the questioning OF my mo-
tiyes in signing 1t. / remarked this
when 1 made the order, and I was
not mistaken. But a public officer.
when he conceives 1t his duty to take
affirmative action in the public In
terest, has no more right to allow fear
OF unjust criticism and attack to him
der him from taking that action than
ne would to allow personal and dis
honest motives to affect him. II fs
easy in cases like this to take the
course which timidity prompts, and to
DO nothing, but such a course does
not inure TO the public veal.
Against Monopoly.
Il am in full sympathy with the
concern Of reasonable and patriotio
men that the valuable resources az
Alaska should not be turned over "a
be exploited for the profit OF greedy.
absorbing, monopolistic CORPORATIONS
or syndicates. Whatever the attemnts
which have been made. no one. as
matter Of fact. has secured In Alasla
any undue privilege or franchise mot
completely under the control or CON.
gress, and in all the scandat with
which the public has been reTaIed very
few specific instances of corrupt or
improper attempts to acquire vested
interests in Alaska have been shown
by evidence that would stand the fest
OF judicial examination. Notwfth-
standing this. however, / am In f,,Il
agreement with the view that every
care, both in administration and III
legislation, must be observed to pre-
vent the corrupt or unfair acauisition
on undue privilege, franchise, or right
from the government I'm that digtrict
But every one must know that the re-
sources or Aiask-, can never become
available either to the people of Alas
ka or TO the public of the United
States unless reasonable opportunity
Is granted to those who would invest
their money to secure a return pro-
portionate to the risk run in the In
vestment and reasonable under ali tha
circumstances.
'On the other hand. the acrimonv az
spirit and the intense malice that have
been engendered I'm respect of the ad-
ministration Of the government in
Alaska and In the consideration ~
measures proposed for her relief and
the Wanton recklessness and eager
ness with which attempts have made
TO besmirch the characters of high o.
ficiais having TO do with the Alaskan
government, and even OF persons nor
IN public life, present condition that
calls for condemnation and requires
that the public be warned of the de-
mOralization that has been produced
ey the hysterica1 suspicious of good
people and the unscrupulous and cor
rupt Misrepresentation Of the wicked.
The helpless state to which the cred
ulity Of some and the maIevolent
scandal-mongering OF others have
brought the people OF Alaska In their
struggle for its development. ought to
give the public pause, Tor until d
suster and fairer view be taken In
vestment In Alaska. which Is neces-
sary to its development. will be I'M
possible. ana honest administrator
and legislators will be deferred from
tho advocacy and putting into opera
ton of those policies til regard 10 the
territory which are necessary a -
sxograas ans nrosperitps