The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-21
SENATOR ROBERT M. LA tuL.
LETTIN SENATE TODAY MADE
a STRONG PLEA FOR UNFOLD
ING OF ALAskA's WEALTH.
GREAT PLANS ARE OUTLINED
WOULD HAVE THE NECESSARY
PLANTS AND PERTAINING
THERETO UNDER GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL.
[By united Press.l

WASHINGTON. Aug, 21.-1mmedi
ate Development Of the vast mineral
resources Of Alasks through govern
ment ownership Of railroads, ships
and public utilities, wharyes, docks,
etc. and the actual Mining Of Alaskan
coal by the government all to be ad.
minlstered through a board of public
works for the benefit Of the people,
was the broad plan outlined in a re-
markable speech in. the Senate to-day
by Senator Robert NJ. LaFollette, Re.
publican, Of Wisconsin.
Every day makes 1t more evident
that the American people are waging
losing fight in Alaska, the wiscon.
sin progressive asserted. "on the one
hand are the thlrty.fye thousand
pioners who are risklng their lives
and fortunes in the exploration and
prospecting Of its undiscovered re.
sources. On the other hand are the
millions Of American people to whom
this great store house Of natural re.
sources belong. Between them is the
enormous power Of the greatest con.
eentradoi Of capital that the worsq
las ever Known : Il
ANY one must see that the foundas
tions are being laid in Wall street, for
the upbulldlng of a monopoly in Alas
ka equal to that which controls the
anthracite coal fields OF Pennsylvania.
when we have before US the his
tory of this anthracite struggle now
consummated in the complete control
of Plerpont Morgan against the whole
American people, can we expect any
different result, If we permit the Nor.
gan-Guggenhelms to get control OF
Alaska? The power will lie in their
control of the docks. wharyes, noun:
tain passes and the limited outlet to
the markets"
LaFollette asserted that the govern
ment should regard itself as a board
of directors pledged to the proper caro-
and development OF property in
which the American people were
stcckholders,
'The first step" he continued.
Should be the creation Of proper
transportation facilities. The govern
ment should own and build these
transportation facilities. The wharves,
docks, railroads and terminals in Alas,
ka should at once be acquired by the
government"
"The government should own and
operate at least one great coal mine,
to supply its naval and military needs
and to sell the surplus at reasonable
profit, as ac heck against extortion by
private corporations developing other
mines,
THE sensible and practical thing
to do is to create a board of public
works for Alaska, similar to the 18th.
mlan canal commission. This board
should then undertake, not merely to
build a railroad from Controller Bay
10 the coal fields, but should now ac-
luire all OF the railroads in Alaska
and settle at once the policy Of gov
ownership. 1t should SINH
arly provide for the development of
other public utilities, such as the
and telephone.
at should operate and develop the D
aharves, docks and steamship ines,
I necessary, TO deliver the products
II Alaska to the Pacific coast"
LaFoilette declared that the Amerl.
IAN people could atford to. make but
i small profit on this investment, and
his small profit would cheapen the
PRODUCTS. He said the products were
low high, and would be high with the
dorgan,G ,Guggehheims in control and
((Contllued on pags elght.l