The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-07-27

that he never received such post
script and that he was in Seattle on
the date of July 10, when 1t was said
to have been written. .
Mr.. Richard S. Ryan. in letter
which he has sent me without solicita'
ton, and which is in the record (Rec-
ord Exhibit--). says that he never met
my brother, Mr.. Charles P. Taft, and
that so far as he knows. Mr.. Charles
P. Taft never had the slightest inter-
est in Controller Bay, in the Controll-
er Railway and Navigation company,
or in any Alaskan company, and he
utterly denies writing or signing the
alleged postscript. The utter improb-
ability of his writing Such~a postscript
to Mr.. Ballinger at Washington, when
the latter was away for his vacation
for two months, must impress every
one.
Places the Blame.
The person upon whose statement
the existence of what has been proper
ly characterized as an amazing post
script is based is a writer for newspa-
pers and magazines, who was given
permission by Secretary Fisher, after
consulting with me, to examine all the
files in respect to the Controller Bay
matter-and this under the supervision
of Mr. Brown, then private secretary
of the secretary Of the interior. (Rec-
ord, Exhibit } After the eXamina-
ton, at which it is alleged this post.
script was received from the hand OF
Mr. Brown. the correspondent pre-
pared an elaborate article on the SUBJ
ject of this order and Controller Bay.
which was submitted to Mr.. Fisher,
and which was discussed with Mr..
Fisher at length, but never in the con-
versation between them or in the arti.
Gle submitted did the correspondent
mention the existence of the post
script Mr.. Brown states that there
was no such postscript in the papers
when he showed them to the CORE
sponodent and that he never saw such
postscript. Similar evidence Is
given by Mr.. Carr and other custodians
of the records in the interior depart
ment (Record, Exhibit y
Stronger evidence of the falsity and
maliciously slanderous character of the
alleged postscript could not be had.
Its only significance is, the light 1t
throws on the bitterness and venom OF
some of those who take active part i'm
every discussion of Alaskan issues. The
intensity of their desire to besmirch
all who invest in that district, and all
who are officially connected with it's
administration, operates upon the
minds of weak human instruments and
prompts the fabrication of such false
testimony as this postscript ! dislike
to dwell upon this feature Of the case.
but it is so full of a lesson that ought
to be taken to the heart Of every pa
triotic citizen that | cannot pass it
over in silence.
am in full sympathy with the con-
Germ of reasonable and patriotic men
that the valuable resources of Alaska
should not be turned over to be eX.
plotted for the profit of greedy absorb
ing and monopolistiC corporations or
syndicates. Whatever the attempts
which have been made, no one, as a
any undue privilege or franchise not
completely under the control of con-
gress am in full agreement with the
view that every care, both in admin
istration and in legislation, must be
observed to prevent the corrupt or I'M
fair acquisition of undue privilege,
franchise, or right from the govern
in, hat LET inf pttf
must know that the resources of
Alaska can never become available
either to the people of Alaska or to the
public of the United States unless rea-
sonable opportunity is granted to those
who would invest their money to Sc
cure a return proportionate to the risk
run in the investment and reasonable
under all circumstances.
Facts Made Plain.
On the other hand, the acrimony OF
spirit and the intense malice that have
been engendered in respect of the adj
Alaska and in the consideration Of
measures proposed for her relief and
the wanton recklessness and eagerness
with which attempts have been made
to besmirch the characters of high Of
ficials having to do with the Alaskan
government, and even of persons not
in public life, present a condition that
calls for condemnation and requires
that the public be warned OF the de.
moralzation that has been produced
by the hysterical suspicious of good
people and the INSCRIPTIONS and cor
rupt misrepresentation of the wicked.
The helpless state to which the credul-
ity of some and the malevolent scam
dalmongering of others have brought
the people of Alaska in their struggle
for its development ought to give the
public pause, for until juster and fair
er view be taken, investment in
Alaska, which is necessary to its de-
velopment, will be impossible, and hon.
est administrators and legislators will
be embarrassed in the advocacy and
putting into operation of those policies
In regard to the territory which are
necessary to its progress and pros.
perity. WILLIAM I'll. TAFT.
The White House. July 20, 1911.