Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-04-28
MAY INVOLVE THE PRESIDENT.


What promises to be the most sensational
chapter of the long story of the Gugeen-
helm operations in Alaska, involving Presi-
dent Taft and further blackening the Bal
lenger record, was opened Friday in the
Senate, when Senator La Toilette, of Wis
consin, introduced resolution which the
Senate adopted without a dissenting voice.
The resolution calls upon the Secretary of
the Interior to furnish all the facts con-
nected with coal entries made upon lands
withdrawn from the Chugach national forest
reserve in Alaska and later restored to the
public domain under order of President
Taft and for detailed information as to
what assignments, If any, have been made
of such claims and to whom.
Back of this resolution, it is believed, is
determination to attack Mr.. Taft directly
upon the ground of favoritism to the
Gugeenheim interests, charging that he
practically conferred upon them privileges,
through the executive order of October 20,
which enable them to dominate and con-
troll the great coal fields of Alaska through
their control of the transportation facilities
and the outlets.
The executive order withdrew from the
Chugach national forest in Alaska IL, 800
acres Of land, which forms the tidewater
front of Controller Bay. This order, it is
contended. opened up to the public domain
these tidal lands and they have now been
secured by the Guggenheims through trans
portation companies which they control.
Without this land, it is averred, the Gue-
9enheims could not maintain the domina-
ton in Alaska which they desire With it
they are given complete control of the
transportation facilities and own the only
outlet for the coal from the big Alaska
fields.
1t is understood that Senator La Toilette
has in his possession evidence that tends
to show conclusively that prior to October
20. when the executive order by Mr. Taft
was issued, powerful lobby was at work
in the interests of the Guggenheims to
secure this order; that the Guegenheims
knew the order was forthcoming, and that
Immediately the land was withdrawn the
Guggenheims, through agents, filed on it,
No publicity was given the order at the
time and no one appears to have realized
its significance
Delegate James Wickersham, of Alaska
who has been consistent opponent of the
Gueeenheim interests since he has been
in Congress, was the first to throw light
upon what the order really means. Under
it, those who have fought Mr.. BallingeI
and who believed him to have been put in
the Cabinet as Guegenheim representa-.
tive are convinced the Guggenheim inter.
ests have come into control Of the tida
lands absolutely essential TO their plans Of
dominating Alaska.
Senator La Toilette. when he presented
his resolution. asked for immediate consid.
Grafton. There was no objection.
When the data is forthcoming from the
new Secretary Of the interior, Walter /
Fisher. Mr.. La Toilette, it is understood
will address the Senate on the question
and those who have studied the situation
expect some startling revelations
II is charged that R. S. Ryan, Of Alaska
had been in Washington for months prio
to the issuance Of the order withdrawing
from the national forest the lands in ques-
ton and that helabored hard to secure the
withdrawal. Delegate Wickersham doe.
not know exactly what interests Mr.. Ryar
represented at Washington. but expressed
himself as believing there is an intimate
connection between companies in which
Ryan is factor and those in which
the Gugeenheims control. At the Office o.
the Forest Service il is said Ryan professeC
to represent Pittsburg and Cincinnati cap
italists