The Detroit times., 1911-08-21
.LAEOLLETTE URGES
FEDERAL CONTROL
IN ALASKA
Senator Advises Government Owner
ship Of ALI Mineral Resources and
Public Utilities In the North
ern Country.
Board Of Works Should Be Created
To Handle All Facilities and De-
liver Products To Pacific Coast.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.-Immedi
ate development OF the vast minera
resources OF Alaska through govern
ment ownership OF railroads, ships
and public utilities, ETC.. and the &C
tual mining OF Alaskan coal by the
government, all to be administered
through board of public works for
the benefit OF the people, was the
broad plan outlined in a remarkable
speech In the senate today by Senator
Robert M. IaFollette. (Rep., Wis.,.
Every day makes It more evident
that the American people are waging
a losing fight In Alaska" the Wiscon.
sin progressive asserted. "On the
one hand are the $4,000 pioneers who
are risking their lives and fortunes In
the exploration and prospecting of It's
undiscovered resources. On the other
hand are the millions of American
people to whom this great storehouse
OF natural resources belong. Between
them Is the enormous power OF the
greatest concentration VI capital that
the world has ever known.
Whatever evidence or lack OF evi-
dence there may be as TO the present
Intentions and maneuvers of corpor-
ate power In Alaska, our. experience
with the same forces nearer home
teaches us that monopoly under these
same conditions Is inevitable.
Anyone must see that the founda-
tions are being laid In Wall-st. for the
upbuilding of monopoly In Alaska
30 hak fnA La h.
thracite coal fields of Pennsylvania
Control Transportation.
THE key to the whole situation Is
the control of the means of transpor-
tation. The tremendous power Of
freight discrimination first showed It.
self In the Pennsylvania anthracite
fields forty years ago, when It was
employed ultimately to force the sale
of 95 per cent OF all Of the individual
owned coal lands to railroads owning
and operating the only lines over
which the codi could be transported
to the market. These coal roads dis
criminated In rates, refused cars to
shippers and harassed and oppressed
individual owners until they were
compelled to sell on such terms as
the railroads cared to offer. A sub
servient Legislature nullified constitu-
ton prohibitions by passing laws
which prevented the state securing
titles to these lands and this same
power was used 20 defeat the struggle
OF labor, organized against oppression,
to secure fair wages.
When we have before us the his
tory Of this anthracite struggle. now
consummated I'm the complete control
Of Pierpont Morgan against the
whole American people, can we expect
any different result. II we permit the
Morgan-G -Guggenbeim to get control OF
Alaska? The power will lie In their
control of the docks. wharves, noun
tain passes and the limited outlet to
the markets.
LaFollette asserted that the gov
eminent should regard itself as a
board Of directors pledged to the
proper care and Development of
property in which the American peo-
pie were stockholders.
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
Alaska should at once be acquired by
the government.
v. 8. Should Own Mine.
"The government should own and
operate at least one great coal mine,
TO supply it's naval and military needs
and to sell the surplus at reason
able profit, as a check against extor-
ton by private corporations develop
ing other mines.
The sensible and practical thing TO
do Is to create q board Of public works
for Alaska, similar to the Isthmian
canal commission. This board should
then undertake, not merely to build a
railroad from Controller bay to the
coal fields, but should now acquire all
of the railroads In Alaska and settle
at once the policy OF government own.
ership. II should similarly provide
for the development OF other public
utilities, such as the telegraph and
II should operate and de-
velop the wharves, docks and steam
ship lines, IL necessary to deliver the
products Of Alaska to the PACING
:.
coast"
THE problem then remaining is
how to administer this great estate.
The example OF Panama points the
way. Congress Of course, cannot deal
with this subject In all Of It's details
nor assume the management OF the
of our resources In Alas
ka. The same reasons which prevent
congress from undertaking supervi-
sion, apply practically with equal force
to the president, the interior depart
ment and the Interstate commerce
The people OF the United States do
not demand an Immediate return on
their investment. They can them
selves supply all necessary money at
an interest charge of less than three
per cent. Rates for transportation
and for other public utilities may
properly be low, with the capital cost
as small as II would be TO the peo-
pie. It would forever remove the ir-
resistible temptations Of discrimina-
ton, rebates and corruption. which
have characterized the worst period
OF our railroad operation"
LaFollette declared that the Ameri.
can people could afford TO make but a
small profit on this investment, and
(Centinued orNpaee sevon-l