The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-20
FORMER MICHIGAN Man
MAKES STRONG PLEA FOR
RED MEN OF ALASKA
Bishop Rowe, Formerly of Sault
Ste. Marie, Pays Visit to
President Taft.
INDIANS ARE VANISHING.
Saws Reservations Should BE
Established in the North 10
Improve Their Condition.

WASHlN9lOVN, DoC. AV' w
Alaska two years ago, CONGRESSMAN
Wedemeyer met Bishop Peter I. Rowe
i'm charge OF the Alaskan district ior
the Episcopal church, The clergyman
lived at Sault Ste Marie before ne
went TO Alaska 16 years ago.
Congressman Wedemeyer has re-
ceived many letters from the Dlsnop
bearing OH the Alaskan situation.
In letter written to Mr.. Wedemey'
er, since the congressman became
member of the house committee on
territories, the bishop detailed MS
last winters trip into the interior Oh
Alaska. He wrote especially OF the
Indians of that territory. Among
other things, he said:
ION this trip found the natives In
such a deplorable condition physically,
etc, that made up my mind to 60 10
Washington in December, ana pieao
with the president and congress Ior
some remedial help"
True to his promise, bishop Rowe
has come to Washington to plead the
cause of the red men.
The following statement was pre-
sented to the president by him:
while travelling through Alaska
last winter, on my missionary work, l
found the natives everywhere In such
conditions of disease, want and mis-
cry, that / there and then resolved to
come to Washington and plead with
you for some remedial help on their
behalf. Their condition Is most pitt
able. AS wards of our government,
they must be protected.
Diseases are largely prevalent.
The governor OF Alaska in his report
of 1910, says: The existence OF In
fectious diseases, alarming In their ma
ture and wide prevalence among the
native people, calls for vigorous ac-
ton. The menace OF Infection ex-
tends to the white population. Thirty
six per cent are infected by tubercu-
losis. Cases strongly suspected to be
leprous were also discovered
I'm the reports on education in
Alaska, Of 1910 and 1911, published by
the bureau of education, attention Is
drawn to this distressing and serious
situation. Officers and surgeons OF
the revenue cutter service bear simi-
lar testimony.
The resources OF their food supply
are being taken by white men, canning
companies, etc, so that actual want Is
very common among them.
Liquor peddling among the natives
prevails, in spite of the law against
IL to their Decentralization and de-
bauchery. Prosecution seems utterly
ineffective to check the evil.
Reservations should be immediate
ly made. Before all available land and
streams are occupied by the white
settlers and fish canning companies,
reservations should be made for the
natives. This can be done now with
out expense. II will have to be done
some time, but IL deferred, II Will
mean much difficulty and expense.
They can be better, more economic
ally cared for One good school in
each reservation will suffice where
now six or more schools are carried
on to an attendance fearfully small.
It can be made more useful than as
conducted now. AS II is, how can
children who are diseased, poor and
hungry, avail themselves OF the
schools as at present provided? Then
they can be ministered to in medical
way that will be satisfactory and that
is not possible now. They can be
trained in self-government, and under
wise supervision will be able to sup.
port themselves entirely"
In an address at st. Johns Episco
pal church, Bishop Rowe said:
The president showed great inter
est. We need his help. We need con-
gressional action. Dreadful conditions
exist among the natives. There are
about 10000 of them. including both
Indians and Esquimaux They are
dying off very rapidly. Their hunting
grounds are overrun, and they are
driven to extremes TO exc out liveli-
hood, taking their families with them
over the snow"
Bishop Rowe is strong advocate
Of liberal policy that will attract
the investment of capital. for he feels
that such investment is absolutely
necessary to the proper development
OF Alaska. On the other hand, he in
no wise advocates that the govern.
ment shall yield its control and own.
ership. but feels that II should receive
a reasonable royalty from the develop.
ment OF all its vast Alaskan resources,
which II has not always gotten in the
past, especially by way OF example
from the fisheries. which should yield
great returns to the government.
SCOTT.