El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-27

rotary to the secretary Of the interior
After the examination, at which she al
IegeS she received this postscript from
the hand Of Mr.. Brown, she prepared
an elaborate article on the subject Of
this order and Controller bay, which
she submitted to Mr.. Fisher, and which
she discussed with Mr.. Fisher at
length, but never IN the conversation
did she mention the existence of the
postscript Mr.. Brown. who was with
her at the time and showed her the
files, testifies that there was no such
postscript in the papers, and that he
never handed her and she never saw
such a postscript there. Similar evil
dence is given by Mr.. Carr and other
custodians Of the records in the inte-
rior department.
Postscript Malicious.
stronger evidence of the falsity and
ma1iciously slanderous chara cter of the
alleged postscript could not be had Its
only significance is the light it throws
On the bitterness and venom Of some of
those who take active part in every
discussion of Alaskan issues. The in
tensity Of their desire to besmirch all
who are officially connected with It's
administration, operates upon the
minds of weak or depraved human in
struments and prompts the fabrication
of such false testimony as this post
script / dislike to dwell upon this
feature OF the case, but 1t is so full Of
q lesson that ought to be taken to the
heart Of every patriotic citizen that
can not pass it over in silence.
when 1 made this order 1 was
aware that the condition of public
opinion in reference to investments in
Alaska, famed by charges of fraud
oE
hysterical and unjust or false character
would lead to an attack upon it and
to the questioning of my motives in
signing 1t. I remarked this when I
made the order, and 1 was not mis-
taken But a public officer, when he
conceives it his duty to take affirmative
action in the public interest, has no
more right to allow fear of unjust
criticism and attack to hinder him
from taking that action than he would
20 allow personal and dishonest motives
to affect him. 1t is easy In cases like
this to take the course which timidity
prompts, and to do nothing, but such a
course does not inure to the public
veal.
No Undue Privileges Granted.
'T am in full sympathy with the con-
Germ OF reasonable and patriotic men
that the valuable resources of Alaska
should not be turned ever to be ex-
plotted for the profit of greedy, alb
sorbing, monopolistic corporations or
syndicates. Whatever the attempts
which have been made no one, as a
matter of fact. has secured in Alaska
any undue privilege. or fanchise not
completely under the control Of con-
gress, and in all the scandal with
which the public has been RECALLED very
few specific instances of corrupt or i'm
proper attempts to acquire vested IN
terests in Alaska have been shown by
evidence that would stand the test OF
judicial examination. Notwithstanding
this. however, I am in full agreement
with the view that every care, both
in administration and in legislation
rupt or unfair acquisition Of undue
privilege, franchise, or right from the
government in that district. But ev-
cry one 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
reasonable opportunity is granted to
those who would invest their money to
secure a return proportionate to the
risk run in the Investment and reasona-
bic under all circumstances
'On the Otner hanQ, the acrfmOny or
spirit and the intense malice that have
been engendered in respect OF the adj
of the government in
Alaska and in the consideration of
measures proposed for her relief and
the wanton reck1essness and eagerness
with which attempts have been made to
besmirch the characters Of high officials
having TO do with the Alaskan govern
ment, and even of persons not in public
life, present a condition that calls for
condemnation and requires that the
public be warned of the Generalization
that has been produced by the hysteri-
cal suspicious Of good people and the
INSCRIPTIONS and corrupt misrepre-
sensations OF the wicked. The helpless
state to which the credulity Of some
and the malevolent scandal mongering
of others have brought the people Of
Alaska in their struggle for its de-
velopment, ought to give the public
pause, for until juster and fairer view
be taken investment in Alaska which
is necessary to its development, will
be impossible, and honest administra-
tors and Legislators will be deferred
from the advocacy and putting into
operation Of those policies in regard to
the territory which are necessary to
it's progress and prosperity"