Douglas Island news., 1911-10-25
AIaska's Fight is Old One.

As early as 1877 the fight for recogni- tion of the people of Alaska started in Congress, and the fight which is now being waged by the people of the Northern territory is but contin. uance of the old, old struggle. Some thing like 34 years ago the attention of Congress was called to the need of granting the residents of Alaska the right to rule themselves, it being rec oguized as early as 1877 that the terri aitory was going to become one of the most valued possessions of the United States.
 Even in that day the Alaskans con- tended that their lack of representa- tion aud the refusal of Congress to grant them their wants was due to powerful influences, the concern hav- ing the fur seal monopoly. While this concern does not at the present time hold the same power as it did in those days, the same principle underlays the refusal of the Federal government to recognize the needs end demands of the people of Alaska. The pioneers of the North have had not only the ele. ments to contend with in their strug ole to make small nation out of Alaska, but from the time of the pur chase of the territory they have been opposed by powerful influences, selfish interests, and ignorance on the part of the nations lawmakers regarding the actual conditions of the vast territory of A}aska.
 One of the most powerful friends that Alaska had in the early days was Major William Gouvorn eur Morris. special agent of the treasury depart ment, who spent two years in the North studying the needs and wants of the territory. h the archives at Wash ington is to be found letter to Con- 1 gress sent by Major Morris under date of Novemb Der 9, 1877. A. N. Brown, formerly of Tacoma, has sent extracts of this letter toIhis city. Major Nor. ris says, in part, in his report of 1877:
 "Alaska of the present, as she now stands, utterIy desolate and all forlorn, unprotected in the extremiest sense of the word, is weeping as the doors of | Congress and begging that her citizens may be permitted to enjoy the bless ings of freedom, and be protected in their lives, liberty and pursoi of hap pineSs
 "There has hardly been a writer upon Alaska who has rot suggested some peculiar form of government. save MT. Elliott, who stoutly contests for none whatever l had the honor, in 1876, to present some reflections to Mr. Secretory Bristow upon this sub- ject
 "Siuce that report was written, when the military were in possession of the territory, have had occasion to ma terially change my views. As matters at that time and from that standpoint were related to me, think the position then assumed to be correct; but the country has very much changed since ther. population has largely increased, mines have been discovered and open ed, the fsbiug interests, tim Der and agricultural resources have become vastly more prominent, everything de- notes a speedy settlement of the country, and the era has approached when repu blican form of govern menU for the territory cannot, either with safety or propriety, be longer postponed
 "The prevalent opinion in South eastern Alaska, and throughout the country generally, seems to be that this company (the concern in control of the fur seal monopoly are directly responsible for everything that occurs | in the territory, and that it is owing to their influence and opposition that ! Congress has hitherto failed to legis- late for it and provide some form of government, territorial or otherwise"
 Major Morris points out that there are no facts to bear out this belief and says that he is loath to believe that the corporation is fighting the people of Alaska. He lays the long negli gence at the doors of Congress, charg- ing it to sheer carelessness, and says: