The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-27

existed, or for the ViCt0usty false state
ment made as 20 It's authenticity; ~
communication. The purport OF the
alleged postscript 10. and the inten-
! ton of the fabricator was 10 make
It's words 70 tn. public that although
WAS at 1rst opposed In the public
interest 10 granting the elimination
which he requested, nevertneless
SrotSer' Mr. Charles p. raft. and the
disclosure OF the real persons In inter-
est Il WAS induced improperly and Tor
the promotion OF their private kaln. 10
make the order
brother Has NO Interest.
The statement insofar as my
brother is c9ncerned---and that IL the
I chief feature of the postscript-is Ut
I terly unfounded. He never wrote 10
me or spoke TO me In reference 70
Richard $ Ryan or on the subject ~
privileges or the making OF any orders
| In respect 20 Alaska. lie has no IN
terest ia Alaska, never had, and knows
with this transaction. lie does not re-
4 member that he ever met Richard ,.
/ Ryan. lie never heard OF the Con-
troller Bay railroad until my cable
with his answer, IL In the record.
| Mr. BallinRer says in a telegram 20
my inquiry. both OF which are In the
record CRecord Exhibit - that he
tnat he was in Seattle on the date OF
July Ii. when II was said 70 nave
been written.
Mr.. Richard S. Ryan, in a letter
which he has sent me without solici,
tatior. and which 10 In the record
| tRecord Exhibit y, says that he never
met my brother. Mr. Charles r9.'
and that SO far as he knows. hr,
interest in Controller bay, In the Con-
troller Railway h Navigation Co. or In
| any Alaskan company, and ne utterly
| denies writing or signing the alleged
postso ript The utter improbability or
Ills writing such postscript 10 MI.
Ballinger at Washington. when the
latter was away for his vacation Tor
1 two months. must impress everyone.
The fact Is that Mr.. Ballinger never
saw the letter OF July IL, 1910. to which
this postscript IL said TO have pesn
attached 1t was sent TO me by Mr..
carr. Secretary Ballingef's secretary.
at Beverly, on July 1.-THE next day,
1 read the letter at Beverly In August
with other papers and sent them 10 the
White House. IL was placed upon the
White House files and remained there
until April p. 1911. when II was, by
request OF Secretary Fisher, for use In
connection with his answer TO SEN
ate inquiry. returned to the interior
department.. and II was after this that
/ the correspondent 10 said TO have seen
the letter with the postscript attached.
Mr. Carr saw no such postscript when
n when read il. No one saw it in
the executive office, but II remained
to appear as postscript when II IL
said that the correspondent saw the
letter In April or May on the hles OF
the interior department. All others
| were denied the sight.
! The person upon whose statement the
existence of what has been properly
characterized as an amazing postscript
/ Is based, Is a writer for newspapers
and magazines. who was given permls-
sion by secretary Fisher. after consult
in respect to/the Controller bay mat
Iter-and this under the supervision OF
| Mr.. Brown. then private secretary to
the secretary OF the Interior. After
this postscript was received from the
I hand OF Mr.. Brown, the correspondent
prepared an elaborate article on the
subject OF this order and Controller
bay, which was submitted TO Mr..
Fisher. and which was discussed with
AR. Fisher at length, but never In the
conversation between them or in the
article submitted did the correspon-
dent mention the existence of the post
script. Mr., Brown states that there
was no such postscript In the papers
when he showed them TO the corre-
spondent and that he never saw such
by Mr.. Carr and other custodtans OF
1.-THE records In the interior department:
Stronger evidence of the falsity and
lmaliciously slanderous character OF the
alleged postscript could not be had.
It's only Significance IL the light IL
| throws on the bitterness and venom or
some OF those who take active part In
every discussion OF Alaskan issues. the
1 intensity OF their desire to besmfrch
all who invest in that district and all
who are officially connected with III
| administration. operates upon the
minds OF weak human instruments and
/ prompts the fabrication OF such false
testimony as this postscript. 1 dislike
/ 20 dwell upon this feature OF the case,
| but IL IL so full of a lesson that ought
\ 10 be taken TO the heart of every
patriotic citizen that / can not pass II
| over In silence.
When 1 made this order, I was aware
that the condition of public opinion In
| reference TO investments I'm Alaska,
| famed by charges OF fraud-some well
1 founded and others of an hystericai and
I unjust or false claracter=Mould lead
| 20 an attack upon IL and TO the ques-
| tioning of my motives In signing It,
remarked this when l made the order.
/ and I was not mistaken. But a public
officer. when he conceives II his duty
Il 10 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
dishonest motives to AFFECT him, 1t IL
easy In cases like this 20 take the
course which timidity prompts. and 70
do nothing, but such course does
not inure TO the public veal.
No Undue Privilege.
am In full sympathy with the con
| Germ OF reasonable and patriotic men
/ that the valuable resources OF Alaska
| should not be turned over TO be ex-
plotted for the profit OF greedy. absorb
Ing. and monopolistic corporations OF
| syndicates. Whatever the attempts
| which have been made. no one. as a
matter OF fact. has secured In Alaska
any undue privilege or franchise not
1 gress. am In full agreement win
l the view that every care. both In ad-
| Tninistration and, In Legislation, must
be observed to prevent the corrupt or
unfair acquisition OF undue privilege
l franchise, or right from the govern
ment In that district. But everyone
must know that the resources OF
| Alaska can never become available
either TO the people of Alaska or 20
ths public OF the United States unless
4 reasonable opportunity IL granted ~
those who would invest their money
i 10 secure a return proportionate TO the
risk run In the Investment and reason
ahle under all the circumst ances
| on the other hand, the acrimony OF
/ spirit and the intense malice that have
i haan engendersd In respect OF the adj
ADMINISTRATION Of the government In Al
aska and in the consideration OF meas
ures proposed for her relief and the
| wanton recklessness and eagerness
with which attempts have been made
Ito besmirch the characters OF high Of
| aciala having TO do with the Alaskan
government, and even OF persons not
4 In public life, present a condition that
calls for condemnation and requires
that the public be warned OF the de-
I,hn hyatarlcaI auapicfOna OF good DRO-