Putnam patriot., 1911-08-04

wren | relN H. NO one saw lI m tne executive office. but it remained to ap- pear as a postscript when 1t is said that the correspondent saw the letter in April or May on the files of the in teriur department All others were de nied the sight
 The person on whose statement the existence of what has been properly characterized as an amazing post script is based is writer for news papers and magazines. who was given permission hy Secretary Fisher. after consultation with me. to examine all the files in respect to the Controller bay matter. and this under the super vision of Mir Brown. then private sec retary to the secretary of the interior After the examination. at which it is alleged this postscript was received from the hand of Mir. Brown. the cor respondent prepared an elaborate arti- cle on the subject of this order and Controller bay, which was submitted to Mir Fisher and which was discuss cd with Nr Fisher at length. but nev- CT in the conversation between them or in the article submitted did the cor respondent mention the existence of the postscript. MT Brown states that there was no such postscript in the papers when he showed them to the correspondent and that he never saw such postscript Similar evidence is given by Mir Carr and other custo- dians of the records in the interior de partment.
 Stronger evidence of the falsity and malieiouSly slanderous character of the alleged postscript could not be had Its only significance is the light
 t throws on the bitterness and venom If some of these who take active part in every discussion of Alaskan issues. The intehSity of their desire to be smireh all who invest in that district and all who are officially connected with its administration operates upon the minds of weak human instru- ments and prompts the fabrication of such false testimony as ehiS post script dislike te dwell upon this feature of the case. but 1t Is so full of lesson that ought to be taken to the heart of every patriotic citizen that cannot pass it over tn silence,
 When I made this order was aware that the condition of public opinion In reference to investments in Alaska. famed by charges of fraud. some well founded and others of an hySterieal and unjust ar false character. would lead to an attack upon il and 10 the questioning of my motives in signing 1t. | remarked this when I made the order. and was not mistaken. But public officer when he conceives it his duty to take affirmative action in the public interest has no more right to all low fear of unjust criticism and attack to hinder him from taking that action that he would to allow personal and dishonest motives to affect him. It Is easy in cases like this 10 take the course which timidity prompts and to do nothing. but such d course does not inure to the public veal.
 am in full sympathy with the con- cern of reasonable and patriotic men that the valuable resources of Alaska should not be turned over to be exploit ed for the profit of greedy, absorbing and monopoistic corporations or syn dicates. Whatever the attempts which have been made. no one, as matter of fact, has secured in Alaska any un- due privilege or franchise not com pletely under the control of congress. 1 am in full agreement with the view that every care. both in administra ,ion and in legislation. must be observed to prevent the corrupt or unfair acquisi- tion of undue privilege. franchise or right from the government in that dis trict. But every one must know that the resources of Alaska can never be- come 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 return propor- donate to the risk run in the invest ment and reasonable under all the cir cumstanees.
 On the other hand. the acrimony of spirit and the intense malice that have been engendered in respect of the ad- ministration of the government in Alaska and in the consideration of measures proposed for her relief and the wanton recklessness and eager ness with which attempts have been made to besmirch the characters Of high officials having to do with the Alaskan government and even of per sons not in public life present q con dition that calls for condemnation and requires that the public be warned of the decentralization that has been pro luced by the hysterical suspicious of good people and the interruptions and corrupt misrepresentations Of the wicked. The helpless state to which the eredulity of some and the malev- olent scandal mOngering of others have brought the people of Alaska in their struggle for it's development ought to give the public pause. for nn- til juster and fairer view be taken investment in Alaska. which is neees- sary to it's development. will be im- possible, and honest administrators and legislators will be embarrassed in the advocacy and putting into opera ton of those policies in regard to the territory which are necessary to its progress and prosperity.
 WILLIAM H. TAFT.
 The White House. July 26. 1911.