Valdez daily prospector., 1911-10-06

or to give anybody infurnaiiu or lay down the law. or tu indi- cat" how your problems ought tu D" settled. cam" after infnrrna- tinn; not [" talk, but [" listen. ii Is very much more important for the object of my visit that should hear what you have tD say, than that you should hear me. Your chairman Dr. Boyle wanted Iu. to speak a few words at the begin ming of the meeting. What l am her" for Is tn listen to you. 1 huI. tn hear from many men now in tn" audience before l have any thing further tn say. shall hav.. a fr wWnrdS tn say at the close Of tn" m""IinG. but in the nran- tim" am her" in listen.
 After listening to Mr.. Rilchir. Mr.. shepherd. Mr.. Iluhbar. and Mr. Ray, Atr. pimchnl said,
 Gentlemen. l rr"rrI that ha\r not ll"ar'l from the >prnkrr~ lunr" practical Su""r>Iinn~ a~ tu what ought in b" don" in relieve the situation in AlH>kH. The prin- rIpal impression 1 have rrrrivrd Is that these gentlemen are hIS- satisfied With things as they are: but Sn Tar as measures of relief are concerned there have been just tw" SuggrSiinnS mad" to- night.
 You have, as have said a good many times, a fair and rraSOn- able cause for complaint. The territory of Alaska has been held back in it's development when it ought not tO have been held back. It Is not unnatural at all that you should feel hurt about it. But no amount of juStifiablc soreness will pull one pound in getting this matter strengthened out. We might listen for weeks and weeks to the kind of speech Mr. Rltrhir has just made. and when il Was all done, il would not have led tn one SlnGl" step of prOgrrsS. Ii Is a good deal of a temptation io g" over Mr. Ritchir's talk point by point, and answer the numer- OuS mistakes which it contains. but l refrain.
 The p0int I wish to make is that merely giving expression tn your dissatisfaction with things as they are will not help the situation at all. We did get from Mr. Hub bard strong suggestion as to the way in which AlaSkans should present their views in WaShing- ton. Let me impress upon ynu that unless you have definite views {" present, il will not help you 'n go to Washington. Some body is going to formulate a plan for tn" relief of Alaska, alu; it is going In b" done. as I think, next winter. One reason came here Is lhal l believe the political SiI- uaIinn and the rnormollS amount for public attention which has been Drnughi in bear upon Alaska have together Drought about such a situation that CnnGrr~S must act ihlS coming winter. hrlirNr the Democrats will pass a bill lhruu.lI tn" ll"uS" of representative d'alInG With inc rrsulIrcrS of Alaska. and that such q bill will pass !hr Senate. In the face of that situation. exactly as Mr.. Kay SaIh. II iS your duty iu have \"llr plan ready and tn present il b"fnr" Congress. If you don't present your "Wn plan, SnInrbudy will present a plan for you.
 At ihiS point, someone in the audl"nr" asked. "Whal'S the mat ! fer With WirkrrshanI?"
 Mr. Pinrhnt said: Wickrr- sham Is q good man. have rr- r"IN"d much information from him about Alaskan matters, and | an glad tn work with him. I,uI m order tn D" effective in present. 1 ing your cause, WirkcrSllanl must 1 have united public sentiment be- hlnh him at home. Thai is your l job.
 am not going in talk about 1 what ] think is the solution of ; N"'r problems. My mind is not 1 rl"arlN mad" up on thrSr matters. anh ! do not propusr Io try ln [ express Il now. BuI 1 have sourr 1 very strong impressions about : Alaska that ] hn feel like express | ing.
 On" of them is IhiS: There is { too much of a lrudrnry. IT you will allow me Io make q criticism ] don't mind being criI-