The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-10
DENOUNCES PRESS
AGENT OF P|NCH0T
Governor Clark of Alaska
Calls Attention to Some
Alleged Misstatelnents.
Special 10 The Tribune.

Special 10 The Tribune.
SEATTLE, Wash. Oct 9-The blue
ribbon for utter rccklessncss in handling
the truth and downright and audacious
lying, has been unanimously passed by
-ilaskans 10 John j.. Lathrop. newspaper
correspondent and accredited press agent
for Clifford Plnchot LathropS attempt
10 precpltate a newspaper quarrel be-
tween Secretary OF the Interior Walter L.,
Fisher and Clifford Pinchot. for the pur-
pose OF smothering the truth in regard
TO Alaska. is denounced on every hand
This is one OF the few Alaskan questions
on Which the northerners are united.
Gov. Walter Il. Clark OF Alaska. who
accompanied Secretary Fisher on his re-
p 'T"ugr '"e IN 'er[''ory m tUuhS
terms. Governor Clark arrived in Seattle
yesterday afternoon for the purpose Of
discussing with President Taft certain
matters in connection with Alaska
About the first thing he did. on being
shown some of the dispatches sent out
by Lathrop in regard to Controller bay
bers OF Secretary Fishers party TO mis-
represent the facts, was 10 express his
opinion OF Lathrop.
'That statement" said Governor Clark
referring to the Controller bay episode
els at least Il pregarication and II may
be just Il plain Ire. Considering the
source of the statement. neither need
occasion surprise.
When Secretary Fisher came back
from the coal fields, Controller bay was
having a tanlrum and navigation even
in a big gasoline boat was no, safe. Al
the best the story was Intended TO de-
celyc the public In regard to the facts.
The pity of IL all Is that Alaska has
TO suffer because a person who recently
visited the territory at time when the
public Is eager for Information about this
country. comes back and uttcrs such out
raeeous and malicious falsehoods about
it
T,resIdcn, II. n rorcrrcd IN the portbcr ru
part OF the United states in his speech
tonight, lie declared that Alaska should
have at least "A semi sell governing body
Two years ago Mr.. Taft advocated here
O straight commission form of govern
mont for the territory. declaring the pop
ulation not stable enough for full meas
urc of scf-coutrol
'That proposition has not met approv-
all said Mr.. Taft tonight, II still think
| il the better way. hut the man who
stands on a dogmatic statement and says
Of that principle makes no progress.
| am willing 10 make concession for a
| partly elective and partly apponllve
| form OF government IN Alaska.
| Congress cannot make the necessary
ws for Alaska. Alaska must have To-
| cal body. In bringing tlis about ! hope
| there will be no politics played hope
| the two houses OF congress VIII unite in
bringing about change that will result
In the development of Alaska and max :
| ing that territory valuable 10 itself and
valuable 10 all mankind.
Al see no more reason for government
ownership in Alaska. however, than else
| where We should introduce Their" tho
same limitations as TO tho disposition OF
| the public domain as apply To the dis
position Of the public domain elsewhere
! n this country,
! LAS for myself. | favor the leasing sys-
tenn. IT has proved Il success n Austria :
| LA. New Zealand and Canada. What
YOU want Is Il condition OF ownership that
will attract capital Some people bavc
an idea that you can drive capital where
Lit does moi want 10 go. But N there Is
anything that has wings anything that
Is sensitive. anything that won't 20
| where It doesn't want To 90. II is capital.
| Under u leasing system you would offer
| an luducemcnt 10 capital io 20 in. Let :
! try IT. ! am not iDsistcDt but II docs
| secm To me Ia hc the bcst WAY. The
profits TO the government from the l|uS-
! ing system could be turned back into
the territory for its further devcl-
| npmCnt"