The evening times., 1911-08-22

Senator Robert M. LaFollette in a
speech in the senate yesterday came
out openly in favor of government
ownership Of the railroads of Alaska
and the governmental control of the
natural resources Of that rich terri
tory. In the course of his remarks
he referred to bill. which he intro
duced four years providing for the
leasing of all mineral rights in the
United States although the measure
was intended to be applicable more
especially to Alaska.
THE sensible and practical thing
to do." he said. lis to create a board
of public works for Alaska, to be ap-
pointed by the president and con-
tirmed by the senate, similar to the
Isthmian canal commission. This
board of public work should then un-
dertake. not merely to build a rail-
road from Controller bay to the coal
fields, but it should acquire all
of the railroads in Alaska, and Seattle
at once under the policy of govern
mental ownership. 1t should similarly
provide for the requirement of other
public utilities. such as the telegraph
and telephone. 1t should operate and
develop the wharves and docks. and
steamship lines If necessary to de-
liver the products of Alaska to the
coast.
THE Neutrality-suspicious., accus-
toned to the highest profits on their
investments and demanding to great
extent immediate returns, must make
exorbitant and oppressive charges.
The people of the United States do
not demand an immediate return.
They can themselves supply all neces-
sary money at an interest charge of
less than three per cent. Rates for
transportation and for other public
utilities may properly be low. with
the capital cost as small as the in
vestment would be to the people.
Most important of all is control of
the transportation facilities by the
government 1t would forever re-
move the irresistible temptation of
discrimination, rebates and corrup-
ton which have characterized the
worst period Of our railroad opera
tion."
Mr.. LaFollette declared that the
people were waging losing fight
against the corporations in Alaska.
Between the great storehouse of ma
tural resources and those who are
trying to develop 1t. he said. was to
be found. 1.-The enormous power of the
greatest concentration of capital that
the world has ever known"
When We have before us the his
tory Of the Pennsylvania anthracite
struggle" he demanded, now con-
summated in the complete control Of
]. Pierpont Morgan against the whole
American people. can We expect any
different result, il We permit the Nor
| man-Guggenheim to get control of
| Alaska? This power will lie in their
control of the docks. wharves. noun
tain passes and the limited outlet to
the markets"
Justifying his contention that the
government should engage in trans
portation in Alaska and the conserva-
ton OF its resources. MIR. LaFollette
pointed to the work now being done
lon the Panama canal. He said that
the solution of the transportation
there, the elimination Of unsanitary
conditions and the betterment of the
Inhabitants showed what the Ameri-
can people could do. when called
upon to meet great emergency re-
quiring direct government control in
the public interest"
| We are now required to decide
which Of these two methods shall the
American people adopt in Alaska" he
continued. up to the present time
We have been going blindly along the
road Of the anthracite coal combina-
ton but it il possible for us to ac-
complish permanently in ALASKA all
that 10 beig accomplished temporarily
In Panama.
| There is. however. one great Diff
ference. The people Of Alaska must
be permitted to develop In the highest
| degree their own social and political
conditions. and individual enterprise,
But the American people are the own
iers oe The resources Of Alaska Thess