The Chitina leader., 1912-11-19
ALAsKA's TROUBLES

ions of the men who have succe ,ded in stifiing the development Of Alaska and locking up the valuable coal re- sources of the territory. At the prompting of Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot, in 1906,' President Roose- welt issued an unwarranted and un- lawful order that withdrew from loca- tion all coal lands in Alaska. And then conservationists got busy and through the Pinchot press bureau, paid for by the government, started in to create sentiment and deceive the people regarding the true conditions in Alasaka and the assumed desire of big interests to gobble up all the valuable resources of the territory. They succeeded so we'll that when the Taft administration started trouble was soon made that proved the un- doing of Secretary Ballinger. While he believed that many of the coal claimants in Alaska were entitled to their patents he feared the sentiment that had been worked up and never took definite action that might have resulted in doing justice to many hon. est men.
 After he resigned the President sought to pacify the Pinchot thero- ists by naming as MT. Ballingers successor Walter L. Fisher, of Chi cago, a man who was at that time honarary vice president of the Na- tional Conservation Association, of which Clifford Pinchot was the Presi- dent. MT. Fisher has not proven much of an inspiration to Alaska or the western states. Neither has he accomplished any material results for this northland, at least. President Taft was always considered as a friend of development, but very little in that line has been accomplished during his incumbency, other than the creating of sentiment favorable to the leasing of such resources as the United States may still retain. On November first there was made pub lie a letter from President Taft to Crawford Hill, of Denver, that admits a lack accomplishment, apologies for it. and seeks to place the blame where likely a large part it belongs. In that letter, copy of which has just been received, the President says:
 "Our great Western country needs development. It must have men and capital, and it must be able to offer inducements to attract both. The Republican party does not believe in a conservation policy which would tie up our natural resources and deny their use to the legitimate home steader, miner and capitalist.
 We are holding the part of the domain that has coal, phosphate and oil until Congress shall make provi- sion for it's disposition by lease on pI ofita5le terms to private capl:.i with the retention of sufficient title in the Government to control and pre- vent monoply in ownership and con- sequent exorbitant charge to them for these conditions. The problem which the Republican party is solving is how to save and how to utilize, how to conserve and still develop; for no sane person can contend that it is for the common good that natures bless ings are only for unborn generations
 "There is some foundation for the complaint in the West that the laws have not been administered with a liberal view to the accomplishment of their purpose, but rather in a spirit which has put as many Instructions as possible in the way of earning title from the Government.
 This condition followed a crusade of undertaking which reached a point where there seemed to be real hostili- ty to the acquisition of public proper ty by man who had earned the title to it and the land and mining laws of the United States by the performance of those conditions precedent that in the statute were declared to be use- full in the development of the coun- try.
 "As result of attacks which eX- tended to those who were legitimate ly seeking a share in the public do- main by the exercise of the steps re- quired by law there was developed timidity and delay on the part of bureaus. divisions and employees of