The Alaska daily empire., 1915-02-15
1 ANE ASfS DUNG
 T0 ASSES

In @ recent letter Co Father VII ! liam Duncan. aged head Of the Met lagahtla Indian village Secretary oi the Interior Franklin K. Lane urged the cooperation oi the missionary in restoring peace !n the settlement in return for the good win and cid ol the government
 Announcement that such Q letter had been written by Secretary Lane ! recently was made in these columns. ! In connection with the Cabinet mem ber's statement thot he expects to Tis. 1t Alaska during the coming summer.
 Mr. Lanes letter reads as follows;
 Washington. Feb. 8, 1915 Dear Father Duncan:
 4 few days ago ] sent you tele- gram informing you that expect to visit you during the coming sumner, and I hope then to come to fuil and 1 harmonious understanding between yourself. the Metlakahtlans. and the government. 1T such an understanding Is not reached before that time. also urged you. as a man whom the government has always treated with li6eraiity consideration. and respect, to respect the rights Of the Metlakaht- lans and Of the government
 assure you that there is no desire ou my part Co iniure in any way the noble work which you haYe accom. pllshed: on the contrary Niah io cooperate with you in this work. 70 build upon it and to advance lt. T realize that the wonderful progress which the Metlaka0tlans have made in intelligence and their thirst Tor still greater knowledge have sprung from the seed which you have sown and from your untiring labors in their be- half Your greatest monument VIII ever be the Metlakahtlans themselves.
 However. l think that perhaps you do not pourself fully realize what you have accomplished. The people to whose spiritual and material welfare you have devoted your life are no longer children. You have led them far beyond the Hints of childhood. The MetlalSahtlans are intelligent dis eliminating men and women, with commendable ambition to take their place in the world.
 We must bear In mind the fact that ,he United States Congress did not set apart Annette Island for the goy- ernment nor for you, but for the Met ial,ahtlans themselves The promo lon of Che highest good of the Met lakahtlans must be tho sole object or yourself and Of the government in dealing with this matter.
 For many years tho government felt that the highest good of the Met la!,ahtians could be best promoted by letting them develop under your sole leadership. Accordingly you were permitted the greatest freedom In your Iabors for the Metlakahtlans, the gov enment only extending financial aid to your school work from time co time.
 Now that. after prolonged inyesiga' ton and careful consideration, it has been deemed necessary in the best interests of the Metlakahtans to es' tabilsh and maintain a United States Public School in Aletlakahsla, and oth' erwise to assume responsibilities in connection with the interests of the people og Metlakahtla, l must caution YOU not to interfere in any way with the work of the government or oi it's agents nor should you do anything which would lessen the respect Of the Metlakahtlans Tor the federal govern ment or for its institutions, nor should YOU cause dissensions among the Na- lives. If dissensIons have arisen urge you to do what you can to re- pair the injury. Viii you not give me your hearty good will In this whole matter?
 Assuring you of my deside for you co.operatng in arriving at an eQui' table adjustment of the rights of your- self. of the Metlakahtlansi and Of the govenment, ] am,
 Cordially Yours,
 tsiened) FRANKLIN K. LANE Rev. William Duncan.
 Metlakahtia. Alaska