The Alaska daily empire., 1917-10-10

reserved. and we have simply been re- served to death. Alaska can not make the progress we all desire, until our na- tional government pursues more lib eral policy and fosters and encourages development along all proper lines, rather than the policy of discourage ment that has been the rule during the past. This question: of course, is intimately associated with the question of home rule and self government. and if the powers of government, Territor- ial and Federal, can be lodged in Alas ka, we will have little difficulty in solving the reservation question.
 Laws for All Alike.
 We must insist on the passage of an equitable law, for the benefit of all alike and not for the benefit or the detriment of any individual or any set of individuals, or any corporation or set of corporations.
 'It is not only foolish but shamefully wrong to haul oil from California when our own oil lands lie wasting with the oil seeping away unusued to the sea; to haul coal from the eastern Atlantic fields and the four corners of the Pa cfic, when we have splendid deposits lying idle; to permit our timber to de- teriorate and decay and fall useless. when. if used, new growth of super for quality would speedily replace the inferior stand to heckle and harass our pioneers who are endeavoring to cultivate the soil and develope a perma- nent, self sustaining population.
 
 Coming upon the steamer we stopped at Ocean Falls in British Columbia. and l was amazed to find the splendid wood pulp and paper industry that has been developed there by American capital. and you people of Alaska denied such magnificent enterprise because of this idotc theory that it is better to let your timber rot lest someone may possibly make some profit because some generation yet unborn may want it. Future generations won't want rot ten wood.
 Cooperation Needed.
 We must unite on these questions, determine what we want and then go for it like a solid phalanx. l am Alas ka's representative, her public servant, and I want the people to tell me what they want. and it will be my great pleasure to do what lies in my power to carry out their wishes.
 Returning to Suizer.
 T left Washington shortly before ad journment as nothing further concern ing Alaska would be considered, and l am anxious to devote few days to my mining interests and get back to the capital as soon as possible in or der to prepare for the regular session of Congress. As you will recall when left home last February for Juneau. I expected to be away but two months. Then the extra session of Congress was called and hurried to Washington without returning to my home and have thus been away nearly eight months. The Insane Asylum.
 'I came by way of Portland and made hurried inspection of the Morningside hospital for the Alaska insane: A new building has been late- Iy built and the general conditions in regard to cleanliness, etc, were better than I had been led to believe was the case. However. it seems to me the 220 Alaska Inmates are still overcrowd- ed, and that the system of farming out these unfortunate people is radically wrong. l do not think there are over half dozen employees and the inmates perform practically all the work of the institution. They cultivate the rather extensive fields. do all the cleaning and kitchen work and in my judgment get very little in return. They should be in public institution and treated with the greatest considera tion.
 ''I purpose visiting other institutions at the first opportunity and making comparisons with conditions at Morn- ingside. Most of the Alaska patients are only mildly unbalanced and un- doubtedly some are perfectly sane.
 'The patients at Morningside were all very anxious to get Alaska papers. Life must be very monotonous for these unfortunate people and we should desire some way to let them keep in touch with tn Northland
 Let me. through The Empire, ask pardon for not paying Juneau a longer visit at this time. but I am most anx- iOus to get to my home and perfect plans for my mining operations during the winter"