The daily progressive-miner., 1917-12-05

EuVt oi Etoht SttSCts hStehhn | COMMUNICATION ] tNOTE-The following communica uon was received in yesterdays mail The signature R. H. Pratt" is tha q no other ;A1a General R. H. Prat, ot the United States Army. retired and founder, and ever since one o the directors 0: the Carlisle Indiar School in the s:age of Pennsylvania E General Pratt visited Ketehikan. Met ,2kalla and other places this last sum ler and the conditions he found are set forth in his open letter which is published at his reQuest.)
 NR=
 The Ontario,
 Washington. D. c. Il 23'17 Editor Progressiye-Miner.
 ketchikan. Alaska.
 My dear Sir
 ! The enclosed seems to be about wha, I ought 10 do in the Marsden case
 l. seems late. I have been on the wing ever since in Alaska and have visited and looked into conditions in more than thirty Indian Schools and communities.
 4 week ago Monday Mrs Pratt and settled down and began housekeep- ing. and I shall have leisure to write over what I have seen and learned. with kind regards.
 Your truly,
 R. H. PRATT.
 An Open Letter.
 The Ontario.
 Washington. D. c. Sept 21. 1917 Dr. H J Minthorn,
 Metlakayla. Alaska.
 Dear Sir:
 Ever since my visit 10 Alaska in Angus, last have felt I ought to wri;a 70 you as one old worker among Indians 70 another
 Until ny arrival a. Ketchikan, as the gues- ot Edward Marsden. the na- i've preacher. I had nor seen or heard from him for more than 2 year, and I did nor know anything Of your charges agaias. him or the investigation there on My frs, information came from his de.ractors. I asked Marsden for he facts and he gave me 10 read the yo,uniaous letters ans reports and the findings on ,he case in his possession and ! have since read other papers held ia che files ot Government off cials. These documents outwardly snow that you initiated the movement 70 destroy this worthy and useful man, for your letters in rhe case antedate all others.
 My warm interest in Marsden began tweaty-six years ago. and has been continuous, so have Q right to speak ia his behalf
 I call in question your action for several reasons: First. you are in the employ and pay ot Mr. Duncan. al ways the enemy ot advanced educa- ton, wide liberty ot opportunity and citizenship development for the Indian peoples He has been especially agains: any of them going out from his community 10 secure independence and greater capacity. Marsden be- ing among the earliest and most sue cesstul in doing this. has been a fore most object 0: his spleen.
 Marsden being Presbyterian Preacher and Missionary 10 the Indi- ans. you addressed your letters 10 Presbyterian dignitaries and urged special significance by alleging your Presbyterian affnities. Was this altogether genuine? , In your correspondence you prose cue, find guilty and indicate sentence ot oblivion for Marsden upon your own unproven allegations.
 All he written allegations, and those which came 70 me orally, proved 70 be trivial. and your efforts failed but I gill think I ought to write 10 -
 One allegation was, He wants Mir Duncan's place" Mr Duncan has had 10 place in the hearts Of his people for many years that Gods man ought D desire His imperious course has deple.ed his following 10 a corporars guard. The Metlakatla people have for many years been outraged by his personal and concealed book keeping ] management Of the community store, saw mill and cannery, and his use Of these for his personal gain He has automatically and secretly controlled all the results Of these and refused any accounting. The members Of the