The Cordova daily times., 1920-02-23
MORE LIGHT 0NPURCHASE
 OF ALASKA
(Continued from Page Six)


 ,tStoeckl personally as counsel of the Russian embassy in the case, total of "about $26,OOO in gold" and $5 ,OO0 to F. P. Stanton as assistant counsel, as we'll as $3,00O to the Washington Daily Chronicle for favorable articles published What became of the re- mainder of the $165, ,000 not remitted to the Russian government the com mittee did not learn, but the Rus sian minister contended through other witnesses that it was disbursed by him in the payment of ordinary and legiti- mate expenses of the Russian en- bassy, including an item of $10,OO0 for one cablegram to St. Petersburg Baron Stoeckl did not appear before the committee.
 A minority report of the committee censured MT. Walker for having ac- cepted a retainer in so important a public matter without making a pub the Russian government, draft for Tie statement of it, in view of the public positions he had held as secre- tary of the treasury from 1845 to 184S, and as member of the United States senate. This was the same Robert J. Walker who was the author of the Walker tariff hill of 1S4S
 Gives Russian Motive
 While the newspaper charges of wholesale bribery to the extent of s2,200000 turned out to be tremen- dous congregations, the congressional investigation did establish that Baron Stoeckl the Russian minister, carried on an active and successful campaign at an expense of $165, ,000 to help ob- tain passage of the bill appropriating the $7 ,000 stipulated in the Seward Stoeckl treaty as the purchase price of Alaska.
 To the average mind that is con- elusive evidence of Russia's eager ness to sell Alaska, originating with Russian statesmen during the Cri- mean war in 1856, wheE they. decided it would be impossible for Russia to h6ld her American possessions in a future war with England. She pre- ferred that America, a friendly nation, should be the new ewner
 Russia knew of Alaska's value, hay ing occupied it and profted from it extensively for more than eighty years, and she would not have been likely to throw it in for nothing to con- ceal the real purpose of payment for another object.
 Fur Trader Promoted Deal
 On the part of America all evidence shows that the initiative in the pur- sehase of Alaska was taken by Ameri- cans on the Pacific coast who had been to Alaska and knew personally
  and that they were actuated- by no motives of philanthropy or a return of favors to Russia.
 Three years ago in Los Angeles l discussed this point with Cornelius States senators from California in 1867, and as such took a leading part in furthering the purchase of Alaska. He was in good health and clear mind when I saw him, still practicing his profession as lawyer at the age of s3. His statement to me was substan- tially this:
 "The original and most active mover in the plan to buy Alaska after the civil war, reviving efforts that had been dropped just before the outbreak of that conflict, was an contemplating Jewish-American promoter and fur trader named Philip Goldstone of San Francisco. He had been to Alaska on fur-buying expeditions, and knew of it's great wealth, but he was mainly fn- terested in it's furs. He enlisted the help of other Jewish gentlemen of Cali forhia, and of several wealthy nOn- Jews, who, after the purchase of Alaska, were grouped together in the Alaska Commercial Company. Aimed at Hudson Bay Company
 Their first intention was to suc- ceed to the rights of the Russian American Company, whose charter ex- pired in 1867, but on discovering that the Hudson Bay Company, an English corporation, was negotiating to take over the rights, property and interests of the Russian company they con- ceived the idea of our buying Alaska l