The Nenana daily news., 1920-02-14

inform them that the white popula- ton of Alaska in 1910 was approxi- mately 10000, while the most relia- ble figures available today indicate it is now less than 30,000.
 Before essaying answers to these questions it would be well to con sider what would be the procedure of big corporation handling Alaska as a development project. 4
 It may be assumed that its first step would be, by investigation, to estimate the prospective financial returns-immediate and continuing. Then would be determined the cost necessary to insure these returns. | If the investigation indicated that there would be certain profits, and that these profits warranted a large preliminary expenditure, there would be no hesitancy on the part of the corporation in making the outlay. The work would then be initiated under the most capable management available. But, and herein the cor poration's policy would differ from that of the Government, that man. agement would be conducted on the ground instead of at long range by interested workers conversant with local conditions and problems rather than, 5000 miles away, by bureau officials handicapped by lack of technical knowledge.
 l And it is this difference in the system of management, spelling for Alaska stagnation instead of prog ress, that largely accounts for the decrease in population and prosperl- ity and the small measure of intel iligent help that has been bestowed
 by the Government. For, unless we have little or no faith in our system of government through representa-
 tives elected by the people, we must and should assume that Congress is
 conscientiously desirous of helping
 and, if the way had been clearly
 pointed, would have taken in the
 past such steps as would have helped rather than hinder the Territory. The way to help has not been clear ly defined, however, nor has there : yet been evolved and pursued any method whereby Congress could be given that complete understanding ; of its task that is essential to sue. cessful accomplishment.
 , The fault, as usual in such cases
 
 may confidently be ascribed to lack : of proper representation of the gov , erned at the seat of government.
 Alaska's delegate, with no vote 1T - the house, is only very occasional! given, under sutferance, the oppor t tunity of making himself heard 2 Frequently he is opposed in com : mittees by lobbyists for private in n terests, and if these be sufficient! 3 numerous, the fact that the dele : gate is the elected spokesman 0 I the people of the Territory is ap s ito be overlooked. Certain it is tha l. he is not given opportunity to talk f up all of even the more importan e issues. h. ...~. :. . It was with a realization of tn h fact that Congress had but littl t time to devote to the delegate tha home rule was asked for, in tn ! hope that the Territory could the | adequately manage its own affairs !! but when the enabling act wa
 passed it was found that the legis
 lature was so hedged around wit l restrictions that little change in tn | system of management had been e1
 fected. The prerogatives of chic
 importance to state tor territory
 were prescribed and only throug
 memorials to Congerss, which mlgf
 or might not sometime be accorde