Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-09
Especial Correspondence of Publ,
I,sIvurl


JUNEAU. ALASKA. July s.-Sher-
man Rodgers, special writer. who is
now In tho Territory studying the
. policies OF tho Iredrrni government
on tho ground. has discovered now
cauac for the reported illness Of
f. Nikolai I'snine. arch-Bolshevist. I.e-
nine, said Mr.. Rodgers. has read
book about Alaska and found out
how uncia Sam has outpiayed him at
his own CANA.
In Russia. undor Leninos Dictator
ahip, tho government possesses a pro-
priotary right TO every resource aud
b tho foun' OF evory industry, hut there
has boon left to tho people the right
Of suffrage. In Alaska, unci. Sam has
a"nn ono better by Withholding from
the pconl" tho right to vote. And that.
said Rodgers. is what has made l.c-
min" sick.
Tho picture he draws q az course.
exaggerated. but not to tho "Nt"nt Of
i'inS farcical. As TO voting. Aia-kars
elect their own municipal officials In
IN" variou, Incorporated towns. they
EJECT their own legislators to an Az
scmhiy watch. IN Tho final analysis.
has about as much real Legislative.
l'"w"r as a college debating society:
th"% elect d"l"Eat" to Congress
"hn has n" vote on even tn" matters
which concern solely the interests
at his constituents
IN" MAZDA Leg iSla'ur" mo-,s III
"nnia!iy In Juneau. Normally II ts
composed ~ men who hay. earned III.
'jSht 10 be- called "sourdourh-''-an
Niaskan iitlo generally meaning
reSid"nt OF long standing Tn" eight
senators composing the upper house
~ the 1921 Territorial I.yiSlatnr.
ma" an average Residence OF twenty
~" y"ars ranging individually from
sixteen to tw-nty-S-v"n Years In
the '""rT house. sixteen Representa-
t'N"S hEh an average rcsidsNc. OF
nineteen years, ranging from four TO
tN"n'N's!K years each. Most ~ them
"""e business mon. a minority hav-
iilg legal education and s1pcrience
y banker miner, mining anglneers
'n"rcha n's--ln fact. men equipped
Win working knowledge OF the
various industries and resources Of
ALASKA.
Federal Ruie Absolute.
ne SUBJECTS on which these ucn
ana those OF future Legislatures un-
""r Tho organic act. which ~ the
'"ns'iiution Of Alaska. could lects.
I7t", arc more limited than In any
territory IN all the history ~ Tho
nitrd states. And the laws which
rh"y could and diI max. only affect
"n"ut per cen, ~. physical Aiaskn
MI tt'" and rights In tho other IS
per cent not merely sovereign rights.
pHt proprietary ones. remain vested
IN the Federal government.
on matters relating IN game ami.
TaIs big question In this country
they were powerless 10 correct abuses
openly admitted 10 exist by even bu-
!"au officials
AAasHa's most important Industry
~ present Is her fisheries. since 1910
the salmon fishing industry ha, pro
"uceh more than 100000, 600. In
is2i. The value OF tho produc, in tina,
branch OF the fsher!-a was I36st1
edS rs compared 70 Total mineral
production Of Sls.iOe. 900 which In
c'Hde' gold copper, silver coal. tin,
'"hH, petroleum., gypsum. inarbl. nd
o'h"r commodities. On~ hundred aud
f"rfy- six plants were opcrst.d II, :,
representing total Investment, a,
more than $4,000, 900. and In 1920
IN" latest scar for which such nr-
ur"s are available. gave "iup.,,..n.,u
=" total NJ 2T.iS2 persons. la both
i'2H and 1921. T"rr'trr!a! commits
SION pointed out the d"yindlinr runs
~ The silver horde" and declared
unless proper remedial s,.rs we're
aiken promptly the entire Industry
would he destroyed. Here. too. the
Territorial Legislature was and 10
rowerless. All !, could do was 10
mcmOriaiiZe Congrcrs to Iass A ia,,
giving the Bureau onFisheries power
at net
i7.0oO.Oan Acrcs4of Forests.
Something Ike 1000. 900 acre. OF
forested land on the, southcastern a nd
central western shores OF Alaska. con
tanning, ny bureau estimates. enough