The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-31

we hhhli never nave STATE OF
states in ALASKA. and n that waa
10 bo the policy. wo need not con
Germ ourselves about agriculture.
But n. on the other hand. our puf.
pose Is to make great. powerful
wealthy and permanent community
Of Alaska. then We should give ospo.
cial attention 90 encouraging a type
OF agriculture suited 10 climate and
circumstance"
fle spoke OF tho need OF a liberal
policy toward the building Of roads
and trails as development might
make necessary and 10 provide feed.
crs for tho railroad into which the
government has put more than i56,'
000, 900 and which lt Is operating at a
loss OF about $1,000. 900 "A year.
AI.ASkANS COMPARED
To EARLY SETTLERS
Hc compared the experience Of the
people OF Alaska and the problems
they had 10 meet with the expert
ence OF the early settlers on our
great Eastern coast and with the
problems connected with the North
wescrn territory and later California
and oregon. lie said. ''rhe prob
lem OF Alaska has been dinned into
our ears a great deal ~ Washing
ton. Somehow In Alaska one doesn't
hear much OF Il or feel aoutely con
scious OF It's existence In Alaska
one gets tho feeling that the sturdy
vigorous and highly intelligent pco
pie OF tho territory, under the lead
erahip of our old friend. Manifest
Destiny. viii solve tho problem
There has been much mis-.
understanding. no little misrcprc'
scntation. and some disposition 20
hyMeria az times about Alaska II
long since passed beyond the Wild
west, mining camp stage. and n as
sober. settled and normal oummu.
nifty as will be found anywhere,
am altogether an optimist
on Alaska and LIS future I do not
believe Alaska can be forced, or that
Il should be. There II no need Of
government managed. fedcmlly paid
for. no, house development There
must DO no reckless sacrificing %
resources which ought TO DO held
permanent IN order to turn them "a.
10 immediate profits. There Il no
broad problem Of Alaska. despite the
lnhlstenee on rs existence. Alaska
II all right and n doing well. II
has more wealth and more populh-
ton. even now. than some Of the
states when they were admitted into
tho Union"
However much he may have
been impressed before coming 10
ALASKA with the need Of gen.
eral reorganization of the fed
crai activities therr. President
Harding came away very def
initly Of the opinion that such
suggestions were not well con.
kldered. On this point he said
with emphasis. where there !.
possibility OF bctlermcnt In the
federal machinery Of adminlstra.
tlun, Improvement should and
viii be effected. but there N no
need for n sweeping rrorganlra.
ton. Tho federal governments
processes have not paralyred.
but rather have promoted the
right sort Of Alaslan develop
ment. The territory needs their
continuance"
President Harding dIa not find any
Qualification for the charges OF
mudd,lnE or miamanH cement Of pub.
lie business by the federal agencies
in Alaska Neither did he find that
the Alasknna themselves took any
stock In such stories He found tho
various departments Of tho govern.
ment doing exactly the same kind
Of work IN Alaska that they are DO.
Ing In the IS states. lie found that
the representatives OF these depart.
msnts. or az leaEt mort Of them. arc
performing their work with clear
understanding Of conditions and tho
needs In tho territory. and with an
evident spirit, q cooperation and
helpfuluesa. His speech on Alaska
n a vigorous presentation OF definite
opinions. based on accurate knuwi
edge aud investigation at first hand.
and Il ought to put an end once and
for an to the agitation which has
been 20 hurtful 10 Alaska.
IIAHnINfE OPINION