The Cordova daily times., 1923-04-07


 flicting to such an extent that even they themselves hardly know where they are at or what they are doing. If a citizen files on a homestead that alone seems evidence enough he must be trying to steal something from the Government, and every ob- stacle is thrown in his way by spe- cial agents and others to prevent him from acquiring title thereto, in- stead of encouragement and assis- tance, as was formerly the policy of the Government in the settling of the great West. Here in Alaska miles of red tape must be wound and unwound before the settler can get anywhere, and in most every case it takes years after final proof before he can obtain title. He must chase around and get permits from this and that special agent or bur eau representative to do any of the ordinary things that must be done in order to protect his interests and secure his claim.
 Our fisheries: What of them?
 No waters of the world ever con taired the enormous supply of food fishes that once inhabited the waters of Alaska. Have we Alaskans had any voice in their agreement or control? Not by any means. They have been under the special care and control of the Bureau of Fisher ies. What are their condition today? Nearly exhausted and so far as the salmon fisheries are concerned unless something is done at once this great food fish will become exterminated the same as they were on the At lantic Coast Who in all the world, has the greatest interest in con- serving the future supply of this, our greatest industry? The cannerymen, the Bureau of Fisheries, or the peo- ple of Alaska? If we had full Terri torial form of government there IS no question of who would be looking after this great industry, and looking after it intelligently. Is there any question as to who is the most com potent to handle it? Certainly the present system of control has proved a disastrous and complete failure.
 So it is with our game and fur bearing animals, except the sealing industry of the Pribilof Islands. All these things the people of Alaska know more about and can handle better than anyone else four thou sand miles away. And we firmly believe that if we the people of Alas ka. were given a full territorial form of government, and the same powers granted as has been given to every other American territory that most of the so-called Alaska problems would be solved, and justly solved, and to the great joy and happiness of Alaska's sturdy population. we the Pioneers of Alaska, still believe in that grand American doctrine or Equal rights for all and special privileges for none,' and that gov ernment cannot be brought too close ly to the people themselves. They are the ones that know what is the matter, and they, and they alone' should be given all the powers Of self government that is compatible with a Territorial form of govern ment, and in assuming this position we are asking no special privileges from the Federal Government, but on the contrary, are asking only the same rights and powers that have been granted to every other political division of the United States, there fore
 Pc it resolved, that the Grand Ig- loo, Pioneers of Alaska, in their fifteenth annual convention, duly as sembled at Nenana, Alaska, fully represented from all subordinate 1g- loos except two, express the wish and desire, and it is the sense of the Pioneers of Alaska that every effort should be made through the Grand Igloo officers either through themselves or by a committee ap- pointed by them, to present to the Presidential party, when it arrives 1 in Alaska, copies of these resolu- tions and to orally or otherwise an swer such questions and give such information to the President, direct if possible, to the end that every effort shall be made by them to make known to the President, his Cabinet officers and the committee of Con- gressmen the position taken and the views held by the Pioneers of Alaska on these questions, coupled with the hope and prayer that through these efforts he will recommend to Con- gross, and through his aid and coun-