Seward daily gateway., 1927-03-30
THEN AND NOW

THEN AND NOW
 On this date, in the year 1867, Alaska passed from the domnnon of the Russian Czars that of the United States of America.
 The event was judged with misgivings by some and applauded by othes the latter acuated by eaton felt having emancipated vast domain and It's subJect peoples from despotic rulership.
 Roll the curtain back 47 years, to the year 1907 and find entire change of sentimen-t was decided to suppan free American citizenship for subjectshp Evidently the original pioneers of America held copy right the pioneer business for not for Alaska True there who differed with this view, and cast their lot within the confines of the vast empire May be what they discovered something of great value the incentive for reversing the order of political luton It has been the history of all weaker peoples this despoiation.
 Today we tested the verity of this subjectship We cabed the Forestry Service at Juneau asking if the right to purchase five of public domain from the Crown applied to the forest (which it might be stated parentheticaly controls practically all of the coastne of Alaska where trees grow) Read the dispatch else where and note the answer.
 Congress passed bill saying one might purchase small tract of the publc domain" What is the public domain? Who is the public? Who is this Posterity which sits enthroned and dictates the veal of nation? A very important parsonage one would say:
 citizen, to escape the monotony of his workaday fe seeks to build little cabin the banks of sylvan lake amidst natures settings of emerald verdure, with soughng spruce and the tang of the woodland floating m the ambient aithere to spend portion of the summer] in recreation.
 He is trespasser against the Grown. Any fores- try official may order him off, "Ths is not for you he says; it is for Postertyhe of the highest; vague known quantity, but who yields much power did the Car of all the Russas who 6 years ago renqushed sovereignty over Alaska
 pioneer woman, who wrote glorious chapters in Alaskan history battling beside her male copatro in fighting trail through the wilderness onto pret ty spot beside lake, there builds rustic retreat in which to spend her declining years The best she get is the privilege of squang with the power resting in the hands of bureaucracy order her off with 30 days notce She cannot invest improve for fear of being compelled to take her belongings and move It is lake on which only little gasboats here and there for the pleasure of big game hunters and tourists yet is fore shore and is "reserved"- flor Posterity
 It is appropriate to make Alaska Day. day of mourning rather than jubilaton The only of eaon which may be correctly expressed is the fact that it's people have survived and performed hercuean task under handicaps which would have been worthy only of it's former rulers
 This petty application of rules and regulations epit- omizes the for people becoming discouraged and moving away. Yet there is still hope for the day when wisdom will supplant the present system and emancipa ton will Then may lift up voice and shout the full glory of the greatest of all frontier countries
 Alaska cannot very we'll complain if capital is fright ened away from the Territory by Federal restrictions, if it's own Legislature adopts similar policy in imposing vindlctlve tax distinctive line of industry How long would it be before other industry under the ban and to the conditions? It might reach to anything ncurng the anmosity