The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1942-01-27
COMMUNICATION

Here is copy of letter from the
Gastineau Public Health Council
signed by w. H. Matthews, Jr., Sec
rotary, addressed to the Alaska Ma
tive Brotherhood, Jake Cropley
President:
The Gastineau Public Health
Council has received from DR.. Court
ney Smith communication which
your organization has written him
in the form of an open letter. DR..
Smith is correct in referring to us
your letter on the publication which
you mention, since he followed the
specific request of the Council and
since the publication was made by
an officer Of our council as a regu-
lar procedure after the report came
to us.
Il need not define the activities
or purposes of the Council since
you are a member of itand were
present at our last meeting when
we discussed our constitution AS
matter of fact your glowing report
of the progress of the village since
the meeting in the Governors office
together with your thankful words
expressed at that meeting were a
source of inspiration to those of us
who had SO conscientiously helped
you to your achievements.
But, perhaps I should remind you
that the Council consists of rep
resentative of all major organiza-
tions in the community banded to-
gether for the purpose of melting
opinion in behalf of public health
Improvements; and that the ANB
and the ANS are both represented.
We take pleasure in some achieve
ments in the community. We call
your attention to an excellent public
health nursing system which is pro-
vided to all persons irrespective of
race. creed, condition, or political
affiliation, in the city of Juneau
and OUR neighboring community
Douglas; to fine health center
located in the Territorial Building
which has superb record of prog
ress. Space does not allow a COM
pilaticn of our work nor is it neces-
sary. A frequent accounting OF our
stewardship appears in the public
press at certain times. However. if
you are interested further we shall
be glad to provide you with a full
report.
May we say that we are extreme
ly sorry that you felt it necessary to
instigate such a criticism. Until this
letter appeared we saw what won
derful progress was being made by
cooperation. We felt that together
we were making great strides and
that the whole community of Juneau
was cognizant of our mutual efforts.
We know enough of you personally
to be assured that individually you
value our efforts and we are Just as
assured that collectively you ought
to go on record as being appre-
ciative.
I'm conclusion let us say that
having opened such matter as this
to the community, the community
must be the judge. Be assured that
the community has taken record of
the improvements to your village!
Realize that the community has
ways of knowing when you started
your work and how it has progress
ed! They know when you returned
to Juneau to Begin! The community
knows the sequence of activities that
led up to the beginning OF the work.
Finally, we are certain as you too
must be, that in the relation which
exists between yourselves and the
Health Council, the community will
appreciate sincere activity more
than bombastic rhetoric. We had
begun work on the places to which
YOU refer long before the report on