The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-11-11
THROUGH
THE SENTINEL
PERISCOPE

Pribilofs. At least, that's what the
report says Some time ago Oliver
Lefarge, president of the Associa-
tion on American Affairs. an or
ganization not connected with the
government, came forth with a
statement that virtual peonage"
existed in the Pribilof Islands
Some testimony to the same effect
was given before the Senate Int
rior Committee by a lass named
Frederick Martin, who is reported
to have once lived in Alaska.
At any rate, result was an ex-
petition to the Pribilofs to look
for poems. The report, now made
public and signed by DIR. Mark A.
Dawber of New York City, execu-
tive secretary of the Home Missions
Council, and also not connected
with the government, and Lorin
Oldroyd, head of the University of
Alaska extension service, who were
members OF the investigating
group, says the Pribilof people ZEN
joy an economic security on a par
with the highest income group of
any native people in all Alaska. !"
The report says hospitals and
medical facilities in the Pribilofs
are adequate and compare with the
best native schools in Alaska, and
housing is better than that found
other example of how a "do-good"
organization, existing usually on
public subscription, can promote a
nice trip at government expense
on a phoney allegation.
Now that former territorial Rep
resentative Joe Krause of Ketchi-
kan, member of the First Division
Board of Taxation and Equaliza-
ton, threatens to secede from the
u. s., we suspect that congress
will get busy and grant Alaska
statehood. Joe told the Wickersham
committee in Ketchikan last Sun.
day, according to wire reports, thai
If congress didn't act he was go
ing to urge Alaskans to set them
selves up as an Independent nation
with a United Nations charter and
everything. It's quite an idea. A
few years ago, a group of Sitka
residents, little irked about some
thing, proposed secession. During
the last legislature a group o
high-minded, determined youns
members had similar thought
They were going to hold a consti
tutional convention, elect a couple
of u. s. senators and a represen
tatiVe, and move in on congress
just like that More mature mind
squelched the scheme, realizing
such a move would be more detri
mental to the statehood cause thai
beneficial. However, such irregula
ideas help keep the statehood issu
alive. We have to give the boy
"E' for effort.
Interior Departments suggestion
of colonization program for Alas
ka with the aim of developing tn
territory isn't meeting with niue
favor If Alaska's public prints ar
indicative of the public sentiments
and we suspect they ase. Main oh
lection seems to be "too much gov
ernmet control" as contrasted wit
what's commonly known as FIRE
enterprise. The theory of the TOY
eminent providing overythiag IL
the settler and thus making hin
dependent on the state for his e1
istence just doesn't jell with A'a
kans. Delegate e. l.. Bartlett o
his recent visit to the territor
with the Wickersham committt
raised his voice in objection as di
other members of the committe
The delegate said he hadn't eve
been consulted on the details
a proposed bill which would set L
the program in Alaska but that
was against any plan for more go
eminent control and further wit
drawals of land for such speci
purposes.
Despite the furry the propos
has caused, it is probable a b
along the colonization program Iii
will be introduced in the next co
gress, and, If Delegate Bartlett
prediction is right, 1t will ha
pretty tough shedding.