Show ALASKA We e came me to see a little place called Alaska discovered General and an empire Attorney Wickersham When Mr l Wickersham said that he was honest honest hon hon- est at least because his type of men then in congress and in the political family of tl the e. e president have always always always al al- al- al ways seemed to think of Alaska as a little spot up under the arctic circle inhabited by a very few lawless white men and a good many Indians the home of the seal and polar bear and the the same feeling with which the statesmen of seventy- seventy fi five years ago go considered ed the country west of the Mississippi l as the greatest of them once described it a country of deserts and b barren mountains of sand and rock swept forever by furious winds destitute of all the elements of wealth an unfortunate unfortunate unfortunate Sahara attached to our flag We are glad that Mr l Wickersham ha has found that Alaska is really an empire splendid in its wealth of I mines mines- e coal al and gold and copper great in its fisheries and I forests a region not yet half explored but explored explored explored ex ex- ex- ex enough to show that it has elements of wealth v. in mit it to build an empire and n no settled policy policy pol poi icy has b been en r reached ached through which justice can be bedone bedone bedone done to its people and under those circumstances we do not see Bee why congress does docs not do as President President President dent Jefferson did with Louisiana Louisiana appoint appoint a commissioner and gov governor subject to the approval al of congress t f. L. L commission of seven or ten practical practical practical and capable men and statesmen v with th the governor governor gov gov- nor el-nor of the territory to be the chairman of the commission and no limitation put upon the power I of that commission except the approval of con con- gress Our government has never been a great success in handling territories Fortunately only one is left and we wish that some sensible sensible- work could be done by which to look after the interests of that territory and protect the rights of its people people peo peo- pie because se the people that go to Alaska are entitled entitled entitled en en- titled to special consid consideration ration for it tak takes s nerve an and 1 endur endurance nce and industry and self self sacrifice sacrifice to to people a region like Alaska |