$1EN OF ALASKA
DESERVING OF
♦BETTER FATE
(Copy of an editorial in the Seat
tle Times, November 24, 1944)
Hearings of claims advanced in
the name of Alaska Indians, to
exclusive rights in the possession
and use of the lands, the fisher
ies and other resources of the
Territory, have been concluded
in the region vitally affected.
Hearings were held in three small
Alaska villages, and wound up
with a six-day session in Seat
tle.
Richard H. Hanna, the exami
appointed by the Department
of Interior, says no decision will
be rendered until well along in
1945. Meanwhile the department’s
attorneys, who are pressing the
claims, and the lawyers engag
ed in resistance may file writ
ten briefs, which the ezaminer
will consider at leisure. He sees
no need for any more oral testi
mony or argument.
* When, as and if the examiner
makes up his mind, he will re
port to the authorities by whom
he was appointed, and the re
sponsibility for final decision
will rest right alongside the re
sponsibility for beginning the
whole preposterous proceeding.
The finishing touch, like the
first, will come from Secretary
of the Interior Ickes.
No one knows for how many
years the natives had full pos
session of Alaska. Except in fish
ing and hunting for bare subsis
tence, they made nothing of the
unhindered opportunity. When
the Russians took over the whole
area in 1799, there was no pro
test from the natives.
No question of who owned
Alaska or any part of it was
raised when the United States
government, by the treaty of
March 30, 1867, bought Alaska
from Russia for $7,200,000 in
golden cash. All went as well as
could reasonably be expected
while Alaska was administered
from Washington as a ‘‘district”
and after Congress in 1912, made
Alaska a Territory.
From the beginning of Russian
occupation, and through all the
years as a district and Territory
of the United States, Alaska was
entirely free from hint of dispute
between natives and whites over
‘‘rights’’ of any kind, until Mr.
Ickes set his agents at work to
stir up strife.
In 1934, Mr. Ickes induced
Congress to give him authority,
under certain conditions, to
create or increase the size of In
dian reservations. Two years la
ter, he procured an amendment
extending that authority to Alas
ka. Neither in the act nor in the
amendment was there any refer
ence to fisheries or other re
sources.
The Alaska Indians claimed no
exclusive rights and were grant
ed none by Congress. Mr. Ickes
- - - — -- ^
himself undertook to establish |
and recognize such rights in
creating new Indian reservations.
Now, through his department’s
attorneys, agents and examiners,
he seems determined to procure
some sort of legal affirmation of
what he has done and whatever
else he may wish to do.
As viewed by the Department
of the Interior, the bona fide resi
dents of Alaska . . . the home
owners, workers, business men
and others . . . have no rights!
worthy of official respect. Those
who have invested millions of |
dollars in the development of
Alaska’s resources, and the many
thousand members of organized
labor constantly or seasonally
employed in Alaska’s industries,
are entitled to no consideration
I whatsoever.
All those truly concerned for
Alaska’s welfare and future are
firmly united in opposition to a
project, the consequence of which
would be appalling. They are en
titled to the rights they have hon
esly earned; entitled to the pro
tection of Congress and the sup
: port of the administration, no
matter at what cost of personal
disappointment to Mr. Ickes.
- _— ___ *
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ANNOUNCES
WAR DEATH
UNDATED — Tokyo today an
nounced the death of Vice Ad
miral Chiuchi Higumo, supreme
commander of the Japanese na
val forces.
The broadcast stated he was
killed in action at Saipan Island.
This announcement raised to
74 the number of Nip admirals
whose deaths Tokyo has listed
since May 17th.
Tokyo also listed the deaths of
18 generals since May 23rd.
REMAIN OPEN IN EVENINGS
To accommodate Christmas
shoppers who are working and at
the request of employees of the
U. S Engineers, Polef’s Stor.e
will remain open Thursday and
Friday evening of this week and
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
evening of next week. As Christ
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holiday will be observed.
BUY BIGGER
WAR BONDS
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MINERS & MERCHANTS
BANK OF ALASKA
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