2. • The term “Indian possessions”
is not the same as “Indian reserva
tion” and does not affect the citizen
ship of one living thereon.
3. “Indian reservations” can only
be created (1) by act of Congress;
(2) by treaty; (3) by Executive au
thority.
It is extremely doubtful if the
court would hold that there are any
wards of the United States in Alas
ka with the exception of the Indians
living on the Annette Islands and in
respect to the Islanders, the Circuit
Court of Appeals says they are
wards.
The view of several prominent at
torneys is that this decision puts an
end to the “literacy tests’ sought
by different legislators unless Con
gress would change the Organic Act.
This the Natives may expect certain
people will try for if this territory
is divided; for several well-known
enemies of the Indian race are on
the steering committee which is
drafting the new proposed Organic
Act, namely, R. E. Robertson, H. L.
Faulkner, J. C. Barber, and others.
It will be the same gang, cannery
men, mining men, and their attor
neys whose first purpose in dealing
with problems of state is to con
trol elections for their own selfish
purposes.
President Harding
Visited in Alaska
By telling the world often enough,
the Ketchikan papers might succeed
in making the people believe that
the first city in Alaska visited by
President Harding was Ketchikan.
Let us be candid with each other
and stick to the facts.
President Harding arrived at Met
lakatla, an Indian city of nearly one
thousand people about six o’clock in
the morning of July 7th, and stayed
there attending the program and
celebrations until about twelve-thirty
the same afternoon. During the
morning, an airplane was chartered
by the Ketchikan Committee and
about ten o’clock it was reported
that Messrs. Heckman, Carl Strong
and Morrissey stopt off at the Indian
city to find out what the President
was doing. As he was getting along
fine, they flew back to Ketchikan
without handing their cards to the
President.
The honor of being the first city,
municipality, town or whatever you
want to call it, to entertain the Pres
ident and to extend to him the hos
pitality of Alaska on Alarjkan soil
must forever go to Herbert Murchi
son, mayor of Metlakatla. The day
was beautiful. Nature outshone her
self in the splendid effulgence with
which she greeted our late President.
The great ship Henderson seemed to
glide into the harbor, while the pop
ulace gathered on the cannery dock
to greet and welcome “Our Presi
dent.”
On the dock were gathered the
delegates of all the Indian communi
ties. The delegation from Bayview
had come 150 miles to see the Presi
dent. To this delegation were added
Wrangell, Kasaan, Hydaburg, Sax
man, Ketchikan; truly an impressive
gathering of the Natives of Alaska.
In a short while, the party made
their way to the school building
where benches and chairs had been
arranged. The President took his
appointed place. By his side sat Mrs.
Harding and others ranged them
selves in varying order of import
ance.
The chairman of the day was the
Mayor himself. The program went
through without a hitch and was in
deed a most creditable performance.
The choir sang the “Hallelujah”
chorus from the Mesaiah. The mayor
made his address of welcome. Rev.
Edward Marsden spoke on the needs
of the Alaska Natives. John Davis
spofce in his native tongue with Rev.
Marsden as interpreter. Roderick
Davis presented the gifts. Rev. Sam
G. Davis presented the petition of
the Alaska Native Brotherhood, and
George B. Williams told an actual
experience that illustrated the deple
tion of the salmon perfectly.
The President made his talk and
asked the people of Metlakatla to
aspire to the goal of citizenship, and
assured all the people that the gov
ernment would lend a sympathetic
hand to assist them.
After this program, the party
broke up and went up to visit the
historic Duncan church. Mr. He
wett, secretary of the trustees, lead
the party and soon the President and
his party found themselves enjoying
another musical treat. Again the
President spoke a few words as did
the cabinet members, Messrs. Work,
Hoover, Wallace, followed by others.
The President had not planned to
stay in Metlakatla later than half
past nine, but he was so interested
in everything that he prolonged the
party till half past twelve. Then
the party turned their steps toward
the dock. Quite a number of the
delegates were invited to return on
the transport Henderson, and again
the President and cabinet members
were gracious with their interviews.
The band was an important part
of the entertainment. The best part
of the day was the fact that it was
only at Metlakatla and the trip to
Ketchikan that first hand informa
tion was delivered to the President’s
party. At Ketchikan, the commttee
in charge, ably assisted by Gov.
Bone, saw to it that the party heard
nothing outside of what a fine can
nery Carl Strong had, and heard
nothing but what the committee had
prepared for’ them. The same stunt
was repeated in Wrangell and at
Juneau, but by that time the pro
tests had grown so strong that the
cabinet members and the President
found out that their tour was being
“personally conducted.”
—.......
Karl Thiele, it is said, also has his
eye on the governor’s chair—pro
vided the people want him. Karl
is just clever enough too that he
might get the job. Who can tell?
He is a fine gentleman, he knows
the game, and he has the chance.
Just now the papers say he is start
ing on a trip to see about roads
somewhere about the Kuskokwim and
the Kotzebue. The governor wants
him to go. He cannot wait until
the early spring because that would
be too late—for the primaries. We
think Karl would make a good gov
ernor too. He at least would listen
to you on any subject which is more
than you get under the present ad
ministration. But how is Karl to
explain to the people that he is for
home rule and for other things we
want and at the same time keep the
support of the federal machine?
From the gossip which we hear,
we are satisfied that the common
run of people would like to have a
chance to show the world that they
want Judge Wickersham for gover
nor. Under the old system, back in
Washington, the few people who did
not want him and wanted George C.
Hazlett, seemed able to convince Mr.
Harding that the people were for
Hazlett merely because the few hol
lered together and had previously
taken some voice culture and prac
ticed yelling together.
There is no doubt that the Judge
would get ninety per cent of the
vote if the real Alaskans had a
chance to say. And why not?