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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR ALASKA.
Mr. Wickeesham. No; I never have. He did not desire it. That is why this committee has a greater duty than usual to perform. The President of the United States has been misled in this matter by people who have secured his attention and who do not, for some reason known to them, want the people to have control in that country. The situation is a pretty serious one, and deserves your most earnest consideration for those reasons.
Mr. Young. Absolutely so. I think the responsibility is a great one.
Mr. Wickeksham. In September, 1909, the President was in Seat-. tie, Wash.   When I learned he was going there I procured a tele-
fram, to be signed by all the newspapers in Alaska except two, and y the heads of the commercial bodies, and the mayors of the incorporated towns, and that telegram was sent to him on the 29th day of September, 1909, and read as follows:
Fairbanks, Alaska, September 29, 1909. William H. Taft,
President of the United States, Seattle, Wash.:
A united press and people of Alaska, in aid of constructive legislation for the creation of a government by the people in this Territory, and in aid of the development of its natural resources, respectfully request you to recommend in your next message to Congress, and give your support to, the creation of an elective Alaskan legislature in substantial conformity with Delegate Wicker-sham's bill, introduced at the recent special session of Congress:
Mayors.
E. Valentine, mayor, Juneau.
W. B. Watts, mayor, Nome.
T. Tonseth, mayor, Chena.
L. Archibald, mayor, Valdez.
C. Ott, mayor, Eagle.
H. Ashley, mayor, Skagway.
Jos. H. Smith, mayor, Fairbanks.
E.  O. Smith, president, Sitka Chamber of Commerce.
F.  G. Hale, president, Seward Chamber of Commerce.
Newspapers.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
Fairbanks Daily Times.
Daily Nome Gold Digger, Nome.
Daily Nome Nugget, Nome.
Skagway Alaskan, Skagway.
Daily Miner, Ketchikan.
Daily Alaskan Dispatch, Juneau.
Pioneer Press, Haines.
Seward Gateway, Seward.
Hot Springs Echo, Hot Springs.
Tanana Leader, Fort Gibbon.
Valdez Prospector, Valdez.
Cordova North Star, Cordova.
Tanana Miner, Chena.
Daily Tanana Tribune, Fairbanks.
Douglas Island News, Douglas.
That telegram is signed by all the- newspapers in Alaska except two.
Mr. Connell. May I ask why the two did not sign that?
Mr. Wickersham. It was not signed by those two because their owners did not wish the people to have legislative power there. The Cordova Alaskan is published at Cordova. It is owned and controlled and its bills are paid by the direct representatives of the Alaska Syndicate; its editor would not sign because the big syndicate was opposed to the bill.
Mr. Young. What is the business of that syndicate?
Mr. Wickersham. Its business is securing and monopolizing the resources of Alaska.
Mr. Houston. If you will take the time right now to tell the interests that that Alaska Syndicate owns, and the different corporations that it controls, or in which it has a controlling interest, it would be very instructive to the committee.