Speech #700030458

Bringing a lot of people from northern Europe to Alaska alone is not going to effect the developnent about which there is so much talk. The greater amount of this kind of development will come from within and not from without. The distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts seems to think that what Alaska needs more than anything else is immigration to the Territory. He feels so strongly upon that point that lie would almost be willing to repeal the restriction law so far as it applies to Alaska and permit any and all classes of people to emigrate to this Territory. Congress has. by the passage of the restrictive immigration law. tried to protect the people of the United States against undesirables. and. so far as I am concerned. I think the people of Alaska are entitled to the same protection ngainst such class of emigrants as are the people of Massachusetts or any other State in the Union. Let me add that the white citizens of Alaska are just as patriotic. intelligent. and lawabiding as are the citizens of any other part of the United States. I admit that immigration of the right kind will be welcomed by the people of Alaska and will help to bring about a healthy development of the Territory. but it is my judgment that what is most needed is a little encouragement to the people who pioneered that country and who have spent the best years of their lives there and are rearing families. because. after all. the real development of the Territory must come through them. According to the report of the Governor of Alaska for the year 1925. Alaska shipped to the United States raw products to the value of $61.042.862. and the United States shipped to Alaska merchandise to the value of $33.621.969.