Palmer, Alaska Carl Rasmussen, Editor,
published every Friday at Palmer,Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association,for the purpose of giving news of the
Association's work, problems, accomplishments,local and general news,
Subcription by Mall $ 1.75 yearly. Box, $ 1.00. Single Copy 10 ft
LET US MAKE UP OUR MINDS.'
The people of the Matanuska Valley have one thing in common with the
rest of the citizens of Alaska and that Is their Inability to get to
tather and decide whut they desire,In regard t6 plans-for furthur plans
for the development of our Northland and by whom the control end the
planing is to be done.
At the present time a small part of the control and the management of
various projects that will affect our development in the future is vested
in the citizens as a whole. The Territorial Leglislature is restricted
by the provisions of the Organic Act and the Veto Power of the Govcnor
and most of the more important comissions and bureaus that have such a
large control over our business and natural recources are appointee of
officials outside the control of the citizens of the Territory.
In the Matanuska Valley only one important orginizntion is controlled
by the people ,bv the exercising of their priviledge . of votoing for the
men who run Its business and direct Its policy. The many other agencies
and their officials arc appointed by the authority of men who are not
citizens of the ^nlley and who can not have the seme knowledge of its
needs and understand its difficulties.
A few. people seem to feel that the citizens of the Valley and the
Territory ns a whole arc unfitted to assume the duties vested In the
people appointed to the various offices who have such a large control
over our destiny, and that we must recieve aid in the form of financial
assistance and supervision of our business activities. Another group
feel that all outside control should be abolished and that the citizens
of the Territory and the Valley should assume full control, both in the
field of finance and in supervisory control of all business activities,
placeing each citizen in a condition where he must finance himself and
direct his own activities as best he can.
But a much larger group seem to think that outside control should be
abolished,and yet insist that men who have political control in Alaska
are not^be trusted and that if Statehood were a fact', that our large
Corporations and certain influential individuals would rule the Territor
much to the disatvantage of the average citizen. This is indeed r dis' . ,:
couragcing frame of mind and its solution would undoubatly be Anarchy:
this is so ridlculis that it could not happen in a country as intelligent
as this but it does show how inconsistent people can be, even well
educated people like the most of our citizenry.
Another Inconsistent attitude is that in regard to taxes, many people
insist that much more money should be spent on improvements that'would
undoubatly be of great value in the development in the Territory, yet
stoutly insist that taxes mu3t not be raised or new taxes levied for
these improvements. Despite the fact that Alaska, has immense natural
recourcos that really belong to all of the people and which are being
exploited for the benefit of special groups of people, and on which
taxes are lower than corresponding onterprizes in the States, yet it is
difficult to get the average citizen here, to a6reo to a larger and mor
adequate tax, to meet the needs of the development of the Territory,
because they think that somehow, in the process of getting larger taxes
from these enterprizes, that they too would be taxed higher, although
there is no valid reason why small landowners or businessmen should be
taxed to any greater extent than they are now.
It looks to the writer like it will be necessary for the citizens, wbc
now populate Alaska to decide what they want and how to get it, or the
will still be under absentee control or the new influx of people who
are expected to come to Alaska after the war will decide it for them, It
has happend before and it will happen again. A tremendous change Is
coming and something is going to happen, trying to ignore it or neglect'
ing to study,it will not prevent it or aid in an orderly solution*