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Native had never been represented on Territorial boards which are important agencies of the executive department. With theirs a substantial proportion of the population, I felt they were entitled to recognition and to representation in the executive branch of the Territorial government. Consequently I appointed Embert Demmert of Klawock to the World War II Veterans Board, Jake Cropley of Juneau to the Alaska Housing Authority, William Walton of Sitka to the Alaska Fisheries Board, Mrs. Elizabeth Longley of Nome to the Board of Public Welfare, Frank Peratrovich and Percy Ipalook to the Alaska Statehood Committee. I regret that this policy has been abandoned by the succeeding administration.

The policy and actions above summarized have been grounded in what I consider basic American ideals and on the application of the Golden Rule. I further view them as part of an assignment to which all Americans--whether in public office or as private citizens--should be dedicated, namely, "to make democracy work."

Concerning another aspect of racial relations in Alaska, I disagreed unqualifiedly with past attempts by federal officialdom, which for a brief time found some following among a few of the native people, to create Native reservations throughout Alaska, and to establish for the Native people a permanent wardship under bureaucratic rule. That issue, however, is now dead and will never be revived.

In my view the people of Alaska, white, Indian, Eskimo or Aleut, should be treated as people. That is of course also their aspiration and desire. The Natives have suffered greatly in recent years because of the steady decline of the natural resource--the salmon fishery--on which most of them depend principally for their livelihood. What is needed for the economy of the native communities is not discriminatory legislation, but diversification of economic opportunity, first through education and specialized training, and the establishment of new industries.

But above all is needed the restoration of the fishery and equality of opportunity in sharing it. That means abolition of fish traps which the people of Alaska, almost unanimously, have vainly sought for years, and the transfer of the management and regulation of that once great resource, the Pacific salmon, to Alaskans.

Throughout my governorship and since, as a private citizen, I have fought for this course which statehood will bring about automatically.