Evening star., 1902-03-18
OUR NORTHERN EMPIRE
ALASKA WANTS REPRESENTA-
iN
TIoN IN CONGRESS.
Mr. Murphy Of Nome Tells Of the Ter
4 II
ritory's Qualifications in Popular
Intelligence and Wealth.

While Congress Is directing its atten-
ton to the affairs of our colonial posses
saons and is making appropriations for
their benefit and Is comforting political
privileges upon them, let us not forget our
great northern empire. Alaska said
George Murphy, delegate from the cham
Der of commerce of Nome, Alaska. today.
with native American-born population
larger than any one of our colonies. 1t oc-
cuples the unique position of being the only
territory of the United States which Is not
represented in our national Congress.
Ihe pioneers of most of the territories
and frontier settlements have always suf-
Tered from lack of recognition from the
government owing to distance. want of In
tion. These disadvantages are emphasized
IN the case of Alaska. With an area OF
oOo.OOO square miles, and as yet with no
interior transportation facilities. it has
in 1857 nearly $5O,p6O, ,OOO and is now an
nuaiiy contributing $15,OOO,OOO to the wealth
of the country
There Is smaller percentage of Hitter
acy among the people Of Alaska than any
state or territory of the Union. for with a
population of 10000 people only one-half
or one per cent cannot read or write. To
this high degree of intelligence must be
attfibuted the limited number Of criminal
prosecutions
Great injustice Is done to the business
ana commercial interests in that while
theS pay an annual revenue of nearly half
million dollars into the United States
treasury. scarcely one-third of this exor-
pltant amount is appropriated for the needs
oi the territory. Congress does not al
ways receive accurate and impartial irfor-
nation In regard to existing conditions,
ana 1t Is not possible for people living at
such distance from the seat of the ma
t1onal government and with limited means
or communication to protest against legis-
latlon detrimental to their interests. The
expense now incurred by The various de-
paItmentS OF the government iE obtaining
information necessary to guide them in re c.
ommending legislation would be largely re-
duced and far more satisfactory state of
affa1rs would be possible If the people of
Alasha were accorded The privilege of
electlng a delegate to Congress.
Ihree-fourths of the people of Alaska
I'VE In a climate a little colder than that
or the Pacific coast. Nine-tenths of it's
population live in or near the towns To-
Gated upon the Pacific ocean and Bering
sea, SO there can be no question of a rep
resentative vote being cast and the rights
OF franchise fully exercised. That part
OF the census report dealing with the edI-
cat1onal qualifica tions of It's people proves
very conclusively that citizens can be
found who are capable of administering
and executing the laws provided by Con-
sresS for their guidance.
Officials who do not owe their appoint
ment to local influence and are only Gartly
responsible to the community for their Of
hcial acts are often Indifferent to the de-
mands of its citizens and their indifference
is frequently source Of irritation and
complaint. We believe the public service
IN Alaska would be benefited if all its pub
lie officers We're achosen from among the
people who are directly interested.
The governor in his annual message
has repeatedly recommended that the ter
rltory have q representative. The CONNER
cial organizations have requested and mass
meetings composed Of all classes Of citi-
zens have passed resolutions urging that
they be given voice in directing the legis-
lation effecting their welfare"