The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-10-18
THE YUKON ELECTION.

parliament. Tho territory has reached a vital point in its course. 10 is at that stage of development when intelligent government will count for more than has been the case in Che past and more than it will count after the period Of transition from the primitive conditions and consequent primitive methods or the past Co those conditions and meth ods that should obtain with an ad vanced civilization shall have passed. A mistake in the government at this time would be an but fatal Co the future progress oi the country. This faot taken in connection with the further fact that the prosperity oi Sklgway depends almost entirely upon the welfare Of the Canadian Yukon and the Atlin dis trict, lmpels Che Daily Alaskan Co take an interest in the election that will take place on the a day of December, that would be impertinent on Che part Of a foreign paper under ordinary circum- stances. Under the peculiar conditions that surround SkaEway and the Daily Alaskan, and their connection with the interior country, the publishers of this paper feel that they owe no one an apology for daring Co advise with those of the Daily Alaskan readers who are electors in Yukon territory. There is no one on either side of the national boundary hnc whose interest in the development Of the Yukon Is greater proportlonately with the investment than IS that of the publishers of Che Daily Alaskan. This being the case, the Daily Alaskan feels that it has a mo,al right as well as Che liberty Co express its views freely upon the questions that are involved in the campaign that IS now ir progress across the line.
 The duty O, che Yukon e!ector Co. himself and bis country could not be more clearly defined than it is at che present time. The platform upon which Che two candidates arc running are not far different, SO that almost che sO,e issue Is che personality oi thc two candidates, and between these there should be but one choice. The well be- ing Of the Yukon demands che election Of Governor Ross. The platform upon which be stands is broad and liberal and 2, Is ampli6ei by Che public career and character oi Che governor himself
 Notwithstanding Che terrible allie tion that was visited upon Governor Ross iu che loss ot his wife and children in che Islander catastrophe. in Che l5 months be was at che head oi Yukon affairs. more was accomplished for che real good ot che territory than during all the years that had elapsed between the day upon which Carmack discoy- cred the golden sands Of Bonanza creek in ls96 and the date of the governors commission.
 Governor Ross has thc confidence oi the government at Ottawa He Is q man who copmands confidence from an with whom he comes in contact. If be shall so to the Dominion capital as the representative Of the Yukon it will be within bis power to secure those things for which the Yukon miner Is and has been crying aloud. How would it be ii be should be defeated?
 The election of Joe Clarke could mean only one thing. To would be con- strued as protest against conditions that were fast teing remedied by Gov ernor Ross when be was stricken last summer. That is alL Clarke is iu no sense man who could be depended upon to arrange the details Of a construc- tive policy. He is an agitator who may pull down. The Yukon requires a man at Ottawa who can be depended upon Co build up.
 Let it be conceded for Che sake of argument that the Yukon has been an abused portion oi the Dominion. lAl- though Co Alasklns 10 will seem strange to hear a country that has been accord cd the right Of seIi-goyernment and representation in the affairs of the ul- tion, besides having received the bene ft Of hundreds oi miles Of wagon rolds, bull, at the governments expense, re- ierrel to as being abuseil But Che Yukon people feel that they have uot been treated right by the government, and granting that, che question is how best Co secure reversal ot that treat ment Win it be by the electien Of Clarke, the man who has made a fail. ure Of everything be ever undertook and whoss election could only mean that the people of Che Yukon are not satisfied with wha, they have received in the pastg. Of course not Every sane man knows that should Clarke be elected the government would have Co seek elsewhere for counsel and advice as 70 its Yukon policy. Clarke stands for absolutely nothing bu dissatisiac ton. On the the other hand Governor Ross understands the conditions and history of the Yukon as well as does n O.