The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-07-17
ARGUMENTS FOR A TERRI
 ToRIAL GovERNMENr.

Senator Dillingham; complains of the difficulty in arriving at the desires of the people ot Alaska as to legislation which is required for country. The. Dawson News quotes the chairman ot the senatorial committee as saying
 "Iu the first place the men who come to Washington from Alaska seem able Co agree on very little, even among themselves. They como from different sections oi the distrie, that apparently have little in common, and from vari- ous towns with the endorsements ot their respective boards oi trade. The committees summon them Co hearings on questions that affect Alaska, and at- ter the testimony is an in it is so con aicting that it is usually more difficult than ever Co act with any confidence in the results that will bc accomplished. '
 All of which constitutes one ot the strongest arguments in favor Of selt- government that could possibly be ut- tered. The senators will find nearly the same diversity O, opinion while they are visiting the country as to the specific laws required Co make The min ing, industrial and commercial life ot Alaska thrive as the proyerbial green bay tree, as they are found to exist among Alaskans in Washington. That fact should not be counted against Alas ka. It does not show a lack Of iutelli- gence or a lack Of interest on the part of che people Of the district. It simply indicates the position oi the district as a factor in the commerce ot the West. It is likely that if Senator Dilliugham's committee should go Co the state of Washington, the state Of Texas or the state of New Jersey, it would ind a like diversity Of opinion among the business men and other residents, as to the re- quiremeuts of those commouwealths. Anyone who has ever attended a ses- sion of a state or territorial legislature and who has been present at hearings given by legislative committees, when people would come from the different sections Of the state or territory and introduce testimony and present argu- ments, one faction against another, for day after day, Is familiar with the fac, that the people Of Alaska are not dif- ferent from thJse from other section of the country.
 There Is not a state or territory in the nation where it Is not difficult at times for legislators todecide upon what is proper to do, though they live under the conditions imposed by the laws they make and though they are familiar with all the details ot the matters which they are seeking Co regulate. If there were unanimity Of sentiment among the people as Co the kind of laws required in Alaska, a territorial legisla- ture would not be required nearly so badly as is the case now. It there were not a diversity Of opinion iu these mat ters, we would all Cell the members of congress one story, and they would have an easy task. One ot the principal things we are asking for Is an oppor- tunity to decide iu an official way upon what is best according Co the composite judgment of an the minds in Alaska.
 It would be wise for Senator Dilling- him to quit trying Co arrive at the de- sires Of the people as Co the particular details of the legislation required and to permit them 60 settle it among them selves as they can do only by having al legislature of their own.