The Nome nugget., 1903-02-04
AS TO TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.

Recent advices received from the utst are e effect that a number of AIashans who left Noms lat fall have been interviewed and xresscd themselves anxious do all in their power 10 do something 'r the bettcrmvnt of existing conditions Among u" more prominent of these were Col. Melvin CUg>hy United States district attorney for tie ,tcond judicial d,,,ou Joseph ". lvey. late collector of c"senlo, and James 5. Brewster, of the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co. Of these Col. Grig-hy and Mr. BlcA- ,ter declared themselves unequiv voculIy being in favor of territorial form of government for Ala-k while Mr. lvcy believed that the main essentials vera delegate in congress and the extension of e Uuict States land laws to the district
 While we welcome the fact that who have lived in Alaska and kuo" s"m' thing of it's requr- ments are bending teir energes to redress If real grievances 1t is to be regretted that they not united upon questions of provo+ed legislation for Alaska. TIE NCCGEr does not believe III tak.I z h.lf-hcarled views of .ihcr "nen or things" We have with studied the question of 1crrtol i-l government for Alaska, aud have favor ed thc proposition, for reasons that have been fully get for h m these columns We arr.irre say, however, that we do not believe that the only pauacca for Ala>kas ills is to be found n "d,rgat. in congress-" That would he step in the right dlrcc on to be hut the fact is forced upon that something more i, needed. The territorial form of government may not be an ideal one, but it has been in ever since
 there territories 10 be governed. l. ls workab c the experience of many territories now Stal's of
 the unon, has demonstrated. If Alaska had ter rtoria government ali special taxation now sxs;ii in the dislrIct would be rcrcaeI the land laws wou be extended and aSkaus would have an opportunity to try their handS s self government their ia he E Lld. And they succeeded abundautly. When u e matter of territorial government is fairly con.ide, cd there does to he good argument in favor of it. Let us see. We have the populstIon therefore have the character, the intelligence and capacity for sell government? We answer yes in no uncertain tone. Yet the district s of magnificent distances. the condolences of some portions ot 1t and the dculi-
 es of communication between the different sections have hecn the chief objections which 1 HE NUGGET las urged against the establishment of terri orIal soycI nent. Yet as have remarked, the founders of many of the territories, now mighty aud lrosl erous slate,, and Overcame these salne oh tctIuns an by SO doing they demonstrated in no unceraln way that they were right. The cxteu,ion of transporta- ton facilities is proceeding ally in Alaska and submit by the time that terr toria furm of gov e.nnent can be csta l,led, the objections which have noted vii be overcome.
 The simplest solution of the question: therefore it to us, would be for congress extend 10 tories have had and under winch they have pros cred notwithstanding the attendant disabilities. Terri torial government must in the very nature of thtngs be better than no government and this IS why TEE NUGGET is inclined to give it's support to the efforts now being put forth, and which will be put forth in l the future to tccuIe 1t.