The Alaska prospector., 1904-02-18
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

AS tHe years dllu CoHuitIOHS pTO- gross with us here in Alaska, the more urgent becomes the necessity for authorized representation at the seat of government. Each com- munity throughout the district, in its desire to forward the interests of the country, finds it necessary, at each session of congress, to have their locality represented. Men from each section are chosen and sent to Washington to present the needs of their neighborhood. As . consequence an unoFganized body of men representing Alaska are in Washington each year clamoring for needed legislation. They all mean we'll and the relief they seek is more than likely a necessity, but with each using his individual ef- fort and fighting for his own local ity, when taken as whole, state- ments are bound to vary and ideas clash, with the result that senators and congressman, whose assistance is needed, become tired of the whole business and put us off till next year, and so it has been going on for several years with nothing ac- complished. To overcome this difficulty, bill has been intro duced ny Senator Nelson providing for the election of q delegate to the house of representatives from the District of Alaska, it is sincerely to be hoped that this bill will pass. If it does it will be up to thcspeople of Alaska to set all petty differences aside and be unanimous in the se- lection of fit representative. One is needed who knows the country, its people and their efiorts--a man of broad mind and liberal in his views. Such man we believe can be found in the person of Judge James Wickersham. He has re- sided in Alaska for several years, and as n jurist has displayed rare ability. He has travelled all over the District, both interior and coast and knows the country and it's needs as probably no other man does, and having no particular sell fish interests in any one part, he can fairly and impartially repre- sent all parts of Alaska, with just ice to the country, to the people, and to the government at large. We believe that we are voicing the sentiments of the great majority of the people of Alaska when we put forward the name of Judge James Wickersham for Representative of the District of Alaska.
 The bill introduced in the senate offers good solution of the school question, outside of incorporated towns. Complaints are being con- tinually made along the coast re- yanling Jackson's management of schools, and it is to be expected when school is controlled entirely by man thousands of miles away, whose idea of education is that re- ligiOus training is more essential to the children than a common school education. With the schools under the control of a local board, elected by the citizens of the dis triet, better administration of af- fairs may be expected. One-fourth of the licenss money collected in Alaska is sufficient to maintain a tirstclass school system, provided the spending of it is taken from the hands of the present grafting, scl.is- nautical incumbent of the office of superintendent of education and given to citizens, who have the well fare of the children of their district at heart. It Is to be hoped the bill will pass. Jackson can then take . position with some missionary society, which he is much bette r sdaptel for than the office he now holIr.