The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-09-14


4hs shemsaNa walrs II uneaeAllea
sfAnasuf isNsm ehallN b ekaeneY en-
sewra NJ enc white FAth. me lnAeh
ana nv snkan hase an ~AsifArtiun rsAt
viii rtnw III fAsat when betlst khpwn.
Mofa rsxple should AZ thtoaas
AiAslK sahtvad ~ nnantink me mama
i n Inc voyage vs. ne tsa
@The sswafs ren'nsala alone csn
taihn raoaFh "a frepafces ~ laftAta
the same ~ 40 AlasAa. The namss
of othif and klne solomon atV here
cnmmcmorwcd, along with tnat "
the great statesman. william neTss
Seward. Mr. Seward wisely said that
he would be beat known IN history az
the purchaser OF the territory % Alas.
IA. ne bought these bso.poo square
miles with an amount only suficieat
TO build a modern b~attleship.
"Alaskans are already beginning 70
take pride In their country ami It's
achievements You have bccn ham.
pered by the IaSt that your legislation
rust all be enasted by a bods Of men
sitting 1000 miles away. Congress is
anxious TO do well by Alaska. But
the men who act for you are respon-
sible only to other constituents.
"rhere Is one element OF represent.
alton that you perhaps do not con-
slider, and that Is the fact that from
every part Of the United States has
your population been recruited. There
are probably no congressman who do
not have friends and former constit-
uents in some part Of your country.
Your first mad is TO have some one
authorized to speak for you in the
house Of representatives. The man
who can do so must not be appointed
by anybody but the people whom 10
processes to represent. He should BIO
responsible to them, and to them
| alone.
''Your laws need amending in many
particulars. Your mining laws need
adaptation to the peculiar conditions
that prevail in your climate,
mo one can fairly go into these de-
tails, bit an accredited representative,
| who Wi! know yJIr wants ami
deavor to secure your rights. Should
he come from Nome he would speedily
inform himself Of the needs Of the
other parts of his district. He would
want to leglslate for the greatest good
for the fisheries of Southeastern Alas
ka, even though his personal interests
were at Valdez, Fairbanks or Nome.
"As the representative from South
Dakota keeps in touch with the Black
Hills miners and the Yankton farm.
ers, so would the delegate from Alas
ka keep In touch with the interests or
other localities than his own. ] have
earnestly urged the passage Of such
a bill for Alaska in the two last con-
crosses, and helped to frame the FIRST
bill which passed the house. Twice
has the house OF representatives pass
ed the bill, and invited you to send an
accredited representative to sit within
It's chamber and participate In Its de-
alterations. And twice has the sem
ate refused to act UPON the bill. Let
me suggest that every citizen Of Alas
ka, who is personally acquainted with
| either a senator or member OF the
house, should wrIle to his congress
| sional acquaintance and urge early &C.
ton on the delegate bill.
There is no way to get men inter.
ested unless you show an interest
yourselves. Sooner or later you VIII
have a Legislature Of your own, to
whom congress al refer all the de-
tails Of local legislation.
Alaska should not be classed with
| Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines. The white population OF Alas
ka have learned the art Of seif.gov-
eminent in the school Of experience
before coming here, and I believe at
an early day they should be accorded
the opportunity to exercise this right.
"In parting with the good people Of
| Nome | wish to thank them for their
hospitality and innumerable courte.
sizes. I only regret that my stay
among you has been so snort"