Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-11-23
NEEDS OF ALASKA
CONVENTION At SEATTLE ADOPTS
RESOLUTIONS.
Territorial Government and Repre-
sentative In COngresS-ReCOm
mendatlOnS of President In HIS
fteSSaqe OF 1904 Are Endorsed.
Vote Was Unanimous.

Seattle, Nov. 2l.-Alaska, by it's
delegates in convention at Seattle yes
terday declared for a territorial form
of government and demanded a seat in
congress. 1t declared also for new
mining law. These were the principal
features of the platform which the
convention adopted.
The selection of delegation to 20
to Washington to urge upon congress
the ratification of the platform is made
a special order for today.
The platform was adopted by unani-
nous vote and without amendment or
addition, but only after several hours
of warm debate. 1t was discussed ser
latin, and its every provision was
threshed out thoroughly, but when it
came to a vote there was no voice
raised against it. The platform as
adopted follows:
To the people, the congress and the
president of the United States:
The 10000 Americans resident in
Alaska, represented by elected dele
gates in territorial convention, this
2Oth day of Novemb Der, 1905, appeal to
the American people in every state and
territory, and to congress and the pres
ident of the United States with a can
did statement Of Alaska's needs and
respectful demand for the recognition
of her rights.
That those needs may be clearly un-
dArstood and those rights dealt with in
Justice. we deem it fitting to present
an outline of conditions as they exist
il Alaska today.
Ia the precious metals of gold, silver
and copper, and in deposits of coal, tin
and iron ore, we believe that Alaska is
the worlds richest storehouse. Its
waters produce one-half of the annual
salmon catch OF the Western hemis-
phere. Its $50, l07 square miles ex-
Deed the combined areas of the empires
of Germany and Austro- Hungary, and
the islands of Great Britain and Ire.
land.
AIaska's Vast Domain.
The great mountain systems Of Alas.
ka are crowned with ice and snow and
they feed glaciers, but in the southern
and central portions are vast and fer.
tile valleys. some as large as the state
of Ohio, densely timbered and yielding
abundaptly of grasses, all varieties of
vegetables, and the hardy grains.
These valleys correspond in area, lati-
tude and climatic conditions with por
tions of Northwestern Europe, which
contain 100000 Of enlightened and
prosperous people.
Within this wide expanse of territory
$1,000 Americans, their mum ers rap
idly increasing, are engaged in devel.
oping resources Of llmitless extent and
of incalculable benefit to the prosperity
of the United States.
But their work is q struggle against
adversely. They face not alone the
physical disadvantages Of country al.
ternating with rugged mountains and
forest covered valleys, but they are
burdened with laws wholly unsuited
to their needs, which breed expensive
litigation, engender anlmosities and
frequently bring progress to halt.
A heavy tax is imposed by congress
upon every character of Alaskan in
dustry and but a fraction of it is ap.
piled to Alaskas welfare, as the peo
pie of Alaska believe it should be ap-
piled.
The so 900 Americans in Alaska
represent the vigor and intelligence of
young manhood from every state and
territory of the Union. They have car
ried with them to their new homes the
public school, the church, the hospi-
tai, the daily newspaper, the tele-
phone and the electric light. They
have carried also to their new home
the American love of liberty and the
American belief that their local affairs
can be regulated by themselves better
than by body of men, however en-
lightened, living in different environ.
ments and occupied with other duties
many thousands Of miles away.
Wherefore, we demand the arplica-
ton to Alaska of the fundamental
American principle Of self government
and elective representation in congress.
We ask no help or favors. but only to
be permitted to work out our own des-
tiny and do our share in contributing
to the prosperity and welfare Of our
common country.
In addition we present herewith
Alaska's other immediate and most
urgent needs:
Demand New Mining Law.
First and Foremost: A statute ap-
plying to Alaska alone, amendatory Of
and supplementary to the federal stat
ute on mines and mining, making 1t
impossi BILE to locate placer claims by
agent or attorney intact with or with
out power Of attorney, or in any man.
ner to locate such claims otherwise
than in person; making it impossible
to locate more than twenty acres OF
n,oo,, c~ouud in oua claim thua a hOl.