The daily Alaskan., 1910-03-16
WE NEED AN ORGANIZATION

It is painfully apparent that the home rule element in Alaska need to organize if they would win in the fight they are waging for territorial government and against the infamous administration measures which pro. pose to toist an appointive council up ou us. As matters stand now the fight resembles that Of a small body of trained troops against a mob; and discipline and organized effort always vim in cases of this kind
 The interests back of the Bever. idge and Hamilton bills have the ap. proyal of the President and his aids de camp; they have several experi- enced lobbyists working for them and they are able, through the aid of money to bring witnesses from Alaska to testify in their favor. Fink was such a one: so was Ferguson.
 Opposed to this highly organized force James Wickersham stands al- most single handed. True. the people and the press of Alaska are behind wickersham. but our voices are not heard in Washington and save for the aid of a few public spirited con. gressmen. whose help has been enlist ed largely by personal friends and by the inherent justice Of our cause, wickersham stands alone
 He is compelled to dispute witness after witness. apparently men of stan ing who have been brought to Wash ington to give testimony that will help pass one or the other of the ad- ministratiou measures. wickersham has done all that one man could do; he has shown the ialsity of many of the statements of these traitorous wit nesses. he has revealed their motives but a, the same time preponderance Of evidence cuts a large figure and  the legislators will soon wonder who Wickersham represents and why the people of Alaska have not witnesses in court.
 1T the territorialIsts of Alaska had an organization which would be sup ported by all the people of the north who believe in home ruIe-and that would mean ninety per cent of the popuIation-we would have a cam paIgu fund that would enable us to send to Washington representative men from every part of Alaska who could refute the testimony of the paid witnesses and corporation hire Hngs who now have the ear of Con gress. and who would represent the true state of affairs in manner that would bring conviction. Wickersham  would have able support and the Bev- eridge and Hamilton bills would stand no chance ot passing.
 The individual leaders in the home rule fight cannot spare the time or the money to go to Washington and present their cause, but a well organiz ed territorial association would be able to collect funds and to select men to send on to Washington.
 A territorial association should be formed with this end in view and The Alaskan suggests that the home rule press head the movement Let local associations be formed in each town. with say a contribution of $l per member and let each local asso- citation send representatives to a con yention to be held in Juneau, and let this convention select a number of men to go to Washington to testify before Congress with credentials from the association.
 The Alaskan is willing to take the initiative in this matter. but the home rule press and all individuals who be- IIeve in home rule must heartily CO., operate. And time is a prime essen uaI. We must get busy.