The Alaska citizen., 1911-03-20

ings are not quite sD pronounced. discussed current political topics around the festive board. Nearly two hundred Were in attendance and all were imbued with the spirit of the occasion and evidently there with the intention of having good time On all sides was apparent the feeling that the Democrats are abou, ro come into their own again and that it is time for AlaskanS to organize so as tu he able To offer solid front in the 1912 campaign.
 Caterer Williams of the Arcade. had arranged the three long tables in a most inviting manner and there was no lack of the good things that go to make affairs of this kind sue cess. A competent orchestra was also on hand and during the even. ing some excellent selections were rendered. The length of the speeches made il impossible to carry out the full program that had been intended and so the only songs were those by Walter RoWson. who was in eX- cellen, voice.
 Shortly before h o'clock the pro- ceedings were opened with an ad- 
 and the toastmaSter of the evening, J. Harmon Caskey. was introduced
 Mir. Caskey explained the object of the gathering in few words, and then called on the first speak CT. Judge L. T. Erwin Err his sub ject the judge had chosen The Life of Jackson" and he handled his theme in a masterlv fashion. De l-r1h h. ern cloqueuce. the birthplace of Jackson. and also his tomb. he re counted many anecdotes of "Old Hickory" which shed light on the great warriors character. The judge had just arisen from a bed f sick ness. especially to attend the han. quef. but il is doubtful if he ever made a better impression with his elocutionary ability.
 Following Judge Erwin's talk At torney Roth made an eloquent ad- dress on the tariff The text of this will be found on another page of this issue.
 After song by Walter R0wsOn Young America. in the person of George Herring was heard from. The young man delivered his speech in Il all and he made a very decided hit with his audience. His speech fol lows:
 Mr. Toastmasrer and Gentlemen-It is unusual 10 hear a boy speak upon an occasion of this kind. but I think that you will agree with me that a word from a native of the far north. who hopes to be q citizen and voter of Alaska, is appropriate. l am told that the purpose of this meeting is to lay a foundation for the organi- Zation in Alaska of one of the great political parties. To a boy like me who has been taught to believe in the principles of our government as laid down by those immortal men who gave to the world the Declaration of Independence. the treatment of Alaska by the political party in power is a matter of the greatest importance. The Republican party has been in power practically ever since Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867. and what has that party done, and what is it now doing for Alaska?
 It has persistently denied to Alaska any kind of home rule. thus putting il below the natives of the Philip pine Islands, the natives of Ha- waii and the natives of Porto Rico, for the Republican party has given to those black natives a system of home rule. and has denied to the whites of Alaska any voice whatever in the making of any of her laws, CT in the selection of any of the officers of the law who do service within the territory. I want to ask if the members of the Republican party have repudiated that portion of the Declaration of Independence which declares that all men are created free and equal" and that all gov ernment obtains it's power through the consent of the governed" and that taxation without representation is tyranny" To a young Alaskan like me. il seems that that great party of Lincoln. has not only for gotten and repudiated the very fun damental principles of Democracy, in their Alaskan policies, but they have turned their backs upon the enc great principle enunciated by their immortal founder Equal rights to all and special privileges to none. From the number and thrift of the trusts in the United States. and the many millions of starving men. women and children. it seems to a boy without the capacity to appreciate the phil osophy of the Republican party, that that party today stands for plutoc- racy and not for democracy; for imperialism as opposed to a repub- lican form of government. and it seems to me that it is sailing under false colors by keeping the name Republican, when it is opposed to seems to me that it should have the common decency to change it's name to either 'Plutocratic party" or 'Imperalistic party" and then its name would disclose the true doc trines of its leaders, the ultra rich and law-favOred few. Now, as far as the Democratic party is concerned, we boys will keep our eyes upon it, and if it lives up, in practice, to the promises it makes, we will cer- tainly be with it. The Democratic party stands for home rule in every territory; that includes Alaska, and We boys believe still in the great doctrine of that great man Thomas Jefferson, that Americans can be trusted with the ability and common sense to govern themselves. The Democratic party stands for home rule in Alaska, and we kids will pull for a Democratic president in 1912, and nothing can resist such pull as