Iditarod pioneer., 1911-09-23

James Wickersham, delegate to con gross, who is visiting Dawson today, represents the largest area of any man having a seat in the commons of that great nation founded by George Wash ington. With it's 800, ,00O square miles, Alaska is five times the size of the Philippines, more than twice as large as Texas or the German empire, and big enough to carve from it twelve EngIands and more than 400 Rhode Islands. Alaska's annual production of gold, pelts, seals. salmon, copper and other wealth runs into several times the original price of S7,20O.0O0 which Uncle Sam paid the Russians for the territory.
 With all this vast area and wealth, and with increasing importance be- cause of it's fisheries, minerals, coal and timber, and even agricultural re- sources, all now becoming recognized Alaska has not one vote in the delib- erations of the greatest republic of the world, that country of which it is a part.
 Delegate Wickersham goes to Wash ington every year to represent the people of Alaska merely as a spokes- man. He has no vote. He may debate, out not participate in the balloting. His territory has no representation when it comes to the actual test of ayes and noes. The reason, that Alaska IS merely territory, not state.
 The fact that Alaska, with all it's wealth and area and it's GO,O00 souls, has rot these privileges in the legisla- tive councils Of the regublic will strike many in Yukon as most singular. Here is Yukon Territory probably better known to many Americans as Canadian Yukon or the British Tukon-the most remote portion of Canada, actually so far ahead of Alaska in representative government as to make it a matter Of wonder. Yukon Territory has full dedged member of the Canadian par Iiument. He not only has every privi- !ege of speaking in the house, but also participates Tn every vote. Not only that, but the Dominion government. according to the latest advices from the Outside, not satisfied with having a plain member of parliament from the territory, is contemplating making the Yukon representative a member of the cabinet, giving him the portfolio of minister of mines. In the States it would be secretary of mines. were such branch created in connection with the cabinet.
 The anomaly is all the more striking when it is considered that this terri tory under the British flag is part of the nation from which the United States seeded in order to obtain more representative government. It was tax ation without representation which brought on the Boston tea party and the Revolutionary war. Arbitrary rule of the day lost to England her most splendid possession; yet conditions have 50 changed that here is portion of the British possessions today enjoying the greater privilege and more democratic government. These facts may not be throughout the United States The reference to them is not made here with the object of vainly boasting or to draw invidious distinc- tions, but to point the moral that Dele gate Wickersham, in his stern fight for government in Alaska, deserves all the support his people can give him. Delegate Wickersham has pending in congress a bill for an elect i've legislative assembly for Alaska. He will not have an opportunity to vote for his own bill, but doubtless his many constituents, if they could have an opportunity to vote for cOnstitu- tional amendments, would cast heavy