The Nome daily nugget., 1912-11-04
VOTING TOMORROW.

At last Alaska IS on the eve or an election for its own legislature. Many are stili residents of the country whoI saw Il rise from an unpeopled wilder ness to a great territory which has produced many millions and which has received a measure of self govern ment. They have grown with it and been part of its life. They have un- dergone the hardships inseparable from pioneering and some of them have shared in the successes which it's exploitation has made possible.
 The characteristics of the territory its hroadness. it's freedom. it's great ness-hav. been imparted to those who have spent years travelling its hills. IL has stamped upon them quail ities which could not have been ac- quired elsewhere. II is their country. It has made them and has been made by them To them is due It's arrival at the state of autonomy. IL is their own work. formed and moulded and made by them no matter how humble might have been the occupations in which they were employed.
 The man who works for wages with a pick and shovel has contributed just as much to the uphuilding of the ter rltory as the mar who has contributed hundreds uf thousands not eompara- tively as much. but positively as r1uch. for without him Alaska would never have been more than q name. To him as well as tn the business man. the professional man and others belongs the glory of the achievement.
 With the thought of the countrys s rise and our part in eneeting il we snuuId approach the polling booths tomorrow. We should he conscious of honorable pride because We. small in number. have wrested Alaska iron the wilderness and given II d place amongst lands whose people have a voice in their affairs. We should feel the cares of prOprietorship and the responsibilities of power. and should do our duty directed by the desire which every good citizen possesses- the desire to do what is right.
 As candidates for the first Alaskan legislature many good men have come forward Some of them are men who will fulfil the duties entrusted to them like good Alaskans. Even those who may not be brilliantly gifted will ,em- ploy the talents given them to the best of their ability. With the confidence or the people expressed in them at the polls they will not violate it. They are Alaskans and il is the nature of true Alaskans to be broad and hon. est. and altogether too generous tol misuse the peoples trust.
 AS for the voters, themselves, they require no dictation and would proba- | ply. and very properly. resent 1t. but the eve of the election the dangers which now confront their territory.
 Growing up amongst a certain class here and in other parts of the coun- try are ideas born of envy. nurtured in discotnent. maturing in fetid at mospherc composed of hatred, ignor- ance and perverted ambitions. and hoping for continuation in the destruc tion of sane and practical government. Such ideas can. of course, only perme- ate a certain class. as the muddy wa ters of a river can only soil part of The sea. hut the number contaminated, by united effort and fanatical energy. can gain d footing when confronted only by disorganiZed or careless op- ponents. They become power through the very contempt of the great body of citizens.
 Now. the real Alaskan. the man Of the healthy mind. should see to 1t that the territory which he has created Is not surrendered to the tender mer- cies of the mentally diseased, the in capable and irresponsible. He should let no question of personal friendshipl or personal admiration for some qual- tiles blind him To the menace which the election of such people would mean. He should regard men who are dangerous To his territory as political enemies. and regarding them as such he should put his opinions into prac tical effect. Even by failing to oppose 4 them he is supporting them. and by supporting them he is abusing the power placed in his hands by his coun- ' try. and he is failing in his duty as . citizen. He is bound in honor and in