The Alaska citizen., 1912-08-26
Phone 262 Phone
FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD.
HOM E RULE.

The affiXing of President Taft's signature 10 the Wickersham-Jones hill on Saturday signifies that Alaska from this time out is to take a more active part in the regulation of it's own affairs. being granted, in a limited sense. the right to govern itself Henccforth to a very con siderable extent, the blame for mis- takes. errors of commission or of omission. must be accepted at home, for our scapegoat of the past, the congress at Washington. has "ducked from under" Consequently it is well that We should advise with ourselves to the end that there will be no occasion for blame or. at the very least none with which We can be charged with having contributed by our negligence. Therefore let us, before essayins this crossing, fraught with import, use as much common prudence as is imposed on us by the railroad com panies before We walk or drive across their tracks Let us STOP, sLOOK AND LISTEN.
 There is no doubt that the home rule bin as passed while restrictive i'll some cases beyond reason. is still a means whereby the territory may obtain much legislation such as il needs Most of this. however, must : still come from the congress at z Washington and will be based if obtained at all. on the wise recom- mendations of our home legislature. : This hypothesis is based on the fact that it is reasonable to suppose that : the dictum of tWenty-four men from all points of the territory will natur- ally carry much weight with the national solons-much more in fact, than they have ever attached to the unsupported word of the delegate.
 No sane person who has lived in the territory for any length of time can doubt that Alaska needs the ap- plication of economic remedies such as will tend to its immediate de- Velopment, and needs it badly. The country's interest in party politics from the purely business standpoint is practically insignificant National issues will be dealt with and deter mined. until such time as we con- tribute the forty-ninth star to the flag, entirely without our aid or in reference. Consequently the first legislature in Alaska need not neces- sarly include in it's roll those who have been, or intend to be. closely identified with the old parties. A business administration is immeas- urably to be preferred to a political swapfest The territory's on a sick bed. Those best suited for legisla tors are men versed in it's troubles and who know what. in it's case would be the most efficient first aid 10 the wounded.
 With a body of twenty-four intel ligent men who have the interests of the country at heart using their best endeavors to prescribe such reme, dies for the growing stagnation of the various districts a power of good can be accomplished in sixty days trhnir Iot; lately be forwarded to the congress in session at the time and undoubt edly some of them would be formu lated into laws with little delay. On the other hand, the same number of men playing politics, through which would be excited petty jealousies and rancor between the different di visions, could sit through two ses sions and spend most of their time in deadlocks which would accomplish nothing beyond the swelling of the political pride of some few of the individuals.
 The part of wisdom at this time Appears to be for those who want to see Alaska go ahead now she has a chance, to get together and put al the head of their affairs such men they can trust to let no ulterior
 res such as party politics in
 Y the really essential work
 oh constructive legis
 quick relief fol
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