The Alaska citizen., 1912-11-11
EXPERIENCES
 IN ALASKA
lBy Lena Morrow Lewisl

One may read about a place. others may tell you about it. but un til one has seen the land and obsery. ed it's characteristics its scenery. it's resources and it's people one can not have a proper conception of it any other part of the United States. To many it is the land of icebergs and snow. And so it is. but it is more than that, so much more that one marvels at it's resources. it's possibilities and it's people.
 The route from Seattle to the west ward along the southern shore takes one through sea of water sur. rounded on either side by hills and mountains. The snow capped peaks and evergreen hills produce a beau tiful combination and altogether tho scenery presents view more vari- ed and enchanting than can be found in any other part of the United States
 New Workers aboard our steamer who were familiar with the beauties of the Hudson river conceded the scenic superiority of the inside pas sage 10 Alaska"
 We had scarcely touched the dock at ketchikan. when heard some one call my name and found it was a Comrade whom l knew from down below" One soon finds that the people here have different expres- sions from what one finds in the States Out of the experiences and environment of a people they evolve their language In Alaska they speak of people in the States as liv- ing down below" When one leaves the territory they say "he is going out" When he comes back. he comes in
 From the first point l visited in Alaska up to the present time l have found Comrades whom used to to know in the days of yore down below"
 People have come here from all parts of the world Alaska is a mini ature United States so far as variety of resources and people are concern ed Perhaps some loyal Alaskan will resent the word miniature" since the area of the territory is one-fifth of the United States. and the Yukon river with it's 5000 miles of navigable water, ranks next in size to the Amazon, since it's gold dred millions and it's canning fisher cries constitute one of the largest industries on the continent Whenever there are resources that make for profit there one finds the capitalist class piling up profits and a logical sequence of this one finds it's counterpart in a movement in be- half of the working class and final ly the Socialist party organization The history of the Socialist move ment in Alaska is the same as that of every other country, modified, of course. by the peculiar conditions and location of the country This i is a subject about which I shall have more to say later However, let me say in passing that there is much | credit due Comrade Goebel for the | organizing energy he expended in Alaska, and being familiar with his | work for the past ten years and having covered practically the same ground. can truly say that Com rade Goebel never did better work than he did in Alaska. His visit to Alaska was most timely and the building up of strong Socialist movement right now in the territory means that the Socialists stand a territorial legislature
 At Cordova I found a most enthus- iastic group of Socialists, many of whom were working in the machine shops. Several of these boys were fin the Southern Pacific strike and are well grounded in the Socialist philosophy and fully appreciate the necessity of political action. At Cor dova and ketchikan and Dawson, Fairbanks and points out along the mining creeks I had record breaking meetings.
 It used to be a saying down in the States AS Maine goes so goes the nation," but now that Alaska is in the political field and her congres, sional election come in August the Slogan will be AS goes Alaska so goes the nation"
 | One thing is certain, if all the workingmeA scattered throughout the hills and creeks could have vote on election day we would carry the day for Socialism in Alaska. The working class is fully awake
 and alive to its interests in Alaska
 and it is only a matter of short