The Alaska daily empire., 1913-03-04
Mir. IngersOIps Speech
 in the House Yesterday

Chas. E. Iugersoll. as temporary chair, man of the House Of Representatives. delivered at the opening session yes terday
 Members Eject of the House of Representatives. We are about 10 enter upon the first session of the first legislative body in the history of this country. | take a conscious pride with all of you in being member thereof Legislatures will succeed each other in endless succession. Members umumcrable will occupy these chairs. many Of whom no doubt will far transcend the present occu- pants in intelligence, statesmanShip and renowu: but as the anxious trav- eIer eagerly scans the guiding post at the commencement of his journey. sol will the eyes Of posterity revert to the record of this body for counsel and control
 The responsibility that faces us is a grave one. For one reason and another Congress has always shown towards this territory a lack of con- fdence in the intelligence, stability and capacity of her people. After wears and years Of fearful appeal and hopeless denial Of it's rights, public announcement has at last been made that America has brought out in the full glare and splendor of an admiring world. decked out in the tun and re gal habilimeurs of American citizen ship. this-Alaska-its youngest, its| largest. its Gairest and its most abused offspring. And vet. when this fair maiden is asked to share with long suffering humanity out of the joys and possessions which a bounteous na- ture has so liberauy bestowed upon her. she rolls her eyes in questioning appeal to the grim visage of an in- tolerant Congress, and the suitor turns away in utter dismay and despair
 Leqislature's Limitations.
 After carefully anaIyzing the en, ab,ug act which defines the powers of this Legislature, one is obliged to ask himself. outside of gracing the halls of some social function or of drawing down the generous emoluments of oi- fcers. what in the world We are here for This instrument is a paradox Of hopeless inconsistencies. RespIendent in promise. We find from one and 10 the other an iunocuous dearth of hoped-for privileges. Looking for the substance, We find the shadow. Ask ing for bread. We get a stone. In the words of the immortal bard, it may best be characterized as madness most discreet, a choking gall and a sickeuing sweet
 "As Alaska is the largest of the pos sessions. so she is the latest to re- ceiye recognition; and the quality Of that recognition is in the inverse ra- tio with it's size
 Why this reluctance on the part Of Congress to extend to us those rights and privileges that long established precedent has made our due? am not one of those who would impugn the motives or the integrity or fair ness of the Congress Of the United States. From the birth of our coun- try. the highest legislative branch has been. and I am proud to feel that it always will be composed of the best men. the strongest men, the highest libertyloving and greatest spirited men from all sections of the land. That high ideal must always be lived up to. if one would attain that point of honor and esteem which is the only reward for a life time of service in the halls of Congress.
 Neither have I the temerity to ques- ton the wisdom of those great and noble men who placed upon the heights of history's foreground the beacon light of liberty which has enlightened the world
 "Posterity. however. fatters itself that all the minute and arduous labors and patient sacrifice devoted to the framing Of that compact which linked together the discordant colonies was given out of an arectionate regard foI its welfare alone. That this overmas tering solicitude was fostered by ar inbred love for those who were to in herit the richness of the reward.
 ITO me it is very problematical just how far the interests of posterity came within the horizon of theil views. An emergency had arisen; g crisis had been reached, which haC to be met. Under the arrogant and in tolerant rule of the dominant party O the mother country. conditions had be come unbearable Isolated from ma licnant contact with the influences which had created those conditions and with the opportunity offering it self of framing a government whicl would be free from the obnoxious fea lures of all forms of kingly rule, tn paramount question which presente' itself to them was how to frame compact to eliminate all evils of tn
 past. And just as man in genera