Iditarod pioneer., 1914-04-04
ALASKAN MATTERS
 DISCUSSED AT FLAT

The mass meeting held at A. B. hall, Flat City, on Monday, March 30, under the auspices of the Wilson Democratic Club of Flat, to discuss Secretary Lanes pro- posed Alaska bill and other matters includ- ing the mining laws" was 6 most interest ing gathering The seating capacity of the hall was taxed, and great many were compelled to stand throughout the pro- ceedings That the subjects under discus, sion were such as to arouse the concern of all residents of the district and of Alaska was evidenced by the close attention given each speaker, and the manifestations of ap- proval or disapprovM of sentiments ex- pressed by the speakers were frequent.
 There was an undercurrent of expecta- ton of sensational developments manifested by the audience, due to the publication in last weeks Pioneer of the famous letter to Secretary Lane on the subject of the Alaska railroad bill signed by seven ot the territorial senator's While there was con demnation of the act of the legislators in the matter by individual speakers the meet ing, in spirit of fair play which is char acteristc of American public gatherings, refused to go on record as condemning the senators before they had been given an op- portunity to justify their conduct The sen timent of the meeting seemed to be truly reflected in the statement of Professor kli- gore, who said: Personally l unqualihedly condemn the statements of the senators as uncalled for and untrue, and will be glad of an opportunity to tell them so, face to face. But it is unfair to pass condemnatory resolutions in their absence, and without giving them an opportunity to defend themselves"
 The Little Giant Was Chairman
 The meeting was called to order by I. J. McGrath, who called for nominations for chairman. J. c. Moody was placed in nomination and unanimously elected. In assuming the chair Mir Moody gave re- view of the Chamberlain bill, incorporating Secretary Lanes plans for development board for Alaska He believed the plan was good one, but that the bill was lame in one particular Alaska should have rep resent ation on the commission. Speaking of the territorial mining law, he said its enforcement would operate to the detrlment of the territory in more ways than one. The federal law was good enough if the associa- ton clause were eliminated. He also be- heved that the location of mining claims by power of attorney should be prohibited, but that a citizen should be allowed to locate all the ground he wants for himself and upon which he can do the represent atlon written by the seven territorial senators to Secretary Lane, in which they stated that the people of the territory were opposed to government ownership of the proposed Alaska railroad, and stated that they had gone out of their way to misrepresent the people of Alaska. Speaking of the Alaska territorial government he considered that congress had handed us lemon.
 At the conclusion of Mir. Moody's re- marks William Taylor was elected secre- tary of the meeting.
 Mr. Moody then handed in the follow
 l..L r.. AL f meeting:
 The Resolutions
 Be it resolved That the citizens of Otter precinct heartily favor the passage by con gress of Secretary Lanes proposed bill, in- troduced by Senator Chamberlain, for the appointment of commission to have in charge the resources and public lands of Alaska but amended so as to provide that at least one, if not two, of the members of the proposed commission shall be bona fde citizens of Alaska.
 Be it resolved, That the members of the legislature which is to convene next year be requested to repeal the attempted amendments to the Alaska mining laws as at present framed, as in the Judgment of this meeting they are unnecessarily burden some and promise to breed intending litiga- ton.
 Be it resolved by the citizens of Otter precinct, in mass meeting assembled at Flat City, March 30, 1914:
 That in its judgment the members of the legislature to be selected at the coming election should meet in the territorial cap itd only for the purpos of repeating all legislation attempted at the first session, and after adopting resolution calling on congress to give the territory some tangible evidence of home rule or repeal the farccal
 w. F. Harrison. Views
 w. F. Harrison was the next speaker and he proceeded to get on good terms with bis audience by the relation of humorous