The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1914-09-28
Bunne||'s Campaign Draws Big Crowds
Democratic Nominee Makes Impression

Features Of the Democratic plat
form, which he is pledged TO support
were entertainingly explained ny
Charles f. BunnelI to a big audience
in the Auditorium Friday evening
Although it was advertised as a
political meeting for the benefit of
Mr. Bunnell, the Democratic nominee
for delegate to congress, il might
properly have been called a boost
meeting for the purpose of promot-
ing and talking over the needs of
the interior of the Territory.
Mr. Bunnell has been actively cam
paisning this district for the past
week. and concluded his advertised
speeches at Gilmore last night That
he has made hit here is made
evident BY the enthusiastic crowds
that have greeted him everywhere.
At the meeting at the Auditorium
Friday night Mr.. Bunnell was intro
duced by Falcon Josln, who elo-
quently explained the necessity of
sending back to Washington a man
who would be in absolute harmony
with the Democratic administration.
Following Mr. Bunnell's talk. r. r.
Roth. Democratic committeeman, eX-
planned how Mr. Bunnel had almost
been forced to accept the nomina-
ton by the Skagway convention.
Mr. Roth also went into considerable
detail in regard to the plank in the
local Democratic platform. calling for
the establishment of central power
plant by the United States govern
ment for the purpose of providing
miners in this district with cheap
power
SPEECHES DlGNlrlED.
In none of the talks given did
the speakers resort TO unidentified
personalities. Mr.. Roth spoke high
~ of the qualifications of Mr.. Bun
nell's opponent. Mr.. Wickersham
but showed that the latter is handi-
capped in congress by not being
party.
Mr. Bunnell took one plank of the
Democratic platform at time. and
explained its value to the people
of Alaska. Like Mr. Roth, he put
especial stress on the value of the
proposed government power plant,
and he declared that it would be his
ambition to get it authorized by
congress. in case he is sent to
Washington.
That the President of the United
States. Woodrow Wilson, is entitled
to the credit of having assured Alas
ka Of government railroad. WAS
one of the assertions made by Mr.
Bunnell, who showed. also, how the
administration at Washington has
been working for Alaska's interests
in other matters.
POLICY is CONSTRUCTIVE.
Mr. Bunnell showed how the Demo
cratic party in Alaska is carrying
out the constructive policy of the
national administration in various
ways, one Of which is the plan OF
opening up the resources Of the Ter
rift nIh1i1 Ia I'D,
ed the abolishing of the forest re
serves, and pledged himself to work
to that end.
1t was pointed out by both Mr.
Bunnell and Mr.. Roth that the rail
road bill had a joker in it that is
dangerous to its final success. This
joker, they asserted is the provision
that the road may be leased to
private corporation at the will of
the President of the United States.
While it was asserted that the pres
ent administration would do nothing
Of that kind. the danger lies in the
election of Republican President
before the road is completed. The
fact that this provision is in the
railroad bill was charged to Delegate
Wickersham, who is confessedly OPP
posed to the government ownership
of public utilities.
In regard to the route Of the pro
posed road, Mr.. Bunnell explained
that as resident of Valdez he is
naturally favorable to that city be.
ing chosen as a terminal for the
road However, the main idea is to
get the road regardless of the To-
cation of terminus, and he declar-
ed that he would actively support
the railroad plans, no matter what
point is chosen for a terminus. From
the language of the bill authorizing
the road, Mr.. Bunnell said he thought
there would be more than one coast
terminus
OTHER POLICIES EXPLAINED.
In addition to the features of the
local Democratic platform which he
is pledged to support and promote.
Mr. Bunnell explained some of his
own policies. One of these is to
gain for Alaska a systematic school
system. At the present time. he