The Alaska daily empire., 1914-08-27
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Adopted at Skagway, Aug. 1, 'l4.


 -@-
 Adopted at Skagway, Aug. 4, "A.
 We congratulate the people of Al aska upon the advent to power of the Democratic Party under the splendid and inspiring leadership of President Woodrow Wilson and the great men he has summoned to his Cabinet.
 In the nation at large, 1t has re- deemed every pledge made in the platform adopted at Baltimore in 1912; has freed industry from the domination of special interests; brought independence and prosperity to the people as whole. in spite of the utmost efforts of the great cor. porate and financial interests of Wall Street to precipitate panic for poll tical purposes has abandoned the Dollar Diplomacy of proceeding ad. ministrations and with patience and wisdom guided the country through trying and vexatious foreign compli' cations into the ways of righteous ness and peace.
 And of far more immediate concern to us, it has struck of the shackles which so long bound and restricted this Territory and has at last set Al aska on the high road toward the de velopment of a rich, prosperous, hap py and contented commonwealth.
 This development is not only al ready in full swing at many points in the Territory, but from Cape Foa to Point Barrow, and from the Gull of Alaska to the Frozen Ocean the Wilson Administration has infused every town and camp with the spirit of hope and confidence in the future
 The Democratic Party of Alaska, ir convention assembled, therefore pied ges itself and its candidate for dele gate to Congress to cooperate with tho National Administration in securing the following beneficial legislation:
 1. An amendment to the Organic Act, so that in the words of the Presi dent, Alaska may have a full Terri torial form of government" enlarging the powers of the Territorial Legis lature to every needful subject of leg islation not of strictly national char acter.
 9. The construction. of the trunk lines of railroad from tidewater tc the great interior basins, preliminary surveys for which are already under way.
 3. The creation of an Admlnistra tive Development Board, to be com posed of bona fde residents of Alas ka to sit at the Capital of Alaska ,to perform all the work now in charge of the various bureaus in Washington as advocated by Secretary of the In terior Franklyn K. Lane.
 4. The opening immediately of the coal and oil lands of Alaska, so that those great necessities of civilization may be made cheap and abundant to the people.
 5. The abolition of the National Forest Reserves in Alaska, which are wholly unnecessary to the preserva- tion of the forests, but operate mere ly as a vexatious hindrance to the min CT and the homesteader.
 G., The abolition of the St. Michael Military Reserve. except as to lands actually needed for the use of the Military Post at that point.
 2. To prevent by law the great cor porate financial interests of the coun- try from taking any part in politics, or seeking to exert any secret infu- ence upon Territorial or Federal off, cials.
 8. To provide for the admission of Alaska into the Union as State as soon as she has attained population of 100000, which with the impulse given to her growth by the wise policy of the Democratic Administration we confidently expect to secure within a very few years.
 g. The speedy extension of the sys- tenn of public surveys to all the agri- cultural lands of the Territory, so that the homestead laws may be efil- ciently and economically administer ed; that the law providing for re- serve of eighty rods between claims or nayigable water be repealed, and that land office be established in Alaska.
 10. The Democratic Party further declares in favor of a Direct Primary Law; the Australian Ballot; a Workman's Compensation Law; ad- aids to navigation and im- provement to the mouth of the Yu- kon River and the harbor at Nome; liberal appropriations for Roads and Trails; the establishment of more gov ernment fish hatcherles, and a strict regulation of the canneries and fish cries, so that our fishing industry may not be destroyed or impaired; and the reduction of cable tolls.
 The people of Alaska are now be- ginning to reap the benefits flowing rom the wise, liberal and just treat nent accorded them by the present administration; and to them we earn sstly appeal to support its party and and thereby demonstrate N nH---