The Alaska daily empire., 1914-09-07
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

Adopted at Skagway, Aug. 1, "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 tho platform adopted at Baltimore in 1912; has freed industry from the
 domination of special interests; brought independence and prosperity to the people as a whole. In spite of the utmost efforts of the great cor porate and financial interests of Wall Street to precipltate a panic for poli-
 tical purposes; has abandoned the Dollar Diplomacy of proceeding ad- ministratIons and with patience and wisdom guided the country through trying and yexatious foreign compli- cations into the ways of righteous ness and peace.
 And of far more immediate concern to us, 1t 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- veloDment 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 Fox to Point Barrow, and from the Gulf of Alaska to the Frozen Ocean the Wilson Administration he's infused every town and camp with the spirit of hope and confidence in the future.
 The Democratic Party of Alaska, in convention assembled. therefore pled- ges itself and it's candidate for dele gate to Congress to cooperate with the 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 torlal form of government" enlarging the powers of the Territorial Legis- lature to every needful subject of leg islation not of a strictly national char acter.
 2. The constructio:. of the trunk lines of railroad from tidewater to the great interior basins, preliminary surveys for which are already under way.
 3. The creation of an Administra- tive Development Board, to be com posed of bona fide 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 h. 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 preserya- tion of the forests, but operate mere ly as vexatious hindrance to the min CT and the homesteader.
 6. The abolition of the St. Michael Military Reserve, except as to lands needed for the use of the Military Post at that point.
 2. To prevent by law tho great cor porate financial interests of the coun- try from taking any part in politics, or seeking to exert any secret infu- enee upon Territorial or Federal off ,ials.
 8. To provide for the admission of Alaska into the Union as a State as soon as she has attaiped a population ,f 100000, which y.th the impulse given to her growtk by the wise policy ,f the Democratic Administration we confidently extect to secure within 'ery few yeais.