Iditarod pioneer., 1914-07-25
DEMoCRATIC CLUBS
 BIB MASS M!lE;!EEi'I1NlG E G

The mass meeting called for last Sunday evening at Flat City, under the auspices of the Wilson Democratic Club, brought out quite large audience Owing to the in cIemencv of the weather, only few per sons were present from this city.
 When Charles Estmerc president of the club called the meeting to order at S:30 o'clock, only small gathering was present Tn the new Moose hall, but before the close the hall was comfortably filed With q few remarks as to the purpose of the meeting MT Estmere called upon J. (, Moody to introduce the speaker of the even ing, G. Ellis Gardner. assistant United States district attorney. In introducing the speaker. Mir Moody spoke of MT. Gardner in most complimentary terms.
 Is Here to Stay
 In his oepning remarks MT Gardner made humorous reference to the means ot transportation to Flat City, and designated the tram as the lightning express" He said that he had come to Alaska with the intention of making his home here, where man may safely belong to any political party Down South, whence he came, this was not the case-a man had to belong to the Democratic party as a matter o1 sef-protection To illustrate he told of 8 Republican voter who desired to eXerclse the right of franchise in South Carolina. Being compelled to swear in his vOte he found that the oath administered to hlm bound him to 'vote the Democratic ticket now and forever hereafter" He wanted 1t understood that he was from North Caro- llna-not from South Carolina, the state ,f of hat fame. The speaker interposed another hu- horous story at this point, which evoked rppIes of laughter. T have been told that here in Alaska you haven't any politics. he said He believed that a man should stick to his party. If you are Democrat, stick to the Democratic party, because that party is always right" he said. He re cited the history of the Democratic party, and stated that since it's organization 1t had never faltered. The Democratic party would always continue to live, because the principles of Democracy could never de He had heard 1t said in Alaska that since there has been a Democratic admlnstra- ton times have been hard and are getting harder He contended that the admlnlstra- ton was not responsible for natural condl- tions--the lack of water for gold mlnIng operations last year and for drouths Tn the agricultural regions of the States. He sad that President Wilson had done more fer Alaska than Roosevelt and Taft had ever done or could do He euloglzed the Presi- dent for his work as governor of New Jersey in cleaning up the graft and cor ruption in that state, and predicted that he would do the same for the nation. The lesson to be conveyed was that the people of Alaska must stick with the Democratic party, disregarding private opinions
 Would Bring Railroad to Flat
 He believed railroad could be brought to Flat City by working for 1t in harmony with the Democratic party, the party that makes 1t possible to 'get things He be- Ieved in standing by Wilson, the man who stands by Alaska. He suggested that in the coming election support should be given to the man who stands with President Will son, If you want to get all you can for Alaska He spoke dsparagingly of politi- clans as a class, saying there were thou sands of politicians, but few statesmen, and cited incidents of the reconstruction period in the South, telling his audience to Hook we'll to the politician" He was forcibly impressed with the democracy of society in Alaska, and spoke approvlngly ot the fact that he had seen the common laborer hobnobbing with the banker and business and professional man on terms of equality Here more than anywhere else it was rec ognized that 1t was not money that mace the man, nor fine clothes the woman-t's the character. Let's keep it that way, said MT. Gardner.
 Wants to Be Called "EIlis"
 He wanted to know the people and the people to know him. He would be the hap piest man in Alaska when every man he met felt impelled to address him by his Christian name of Fills" He intended tc make the people of Alaska like him in spite of themselves.
 After few intimate remarks in simi lar strain, intermingled with humorous stories, which kept his audience in the great