The Cordova daily times., 1915-04-19
WHAT STATEHOOD FOR ALASKA MEANS
 TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TERRITORY
WY HE the territorial legislators at Juneau pro \N pairing bills to give Alaska fuller form of local gov ernment Delegate Wickersham arrives the seen

" HILE the territorial legislators at Juneau pre- \N/ pairing bills to give Alaska fuller form of local gov w emment Delegate Wickersham arrives the scene announces that he will introduce bill in the next Con gess statehood for Alaska and presto Senator Hubbard Sutherland at get busy and start campaign in the legislature for a statehood measure.
 Under the caption of "Wckersham and Statehood the Fairbanks Citizen thus editoray comments subject that is of considerable interest to Alaskans
 The act introducing bill asking for statehood for Alaska may be harmless thing way but will certainly have the tendency discourage the federal in appro patng funds for the development of the territory It is only by being territory that get congress pay for de veopmen and everybody who keeps in touch with political affairs knows that congress does not out of it's to aid a people who do not appreciate such aid
 There about 60000 people in Alaska, including the Indians who about half the entire population. This leaves probably 30O00 white people in the territory These people do titles land that be taxed with the exception of the people who live in incorporated towns and these already taxed to the fullest of their capacity sup port such towns.
 As Alaska becomes a state the law will prevent from supporting local government There will be money here for schools for local courts money to support the legislature, money for keeping trails and roads, money from the federal government for the of insane and ndgen charges money for running down ordinary ugtve from justice money to pay the and local officials and short there will be nothing doing when to federal expenditure with the exception of maintaining probably court which will handle only such cases involve federal law
 Just at present there much that Alaska has to ask for from that not quite clear why Delegate Wicker sham should weaken his influence in congress and dis
 
 ing for such impossible thing statehood where there not enough of revenue the whole of Alaska support modest city government.
 One of the chief of the present session of the legislature to figure out how the be increased Tn order to give the legislature money for carrying out its va projects It first decided to ask for the the forest for building roads and trails but much of this money already goes the territory it that plan abandoned.
 Since then bills have been introduced for taxing people order to support the limited government have. The poll tax to be enforced it from present indications and every knd of property that be taxed will be force pay for the support of our present legislature.
 When 1t IS remembered that congress already all necessary expenses of the territory is hard understand how the people will appreciate this proposed heavy taxation Certainly the taxpayer the who must pay poll taxes and may be required pay increased poll in order to support the plans of lawmakers will not look kindly any suggestion that tends increase his burdens gesng statehood should center their energies in an effort to and the people of the territory rather than suggest placing on them increased burdens and the time making coli gress beheve that 1t made mistake when it appropriated $ OOOOOO for building road to develop this territory
 II lls IS an attempt the part of Mr. Wickersham to play to the galleries" and temporarily please few cheap politicians Juneau who want chance to spend public funds which not controlled by the federal government will any do him permanent good He elected because the people thought he conservative of good political judgment and he should endeavor maintain that confidence of the public
 To Col. IOehas and Brig GorDas nromoton to