Iditarod pioneer., 1916-01-01
WOMEN SEEK TO VALIDATE
 PROHIBITION AMENDMENT

The following circular letter has been is- sued by the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Sitka:
 "We most earnestly solicit your support for the passage of q bill through congress validating the law of the Alaska territorial legislature providing for a referendum to the people of Alaska upon the liquor ques- ton As you will see from reading the in closed petition, among the restrictions placed upon the Alaska legislature by congress Is one against amending the laws relating To the manufacture or sale of intoxtcat.hs liquors in Alaska.
 "Our legislature has proided for an ex- precision by the Alaska people on this sub ject at the next general election; but with out ratification by congress this law will be ineffective, even should the people of Alaska vote dry, as it can reasonably be expected they will Whether you favor the sale of intoxicating liquors or not, we feel that we may ask you to assist in securing for the American people of this territory the right to decide this question for them selves This IS natural right that Ameri can citizens may not expect their congress to withheld from them, and we are count
 
 ter In this connection we beg to call your attention to the memorial of the last Alaska legislature asking congress to remove these restrictions from our organic act.
 "The vast territory of Alaska is divided into four judicial and legislative divisions, and we petition if the vote of the people in any one of these divisions is against the sele of intoxicating liquors no saloon licenses shall be issued in such division after January 1, 1918. These divisions of Alaska are separated from one another by great natural barriers and vast areas of unln- habted country. so that none of the argu- ments against local option can be raised against this additional proviso."
 The petition to the congress of the United States referred to above Is as follows:
 Your petitioners, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Sitka, citizens of the United States and residents of Sitka, Alaska, resrectfully represent that
 Charter of the Session Laws of Alaska for the year 1915, approved by the governor of Alaska April l3, 1915, provides fer an ex- presson by the people of the territory of Alaska as to whether or not intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured or sold in the territory of Alaska after the first day of January, 1918.
 This question will be submitted to the neorle of Alaska at the general election in November, 1916.
 Section g of the act of congress to create a legislative assembly in the territory of Alaska to confer legislative power thereon, and for other purposes, provides that splr- ituous or intoxicating liquors shell not be manufactured or sold in Alaska except un- der regulations and restrictions as congress shall provide.
 "The laws enacted by congress for the regulation and restriction of the manufac- ture and sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors in Alaska provide Compiled Laws manufacture or sale of spirituous or intoXi. eating liquors may be issued by the judges of the district court in Alaska when 1t shall be shown to the satisfaction of said court that majority of the white male and female citizens over the age of 2l years, within two miles of the place where intoxi- eating liquor is to be manufactured or sold, have in good faith consented to the manu- facture or sale of the same, the people of factrre CT sale of the same
 "The people of Alaska should of right be able to prohibit the manufacture or sale of spiritucus or intoxicating liquors in the ter ritcry of Alaska, or any subdivision thereof if they so elect.
 "Wherefore. we do most earnestly and re spectfuly petition that the First session of the Sixtyfourth congress affirm atively ar prove said Chapter of the Session Laws of Aloclo for IQ1S and f,1rthar nrovida th at if the returns of said election in November 1916, show that majority of the electors in any judicial division of the territory of Alaska are opposed to the manufacture or sale of spurious or intoxicating liquors after the first day of January, 1918, no license shall be issued for the manufacture or sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquors in such division after January 1, 1918"