The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-08-03
ALASKA FOR ALASKANS.


 ture of the Democratic rally that the speakers avoided any really i'm portant issues, and while giving ere dit to both speakers for much elo- auence, it is net likely that the workers will find in either address much matter for consolation or hope in the event of both being elected.
 The best that can be said, and It is the truth as far as the man who tolls is concerned, it will make no difference whether Senator Sul- ger or Judge Wickersham will be the choice of the people. Alaska for Alaskans is not an issue upon which Judge Wickersham will be prepared to break a lance. He ana his followers have long ago appro- priated that slogan and will not differ with the democrats upon it's application. They have prior To- cation on that buncombe.
 But the use of it is becoming a weariness to most who have not any sympathy with the heart aches of the jobite who hates to see the gent from Virginia or from Oregon get the job upon which he had un- wisely set his heart
 It is a common fact in eonnec- tion with all political meetings in Alaska, that they are given to fatt- ering themselves with an unusually large application of salve. They 1ake credit for achievements which rightly or wrongly are not wholly theirs.
 Even the Alaskan pioneer was not such a daring individual as it is taken for granted that he is, and for pioneering under difficulties and for laboring under hardships, many camps on the outside about which little is heard, have Alaska backed off the map.
 Since the discovery of the Klon- dike, travel in Alaska has even ap- preached luxuriousness. And the bountifully navigable streams gave way to polling boat rivers which brought Alaskans within the ken of the land of hearts desire.
 Alaskans are in Alaska not be- cause they love the tundra, the blizzard or the mosquito, and have the strong mans red bloded love of conquering obstacles That mythical idea is due to the circulation of so many Rex Beach or Jack London stories, for it is the certain truth that men are here because they in -stinctively believe that they are do- Ing betetr than they would do on the Outside, and because they are reli we'd from the cruel and vindic' tive struggle for existence that they have to face there.
 The idea that the pioneer is al ing may be ture physically in a good many cases. But he has not always the greatest moral courage. It sakes some grit to battle against circumstances outside; to face the sordid miseries within the cent belt Invariably requires greater moral stamina than to flock to the land where drinks are two bits shot.
 Life is a struggle everywhere. A hard remorseless and never ending struggle against mans inhumanity to man has to be faced everywhere That struggle is not any keener in Alaska than the Outside, nay not so keen. And there is not little truth in the fact that what we have done who have come hither, is to abandon the fight against the sea of troubles we had to oppose outside because of the struggle here beinA against the forces of nature solely and not so very intensive at that, was cleaner and freer than the fight of man against men.
 Alaskans have nothing to lose in either self respect or in principle by recognizing that the major DOT uion of the population has been driven here by economic pressure.
 As far as officials being Alaskans, the Industrial Worker has long ago l. II.. immaterial.
 We see no good reason why the