The Cordova daily times., 1916-01-04

dividual opinion touching the admis- sion of Alaska to statehood, and so far as you have observed, the gen. eral sentiment of our fellow citizens in your section of the territory with
 reference to that issue. Also. of course, any opinions or suggestions you may care to advance in respect of the other matters and things touched upon in this letter will be highly valued. sufficient reasons for believing that the time is at hand when the agita- tion for statehood should be intelli- | gently and comprehensively begun, and systematically continued; the chief reason for which, it seems to me, is that to further delay the mat ter will oorrespondingly delay the ac- quisition of material, political and SO cial benefits which statehood would bring; and which it is idle to suppose or hope We will ever enjoy until statehood is attained.
 We all realize, of course, that very considerable period of time will certainly eIapse before we can secure the passage of an enabling act even after all are convinced and admit that we possess every necessary qualification for statehood. Then. yet more time must pass be- fore we could expect to agree upon a provisional constitution acceptable to Congress. In other words, to be- come a state at all we ourselves must take the initiative, and under the
 most favorable conditions statehood cannot be attained until long after we deserve it, Furthermore, if the agitation be not soon commenced, and maintained with vigor, it is inevitable that a develop
 ment board, administrative commis- l sion or some similar contriyauce will
 be foisted upon us; the adoption of
 which will most assuredly tighten the l claws of bureaucratic government upon our people, and thus postpone self-government indefinitely. Indeed, 1 it seems to me, this is the most press
 ing danger of the moment; and expe-
 dIency would suggest that we con
 tinue a little longer to bear the ills
 we have, intolerable as they are, rather than fly to others we know not
 of l feel entirely confident that the
 American people our brothers, our
 kindred, our friends, will not long deny Us the rights of freemen; but
 should We sit still now, and compla-
 gently submit to some new, untrted, experimental device being yoked upon
 us, you may be sure that the people
 of the Republic will require of us that
 we give it what it's sponsors will spe- ciously designate a fair trial.
 1 This would mean simply continu-
 ance for an indefinite number of
 years-under a new name and form, 1 but in the main under the same men
 of the administrative inefficiency. ] industrial stagnation, and political de pendency from which we now suffer
 and have suffered until our hearts
 are sick The odor of skunk is not ! improved by changing it's name; and
 we may be sure, no governmental
 makeshift will materially improve our ] interests until the agents who govern
 us are answerable directly to us. For my part, I refuse to be deceived into
 accepting any other solution of our 1 problem. l Now, to give effective impetus to statehood agitation, it has occurred ] to me that convention or representa- i tive citizens favorable to the idea could be arranged and a permanent organization be effected under some such name as Alaska Statehood League. or other designation, indica- tive of its object and purpose. and ! provision be made for securing the cooperation of all Alaskans in sym pathy herewith.
 If you favor this idea please indi- cate your preference as to time and place, and if your name may be signed to a call for such convention.
 When I shall have received your answer and the answers of substan-