The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-26
SOMETHING THE p-l SHOULD KNOW

Alaska. with it's general development of
 material resources. Is not failing, also. to de-
 veop very interesting political fight m
 which Statehood. Territorial selfgoyerumene
 and Delegate to Congress James Wickersham
 are the leading issues.
 Democratic newspapers and the polite
 ians are generally unresponsye to the de-
 mand for Statehood as proposed in the pend
 ing Wickersham bill Alaska Democrats are
 already we'll cared for in the present form or
 government and Statehood might disturb this
 desirable condition. They are not to be cen
 sored therefore. for looking upon Mir Wicker
 shams efforts with indifference The
 last word spoken by the Democratic Territor-
 al convention declared for Full Territorial
 government and Statehood at such time in
 the future as Alaska acquires 100000 popua-
 ton
 Delegate Wekersham is a candidate for re-
 election and deserves to win The campaign
 will be fought largely on the Statehood issue.
 The country will await the outcome with some
 interest Alaskas future is in the hands or
 inc strong men who have helped develop 1t in
 the past They have suffered the hardships
 and borne the burdens. and to them must be
 entrusted the shaping of It's more immediate
 future (PostIntelligencer)
 or course the PostIntelligencer would try to make ~politics" out Of almost anything that it would dis cuss and of course the Democrats would be wrong However 1t is not usual for It to exhibit about the degree Of intelligence and information in discussing an Alaskan question as would expect the prover bal hog to display about warfare
 The fact is that there is partisan cleavage in Alaska over the question Statehood. The Demo crats declared for H four years ago. and the Repuoi cans have declared for 1t this year Both Democrats and Republicans agree that should have additional powers for the Territory pending Statehood
 There is no opposition to Statehood on the par of the Democratic newspapers or others because Demo crats are well cared for otherwise There is con vletlon among both Democrats and Republicans tha we cannot get Statehood immediately and both agre' that the Territory should have more powers now
 The only difference over this question-and tho division between those differing is by no means parti sanls that most of the people and press of Alask' contend that Alaska should have full" Terrtoria form of government while making the fight for State hood rather than to be compelled to stumble alonl with the present makeshft government They believe that we could get full Territorial government now Deieeate Wickersham and some of his supporters. wh had been fighting against the extension of additona movers to the people of Alaska until year ago be cause they said the cost would be ruinous, began fight for Statehood for the purpose Of preventing change in the form Of government They attempted to give the discussion a partisan turn. but wtihou success for the reason that Republicans and Demo erats alike were supporting the demand for large powers for the people.
 But even in this case Delegate wickersham claim to have changed his mind. and on January he in trodueed bm providing for full Territorial form government and in an open letter to the delegate to the Republican convention he placed "fuil' Tel ritoral form of government before Statehood in tn list O, things he stands for It Is true that tai switch of the Delegate left some. of his newspape support in the air and the POstntellgencer Prooaol has been accepting their rawlings about the matter 10 the facts.
 1T the Post-Intenigeneer will keep it's eyes an ears open it will learn lot about Alaskan affairs du ing then ext six months that might prove very inteI esting to it.