The Alaska daily empire., 1916-05-26
OF
 DEMOCRATS AS
 ADOPTED TODAY


 ing:
 The Democratic party of Alaska commends the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. Under his able statesmanship and Leadership, the Democratic party has done more during the present administration toward the development and upbuild ing of Alaska than all Republican administration combined
 The National Democratic Party in establishing the Federal Reserve System has accomplished the wisest and most beneficial legislation since the Civil War. Tho policies and measures of our national administra- ton have brought the greatest pros perity to our country. have main l tained the nations honor and pre- served the nations peace.
 We heartily commend the admin istration of the interior department, by that stalwart Democrat Franklin f K. Lane. and we desire to express our appreciation of his untiring efforts In behalf of Alaska.
 We commend the administration of Governor Strong aB most ener- getic. competent and satisfactory.
 Abolish Pinehotlsm.
 We demand that Pinchotism be banished from the territory. The paramount issue between the Demo cratic party on the one side and Delegate Wickersham and the Re- publican party on the other, relates to the question of whether Alaska shall be conserved and Pinchotized, or thrown open to settlement and development: of whether the terri tory shall be a wilderness or land of homes and fresides. of mines and farms. of cities. towns and villages, occupied by contented and happy people. Tho Republican party adopted an Alaska policy under which vast areas were thrown into useless forest reserves. both mineral and agricultural lands were with drawn from entry. reservations so rods in extent were made between all homestead entries lying along the shores of navigable waters where most of the agricultural lands at present accessible are situated. and the home builders. miners and others compelled to pay stumpage on all timber and fire wood used in the con struction and maintenance of homes. development and operation of mines and dsheries ard otherwise. We com mend the work done by the Demo cratic party under the guidance of President Wilson and Secretary Lane. looking toward the opening up and development of the resources or the territory. and condemn our Dele gate in Congress for not cooperating with tue President and the Secre- tary of the Interior in carrying out their enlightened Alaska policy. realizing full well that if our Dele gate had been in full sympathy with that policy and had not allied him self with the conservation clique. the last vestige Of Pinchotism would long since have disappeared from the ter ritory. The only redeeming feature about the conservation policy, in SO far as it affects Alaska. is found in the fact that the local officers al present in charge are considerate and obliging.
 End Fractional Strife.
 The earnest desire to aid and as sist Alaska is now manifest through out practically all the various de- partments of the government, aud the great need of Alaska today at Wash ington is Delegate commanding the confidence of the Congress and the government. to demand the measures and aids to fulnll the crying needs of the Northland. To this end We earnestly urge the citizens of Alaska, regardless of party. to support the candidate of this convention, that all bickerings. factional strife and dis sension may cease In our Territory, and the people of this great Empire of the North be adequately repre- sonted as a united harmonious and progressive people. firm in the de- mand of their just rights, regardless of personal politics or ambitions. cor porate machinadons or factional struggles.
 Full Territorial Government
 The most urgent immediate politl- cal need of Alaska is the enlargement of the powers of our legislature and the enactment of a law by Congress granting Alaska full Territorial form of government. The Democratic party. founded with the birth of the ] nation. rocked in the cradle of lib- erty and freedom, and true through out the life of the nation to the prin- ciples laid down by Thomas Jeffer- son. has stood for local self-govern- ment. The Democratic party stands today where 1t stood when Governor Swineford made his first report de- manding self-government. The Democratic party stands today con- slstently for statehood as it has stood i'm the past, but with sound judgment it recognizes the fact that the securing of statehood will be a long fight as has been the case with practically all the former territories of the Union If our opponents were sincere there could be no possible issue between them and the Demo cratic party on this matter. but theil present promises must be judged by their past performances. and tho Democratic party in Alaska does mol propose to permit any set of politi clans to blind the eyes of AlaskanI under a cloak of statehood while VI remain indefinitely without an, adequate legislative powers undei our so called Territorial government Wickersham's organic act does not iI any sense give us self-government and no serious efort has been mad' by him to have the powers of thu Legislature enlarged.
 Opposes Double Tax.
 The Democratic party is oppose,