The Nome daily nugget., 1916-01-24
ka wanted statehood. anyway2 Was 1t

tory was not consulted in the matter. And why does the delegate. when scarcely dry from the sweat of fiaying editor John Troy of the Juneau Elm pire for the constant cry of his paper TOT full territorial form of severn nent, suddenly turn and offsf bin asking for statehood without SO much as by your leave to the people of 1he territory outside Of the Ftrst d. Yisionl This statehood matter h a great pig. vital ons that should be gwen the fullest consideration by the people Of the territory before making up theIr minds whether they want lor the people of the southeastern sec don to talk statehood To their hearts content Talk. 10 use the trits phrase. costs nothing, but the question is not one for snap Judgment Due account must be taken of just what statehood means before the matter Is decided. Doubtless We all want that privilege of handling our own affairs in our own
 way which is prsrosatiye of state government. but 1T such privilege of government were conferred upon us tomorrow would We be able to ade- 4uately support the establishment ne- cessary to its maintenance without .orcing upon our small population a heavier burden than they could bear.
 N 6 cheerfully acQuiese in the assertion that If We had full control of the re- sources of the territory We could de- rive substantial revenue therstrom through the medium of taxation but, would that revenue mean sn increase III the tax burdens We already bear and would the ultimate Of just taxa
 tion be sufficient to run the govern
 ment-to pay the salaries of a great number Of necessary officials from the road, for which the state would have % provide the money for repairs and improvements?
 Would there be enough to maintain the necessary Judicial system with its lat salaries and crowds of court of- Hcials and the schools. the roads. and the hundred and one other expensive things that would be thrust upon the territory, the expense of which are now largely borne by the federal gov ernmentf II may be poasibls to do so but We haven't heard of any one, so Tar, with proper understanding of the matter who had the termity to say that We could without increasing the tax burden of the people to an insuf- ferable extent The First division pa pers may wrangle and jar over the matter of the benefits to be derived through sweeping out the federal of- lice holders, which really seems to be the largest matter that Is sticking in their craw, and to holler that Alaska should have statehood. but that does not solve the problem that interests the minds of the people of the other sections of the country in connection with statehood. What they want Is some one to show them where the | money Is to come from before they make up their minds that statehood is a thing to be desired.
 Regarding the alleged action of the delegate it Is submitted that if he has introduced bill asking for state hood for the territory he Is displaying a most reprehensible disregard for the wishes of the whole people in not ask Ing them If they want statehood or not. It Is not at all likely that the alleged bill will pass in any event. so We have little reason to do any wor- 1, rying on that score, but even at that 1t would be better If the delegate d. rected his efforts to something in tho l legislative line more in keeping with l the needs of the territory and the de- sires of the people. If he assisted In securing an increase in the road ap- propriations, for instance. he would be doing something that would please his constituents far more than offering statehood bills which ,at the best. ! represent the wishes and desires of only portion of the people.