The Alaska daily empire., 1917-12-03
GOV. STRONG
 SENDS
 TO ALASKANS Makes Appointment of De- fenSe Council in Alas ka and Tells of
 Reasons. HOW ALASKA CAN AID Prominent Men in Every Section of the Terri tory Are Named on
 the Board.
HOW ALASKA CAN AID

Names of prominent Alaskans in ev-
 cry part of the Territory have been se-
 elcted by Gov. J. F. A Strong for an Alaska Territorial Council of Defense.
 The Juneau members are to serve as
 the executive committee of the Terri
 tory. The letter being sent by the Gov
 ernor to members, and a list of those appointed, follows:
 November 2S, 1917.
 Dear Sir;
 President Wilson has said, Tt is not an army we must train for war; us a nation and, in view of the national e mergency resulting from carrying on the war with Germany and the neces- sity of assisting and providing for the national security and defense along lines
 to which all the people of Alaska are urged to extend their unqualified sup port and hearty cooperation, I have deemed it advisable to name the Alas composed of citizens of incorporated towns and other communities, who. am assured, will assume cheerfully all the duties to which they may be as- signed in the present grave crisis which confronts our common country.
 It has been difficult matter to evolve any plan that will make an organiza- tion of this kind at once elastic and ef- fective, in view of the vast extent of the Territory, it's scattered and sparse population, inadequate means of trans portation and mail facilities. It's eff feciency. however, will depend, in great part. upon the interest in the work
 that shall be taken by it's members, individually and collectively; and the hope is expressed that the Alaska Ter ritorial Council of Defense will be an
 important factor in solving problems and in meeting issues that will inevit- ably arise during the continuance of the war; and, indeed, after peace has
 been effected, the work of readjust-
 ment of the changed conditions as a
 result of the war. should command the
 serious attention of the peoples of all nations, and none more especially than our own.
 This is no time to consider politics
 in any way. and patriotic men and
 women are eschewing such in their de-
 sire to do their best for their country,
 and it is only those who are utterly disloyal who have ingrowing minds that confine themselves in these days
 of peril which confront the nation, to
 the discussion of mere partisan or factiopal politics and polices; and it is a matter of profound congra tulation that there are but few who are in the
 class that puts party above country and thus lend aid and comfort to the enemy.
 The fact that we are far removed from the scenes of war and of war pre- parations and war activities elsewhere should not lessen our interest or our desire to do whatever we can to con tribute to the national defense and well fare in practical and efficient man. ner. The activities of the various state councils of national defense are many and varied, but chiefly they are the
 unofficial bodies for performing the | work of war in their respective states. They have formed Home Guards to take the place of the militia drafted in- to federal service. They have added their strength to the movement for stimulating and conserving our supply 'f food and other necessities; they have | coordinated the work of innumerable aid and relief societies.; they have extended | lid to aliens, helped the recruiting and Liberty Loan campaigns, and tackled the problems of labor supply and indus | trial meditation: but each council has its own special needs to meet and it's own plan of attack. As has been point ed out. the conditions that the~ Terri | torial Council of Defense will find in Alaska are such as are not met with elsewhere, but which must be solved in practical way wherever possible Opportunities for service will appear | from time to time which are not now dreamed of. The casualty lists from across the seas have already begun to arrive and all the people of this nation | are being at last aroused to the i'm portance of the battle that our country l IS waging to make the world safe for democracy and democracy safe for the world
 We all can aid in bringing about this result There must be no looking back l ward. Let us forget all political partis
 tnism for the time being remef,1hering only that we are expected at al ,la,e to 10 our best and meet and saFse every problem as it arises. to tho ena that Dur work in the cause sf iheity hu-
 manity and freedom shaH not ts in vain.
 In naming the Agaaka Territorial
 Council of Defense. I naes endearored to make it as representaiive as possi-
 ble. keenly realizing tha, fa order to
 make it's work effective to any ex- I tent. there must be brought to it intel iigence. loyalty and a desi.T tc serve. For this purpose. the s.ansser or the Council in Juneau vii b. cousidered.