The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-12-24

icnse. The Juneau members are To serve as the executive committee of the territory. The letter being sent by the governor to members follows:
 November 2S. 1917. Dear Sir.
 President Wilson has said 1t is not an army We must train for war, 'tis a nation. and, in view of the national emergency resulting from carrying on the war with Germany and the necessity of assisting and providing for the national security and defense along lines to which all the people of Alaska are urged 10 extend their unqualified support and hearty cooperation, I have deemed it advisable to name the Alaska Ter ritorial Council of D'G'nse, to be composed of citizens of incorporated towns and other communities, who I am assured. will assume chocrlulIy all the duties to which they may be assigned in the present grave crisis which cOnfronts our common country
 It has been a difficult matter to evolve any plan that will make an or ganization of this kind at once elas- tic and effective, in view of the vast extent of the territory, it's scat tered and sparse population, made Quate means of transportation and mail facilities Its efficiency, how ever, will depend, in great part, upon the interest in the work that shall be taken by it's members, individual ly and collectively; and the hope is expressed that the Alaska Territori- al Council of Defense will be an in portant factor in solving problems and in meeting issues that will in evitably arise during the continuance of the war: and, indeed after peace has been effected, the work of re- adjustment of the changed conditions as a result of the war, should com mand the serious attention of the peoples Of all nations, and none more especially than our own
 This is no time to con ider poli- tics in any way. and patriotic mon and women are eschewing such in their desire to do their best for their country, and it is only those who are utterly disloyal or who have narrowing minds that confne themselves in these days of peril which confront the nation. to the discussion of mere partisan or fac tional policies; and it is matter of profound congratulation 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 preparations and war activities else where should not lessen our interest or our desire to do whatever we can to contribute to the national defense and welfare In a practical and efficient manner The activities of the various state councils of na- tional 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 into federal service. They have added their strength to the movement for stimulating and conserving our sup ply of food and other necessities; they have co-ordinated the work of innumerable aid and relief societies; they have extended aid to aicns helped the recruiting and Liberty Loan campaigns, and tackled the problems of labor supply and indus trial mediation; but each council has it's own special needs to meet and it's own plan of attack. As has been pointed out, the conditions that the Territorial Council of Defense will find in Alaska are such as are not met with elsewhere, but which must be solved in a practical way wherev- CT possible.
 Opportunities for service will ap- pear from time to time which are not now dreamed of The casualty lists from across the seas have al ready begun to arrive, and all the people of this nation are being at last aroused to the importance of the battle that our country is wag ing to make the world safe for de- mocracy and democracy safe for the world
 We all can aid in bringing about this result There must be no look ing backward. Let us forget all po litical partisanism for the time be- ing, remembering only that we are expected at all times to uo our best and meet and solve every problem as it arises, to the end that our work in the cause of liberty, hu manity and freedom shall not be in vain