The daily progressive-miner., 1917-01-18
OUR PUBLIC WELFARE

When considering public interest, and public questions as determined by the voice or vote of the public, if 1t happens to go contrary to what we con slider, in our selfishness, our best in- terests, we often become like the jur- or who found himself against "Eleven of the most contrary men he ever met
 thus the conclusions of Subscriber" in the Miner, of the 18th.
 He says Our first legislature blum l dered when it extended suffrage to the women" and "Our second legislature blundered when it took up the liquor question" and now, the principal theme of his article being 'blunders, he opines that Delegate Wickersham has blundered in introducing the, so-called Bone dry" liquor bill for Alaska. l remember, when the woman suffrage bill came before our first legislature, there were some who took no stand regarding it as they had not time to communicate with their constituents. In the last session of our legislature a prohibition bill was introduced and de- feated on the ground that the senti- ment of the Territory was a matter of doubt and a bill was passed enabling the voters to express their desires in the matter, which is the only just way for public servants to represent their constituents fairly. The results of the vote was very decisive and would have been the same if the women had not voted which is evidenced by the vote of every out-of-theway mining camp. Now, what is the duty of our delegate in the matter? Our legislature is powerless to enact laws governing the transportation of intoXicants; the pro- hibition laws to be passed are to be- come operative, Jan. 1st, 1918; the present session of Congress terminates March 4th, next; Our legislature does not convene until next March, and the laws enacted at that session cannot be ratified by Congress until the con- vening of the next session, which will be the first of next December, unless there should be a special session, which is not probable; thus any pro hibition bills for Alaska could not be passed in time to be effective in en- forcing our legislative acts when they should become operative; so it ap- pears to the writer that Delegate Vic kersham would have been remiss in his duties as representative of the whole people of Alaska, had he neg lected to introduce such a bill at this time. If he has failed to make prop CT provision, within the scope of his bill, for the raising of revenues of municipalities. it is certainly up to our commercial clubs and town offic- ials to exert themselves in calling his attention to the matter and ask for COTTeCllOuS, DuI JHe NOl0TS Ol AldShd have expressed themselves for abol- | ishment of the liquor traffic; the time has been set and it is now up to hon. est legislators to enact the best laws possible for it's enforcement, and hon. est officials to render efficient service in carrying licenses, but 1 have no sympathy with those who are bemoan- ing the fate of Dry Alaska; it is case of a moral against a financial issue which, I am free to say. may be a public financial benefit; at best, the die is cast and instead of anticipating
 Black Death" let us inhale strong ozone of life and vigor and exert our selves for harmonious action and great CT effort in the building of a greater better and more progressive Ketchi- kan, we need to cultivate the axiom | that Tn unity is strength" and rem ember that the welfare of one should be the concern of all. I believe that 1 we, as a community, owe our most supreme efforts to the support of the