The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-12-24
r H 0 \ E 26 ?
DO YOUR PART

DO l 1OON I-hN4
 Yesterday ill CorLoya the Territorial Council for National Defense petitioncd Gov crnor Strong to suspend for the duration ol the war the operation oi the ,o-caIled Alaska cight-hour law. This action ol the CordoEa members oI the council was presumably taken after mature consideration.
 On the face oi the returns oI the last territorial c.cctOn when the vote for the pas sage oi such q measure was overwhelming! ia OrabIc, 1t would seem at first glance that t.c request for suspension represents the m- nority yicw But Ne believe that this i> not the case. We are convinced that the great majority oi Aaskans would heartily approve ot such actou and that nearly everyone is convinced that 1t would be for the best inter ests of the country at large and for the ter ritory especially
 We are aware that this statement does Tot iiDc with the seemingly contrary sentiment expressed by the voters in the last election. In reality, 1t expresses the same idea, and involves the same principle. The voters asked for the cight-hour day because they were coll vinccd that 1t was to the best interests Ot the majority oi Alaskans But conditions have undergone radical changes since that time From being an integral part ot peace iul nation, we have become a unit i'll d na- ton at war, and involved in a struggle with out parallel in the history o1 the world. It is the conditions produced by this trans1or- nation which make the wisdom O1 enIOrc- ing our cight-hour minimum day seem doubt tul.
 Alaska is primarily a mining country and especially so Is the interior of Alaska. ln hs first proclamation after the entrance oI Ahe United States into tho conflict, President Wilson, addressing ill particular the miner, declared it to be the patriotic duty o1 this class to increase the output O1 the mines. The mineral resources Ot the nation must be fully utilized, in common with all Othel resources, tor America to do her part.
 We believe that 1t is the consensus o1 opinion that II the eight-hour law is enforced here, our gold and other mineral production will be materially reduced. There IS not sui hcient labor now i'll the territory to work all industries, even ii the old hours are re tained Ii the new ones are enforced, the shortage oi labor will become critical. The government needs every ounce of god and every ton oI tungsten, copper and other min erals which can possibly be procured.
 Ii we 01 Alaska can, by personal saCr1- c SN we are convinced that it Is our patriotic duty to do So And we think that the great ma ority of patriotic AIaskans will agree with Us.
 The law can be suspended by the gOver- nor. \ provision contained i'll Section } Ot the legislative act creating the new law states that "Ihe Governor of the Territory Is here by given power to suspend or modify restrlc- tions contained in this law when such shall be requested by the Council of National De tenSe or the Secretary of Interior, and such modification or suspension when made shall continue for a specified period, and not longer than the duration of the present war, or dur ing the continuance of any future war with a foreign power"
 There has been appointed by the gov iense. A number of Fairbanksans are in cluded in the appointees, but we understand that the official notification of their appoint ment has not been received by them. How ever, there is not much doubt that these noti- hCatlOns will be received on one of the next mails. The names of the appointees are pub hshed in this mornings issue of The Citizen. Every patriotic citizen should get in touch with these men personally and assure them ot hearty support in pettionlng the governor to suspend the law.
 Only short time remains for action. It is vital for the welfare of the nation and the best interests of Alaska that something be done. Again let us forget self and act for our country's good.