The Alaska daily empire., 1917-06-14
NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL
(Iditarod Pioneer)


 Two years ago, in discussing the message of Gov ernor Strong to the Second Alaska Legislature, pointed out by this newspaper that the chief execu- tive of the Territory evaded almost entirely an ex- nresson of opinion the various topics upon which would be of service to the Legislators. Seeming he was content to deliver lengthy and hackneyed lies on the duties of the members and the dignity of ture now in session, he to have followed his former method. Scarcely is there helpful sugges- tion in the entire document.
 Many of the laws passed at preceding sessions of the Territorial Legislature have been defective Some been impractical and have been ignored and some nave failed to accomplish the purposes which they were osensibly enacted Yet the Governor is strange y silent as to the remedies for these conditions One of the most important problems before Second ses slon was the workmen's compensation act This measure fathered and bolsered through the Legsla- ure by representatives of big mining companies of Southeastern Alaska, was of the boldest frauds ever perpetrated upon community In effect, in stead of being what it purported be- it was nothing less than law limiting the of damages which could be obtained in case of accident and depriving the aborer of rights already secured to him by stat ute and under the common law It's application has been ridiculous farce. and the have been the sufferers
 It was naturally to be expected that the Governor dently regards failure, for he as the "socalled compensation employers liability law The people of the Territory had right to expect that he would make recommendations to the Legsla- ture looking to remedial amendments advocating it's repeal Instead he takes up half column of newspa, per space in uttering rgmarole of generalties concludes with the following:
 If in your Judgment the present law should
 be amended and amplified, have only to re-
 peat the remarks by in discussing this
 subject to the Second Legislature, when it
 was said that this entire subject must be
 judged in spirit of fairness, with broad
 views of the dignity and importance of the la
 borer, aside from the labor he performs and
 also with true conception of the rights of
 capital in it's relation to industrial affairs
 Each to great extent is dependent upon the
 other. but we must forget the human
 equation. Money is for the use and support of
 the men, not to rule him. It is merely meas
 ure of value, and those who have much of it
 should never be permitted to it in such
 way as to control the the government
 established by him for his and advance
 ment
 Can anyone imagine anything puerile or purpOseless than these vagaries about spirit fair ness, broad views of the dignity importance" of labor. true conception of the rights of capital and the human equation" applied to practical sub ject? Surely he could have come out in plain English and shown where the law defective. One could even applaud open advocacy of the act from the standpoint of the big mining companies if such were the conviction of the Governor But to waste his own and the Legislatures time such drool the above is disappointing to harsher term
 And the Legislature indorsed such an executive for reappontment because of his "impartality" If such impartialty be grounds for commendaton sure ly the Governor has merited 1t.