The Alaska daily empire., 1917-01-03
THE PROHIBITION QUESTION IN ALASKA

Delegate Wckersham's answer to the vote Of the people of Alaska on the prohibition question should be an earnest effort to for the Alaska Legs- ature the power pass the necessary legislation to give expression to the popular will This could best be secured by the passage of full Territorial form Of. government measure. that school questions, municipal questions. fisheries questions, questions Of taxation and all other matters could be settled by the people l. would be far satisfactory than the tranSterenCe of selGgoyernment the Territory piecemeal It would make so that the people could regulate all the requiring regulation in such a to make legislation harmonious and CO., operative. There so many things involved in the settlement of any Oi these questions. which organic act limitations have kept out of the hands of the people Of Alaska, that power to act over all Of them is needed in order properly to act any one oi them.
 For instance questions Of revenue and taxation and governmental police powers and consequently. questions Of schools and roads and other matters, which are effected by revenue taxation problems are involved in the wet and dry question. All the activities and functions of closely affiliated by of doveailing process that all are involved to a greater less extent in any one Ct them. Properly to regulate all these matters and to make the regulations equitable would require all the powers of local selEgOvernmcnt that people of the States exercise and that those of other Territories have exercised.
 It would be a lot better for the people Of Alaska to prepare and enforce a prohibition law than to have the Federal government do We already crying aloud against much Federal government and enough Territorial government in Alaska. If the Federal government should pass prohibition law, and provide the machinery to enforce 1t. 1t would mean another Federal body interfering in local mat ers It would make matters worse rather than bet ter.
 This illustrates why The Empire believed that the prohibition question thrust into local matters too early t illustrates why The Empire believed that the people should have been granted the power to control local matters before any more perPleXing problems were forced to the front The Empire has always favored Territorial control of the liquor Ques ton as well all other local questions. It has only desired that people proceed about it in logical and orderly manner It has urged that the power to act be secured before taking up the manner of action.
 However the fact that the people voted on the question Of prohibition first has not changed the sit uation except 10 indicate the in which the people oI the Territory would likely exercise power to control the liquor proposition they had it. It is generally conceded that the election but straw ballot indicative of the condition of public opinion is also generally conceded that the Territorial Leg islaure has power give force and effect to the expression of the popular will It is admitted that there is only one of two ways proceed. The one way would be for Congress to pass prohibition law and provide for the of its enforcement, and the other be give the people of the Territory power to act The Empire favOrs the latter course, and for the stated it believes that it should come in full Territorial form of government bill sol that all the legislation with reference to this subject and the legislation that would be required because of the collateral effects such legislation other mat ,eds might be harmonious.