The Alaska daily empire., 1921-05-19
FRANKLIN K. LANE.

The Nation has lost one of it's foremost citizens in the death of Franklin K. Lane, the West an earnest champion and Alaska of her best friends He was a man of tremendous energy, great ability broad vision and keen human sympathes. Though still in what usually are middle age years when he died, MT. Lane had covered wide range in his very active and in every sphere in which his lot was cast he leader among
 He had a passion for politics and public service though he not by any means what is usually inferred when is called a politician He leader in the politics of the University when he was a student Berkeley. When only 28 years of age he the master organizer and controlling influence the famous Democratic ention at Olympia in 1892 when James Hamilton Lewis declined the nom nation for the Governorship the convention refused to endorse the Lake Washington Canal pro- ject He went back to San Francisco after the hard times of the middle sos forced his Tacoma news paper venture to the wall, and the right hand man of James D. Phelan in his successful Mayoraty campaigns in that city. Mayor Phelan appointed him Corporation Counsel where he served during the three terms that San Franciscos leading citizen presided as the chief executive of The City In 1902, at the of 3S he the Democratic nominee for Gov ernor of California, and was defeated by less than 1,5Oo plurality. It contended that he had been counted out at that Until his appointment the Interstate Commerce Commission by President Roose- welt in 1905 he regarded the foremost Demo- crat of the State of California He served in the Interstate Commerce Commission until President Will son appointed him Secretary of the Interior He resigned the last named office after years of very efficient and patriotic service
 MT. Lane brought to every public office which he ever held the highest quality of service He was clean and mbued with a desire to render impartial con- stIuctive and useful helpfuness in government He easily and unerrngy distinguished between right and wrong, between the true and the erroneous between sound principles and fallacies, and his courage wa quite equal to his clear dscernment His broad sym and init riop; heart into his work as well as brain power. In him the common people always found a champion agains, oppression injustice
 The issues of the late war appealed to him. strongly. Every fiber in his makeup abhored the threat of Hohenzoern absolutism and its menace t, civilization. His fine nature was stirred to the depths by the horrors and suffering and death that accompanied the war and he threw every atom |, hs tremendous energy and splendid abilities into Wa ~oih NO man In the country, possibly the ifesdent himself and the Commander in the field aid more to aid in the final victory of American arm, ana American spirit His superb oratory, his facile pen ms great executive abilities. his wide acquaint ance and popularity all given to his country ana her cause without stint self-thought
 MT. Lane quickly caught the crux of the Alask, si'ua'oh within less than year from the time he became Secretary of the Interior he declared war upoo the red tape methods of procedure which bouna 4iasha as II she were in straitjacket He took m the question of government railroad to the interior anu pushed II to successful termination The war compelled him to divert his attention from Alaska before he had accomplished anything like what bc had hoped to do, but he took it up again and almost HIS last oncia act was to write strong letter to Chairman Curry of the House Committee on Terri tories, calling his attention to the Alaska suatfoo ana making the suggestions which led to the Curry Development Board Bill
 Franklin K. Lane one of the really great men Who went into the affairs of the Nation from the Iacihc coast He won definite place well up toward the top in the history of his time