Seward daily gateway., 1932-05-17
DEVELOPMENT OF
 ALASKA |S THE AIM
 DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Special to The Gateway

inc OeVelOpmenC or AldSKa was the subject of a well-attended weekly meeting of the King Coun- 1 ty Democratic Club in Seattle at Moves Cafeteria. In announc- ing that the meeting was called to hear former Alaskans speak of the needs, resources and scenic splen- dors of the Territory, Henry M White, president, stated that "Al- aska has been treated like step child," and the Democrats of Washington propose to have their delegates to the Democratic na- tional convention insist on plank in the platform calling for develop ment of Alaska in general and mining in particular" It would do much towards restoration of prosperity, said MT. White, former State Senator, who added that more Democracy and less bureau cracy would be beneficial to Alas ka."
 Mrs. E. c. Buckmaster, who went to Dawson as a bride in the mem orable stampede of 1897, spoke in terestingly on the scenic wonders and the vast undeveloped resources of the North country, and the his tory and progress of Alaska under both the Russian and American regimes. Mrs. Buckmaster has travelled extensively abroad and said there was no scenery compar able to that of Alaska.
 John E. Ballaine, long identified 1 with Alaska development aud in strumental in obtaining construc- tion of the government-oWne rail- road under the Wilson administra- ton, spoke of the great potential wealth of the Territory in mining, agriculture and timber and espe- cially referred to the vast quanti- ty of high-grade coal which had
 been tested and recommended by
 numerous experts He mentioned the hard times between 1892 and
 1897 and how the discovery of gold
 in the North started a wave Of
 prosperity Gin the NorthWesD. He
 suggested that practical prospect
 ors be ''grubstakes" for a year o1
 more in an organized movement tC
 increase the production of gold
 silver, antimony, tin and other pre-
 ciouS metals.
 John D. Wenger stressed the duty and desirability of Seattle giving support to a systematic and suS- tianed development of Alaska anc it's great value to the city. He re-
 called the impetus given Seattle! ! growth following the discovery O. ; gold in the North, and pledged hi. ! efforts as a delegate to the nation : al convention to see that a planl ! on Alaskan development wa adopted. The following plank wa : presented:
 , We believe that wise and hon ! est application of national pOlicie could and should encourage gol' ; and other mining activities il ] Alaska on a scale and in man , ner that would contribute largel and effectively to revival an' stabilizing of prosperity for all tn ! American people, along with ! systematic building up of othe industries in Alaska for the sup port of a growing population ! Americans in that potentially ricl !: expanse of virgin territory. Tn government-owned Alaska Rail road could and should be man aged and directed with that objec , tive in view, as Congress intended ? we pledge the Democratic ad ministration to a faithful and wig | orous endeavor to use and appl the possibilities presented in Alas
 ka under policies that will yiel
 immediate and lasting benefits t
 Alaska and to all sections of tn
 United States free from dictatio or baneful interference by an c large combination of wealth." Under direction of Mrs. Mae I
 Carroll, permanent chairman (
 the musical committee, selection were presented by Dick Welch, sax
 aphone; Warren Ploeger, Saxa
 phone, and Harold Dempster, pi
 anist.