The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1934-08-29
Dimond Reuie,os Record in Congress;P Pledges
Renewed Effort for Home Rule;and appeals
for Ne,v Deal Support Right Do,un the Line

his appeal for support of President
and the New Deal right
down the line" He pledged himself
anew to Alaska's fight for a greater
measure of Home Rule, particularly
in the drive already started for
local control of the fisheries, fur
and game resources.
The Coliseum Theatre was prac-
tically filled when the Delegate
began his speech at $40 o'clock.
He spoke without interruption for
so minutes. Applause greeted him
as he walked down an aisle and
the platform, and rose in
greater volume as he concluded
his address.
A Friendly Audience
1t was apparent from the very
outset that he was speaking to
an audience of friends and adj
mirers. And it was in the same
friendly manner that he discussed
somewhat briefly his work in Con-
gress during his first term, his
plans for his second term, and in
greater detail some of the phases
of the New Deal which, he declar
ed, has done much for Alaska.
He was introduced by Mrs. G. E.
Krause, President of the Juneau
Women's Democratic Club, under
whose auspices he spoke, in few
well-chosen sentences. I'VE are ap-
preciative of what has been done
for the Territory. and deeply con-
cerned in the things we hope can
be accomplished in the coming
year and future years for our bet
terment and advancement. I be-
lieve you all agree with me that
there is one person who is able
to give the details better than any,
one else, due to his official ca
patty, his ability and personality
she said
Seated on the platform were
Gov John w Troy, ]. A. HELEN
thai, recommended for National
to succeed j. j.
Connors, resigned, w. B. Kirk,
Chairman of the Divisional Com
Mrs. J. B. Godfrey and
Mrs. Robert Coughlin, officers of
the Club.
Era of Goodwill
The Delegate thanked his aud
fence and all Alaskans for the EZRA
of good feeling in and out of
Alaska since he took office. Diff
ferences in politics, of course, still
exist but there has been notable
lack of bitter personalities" so evil
dent at times in former years and
which, he said, can defeat the
efforts of even the best and ablest
public servants. He said he had
not tried to follow his own ideas
in Washington, or run counter to
the ideas of Alaskans, but had used
his best efforts to get done what
a majority of Alaskans wanted
him to do.
In the special session called
shortly after his term began in
1888, due to the turmoil
and grave national danger from
demoralized financial, economic and
industrial conditions, he had not
been able to attempt to get action
on much distinctively Alaskan leg
islation. But during the regular
session, he was successful in getting
some 20 measures passed and sent
to the President. Only one of
these failed of Presidential ap-
prevail and that was private re-
lief measure which affected a few
in Mckinley National
Park.
Extended Local Powers
In the list were three laws which
actually extend greater measure
of Home Rule to Alaska. The first
of these was the Prohibition repeal
bill which not only extended the
repeal of the Eighteenth Amend
ment to Alaska and repealed the
Alaska Bone Dry Law, but also
gave the Alaska Legislature the
power to control and regulate the
liquor traffic. This was a power
that nobody thought would be
granted Alaska, but it wasn't
actually SO difficult to accomplish
since the majority in Congress was
sympathetic to giving Alaskans
more power to handle local affairs.
This new power, he declared,
puts the burden of intelligently
and wisely administering the liquor
traffic upon you and me-" and,
he added, he was confident that
this would be done. "Alaskans have
the intelligence, ability and patriot
ism to govern themselves and this
power will be fully exercised"
Election Control Granted
In beStowing on the local Leg
Stature the power to change cleo
ton dates and to fix the duties
Of the Territorial Canvassing Board.
Congress removed inhibitions on
the Territory that have existed