The Nome nugget., 1938-04-22

TO THE Democratic Party Voters Of The Second Division

Among the many things that have occurred during two Sessions of the Legislature, of which you have heard but little is the twice introduced and twice defeated legislation calling for Unicameral (One- house body) legislature This bill passed the House in 1885 but was defeated in the Senate. l voted against it. In 1887 failed to pass the House, where it originated.
 This Fall, by Act of Congress referendum to be held coincident with the general election The citi- zens of Territory will have the opportunity of vot ing this question: giving expression of their pre- ference. the majority of the voters favor one House Legislature it will be up Congress to change Alaska's Organic Act, under which now function and provide for unicameral Legislature
 The weakness of the present referendum, as well as that two bills introduced in Territorial Legislature, to which opposed, lies in the fact that have assurance to the composition and that this unicamera Legislature will be comprised of at such time Congress acts in the matter.
 The First Division which contains about half of the white population of the Territory have long sought proportonate legislative representation based on population. Juneau, the largest city in Alaska and seat of Government, is located in the First Division-Juneaus power is extremely potent in Ter ritorial affairs, as reflected by Congressional acton
 It is not at all improbable, that if Congress is per mitted to change Organic Act which is Alaska's private constitution that the representation in our Legislature will be based population. If this hap pens the First Division will have at all times sufficient representation to hold the balance of power.
 It would result in the Second and Fourth Divisions having representation of four, one and fraction from this Divison and three and fraction from the Fourth Division. This is based on a one-house body of twenty yfour the present total of our two house Legislature this total is reduced for the sake of economy, the proportion would be the same, but the representation less.
 Again, any argument to the respective merits of two house legislative body against one house body, involves the proposition to whether in gov ernment two better than It is apparent that it would greatly facilitate the efforts of the fessional politicians and moneyed interests to have only one house to deal with. Concentration is the essence of lobbying-so is secrecy.
 Our American form of government, under the Constitution tells that three better than two The Constitution gives government devid- ed into three separate and well defined powers, the executive the legislative and the judicial the first two branches checking another, the third checking both The Constitution went little further for good measure, and split the Legislature two ways for the sake of additional insurance The ideal imbodied in the Constitution based upon tradition, long exper- fence and many fears is a government of checks and balances, and time has justified this system.
 No system ever devised by is perfect. There always honest and lack of foresight to contend with--there always influences, subtle and often indistnct stalking land, for self interest Is still the motivating principle of surprising number of people The restraining scrutiny od . second house, not always effective, is, such it is, almost inds pensable.
 No change in the Territory's form of government, defective though may appear at times called for Whatever the short cominss may be, and there are soe they can be attributed directly to ourselves the voting public. These abuses of the present Lessa- tive system not inherent in the system and can be abolished not by changing the system but by eectng those candidates to office who pledged to follow out the wishes of the majority of our people
 Again, on this basis respectfully ask your sup port at the polls next Tuesday, April 2eth.