VOTE DEMOCRATIC!
OFFICIAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM ADOPTED BY
THE DEMOCRATIC TERRITORIAL CONVENTION
1. The Democratic Party of Alaska in Convention assembled
at Anchorage, Alaska, representing all Divisions of Alaska,
does this 20th day of January, 1952, wholeheartedly commend
Harry S. Truman for his outstanding leadership of our Nation
as President of the United States.
2. In accordance with the American principles of self-govern
ment, to secure our rights in national affairs, we demand
immediate statehood for Alaska.
3. We compliment and pay tribute to our Democratic Governor,
Ernest Gruening, for his splendid and untiring work on be
half of Alaska.
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4. We praise the efforts and many accomplishments of E. L.
“Bob” Bartlett, our Delegate to Congress, and hereby nomi
nate him as the Democratic Party candidate for re-election.
5. We stand united behind the national administration in its
firm stand against Communist expansion.
6. We favor an increase in pensions for Alaska’s Pioneers.
7. We commend the Democratic Legislators of the 1951 session
for balancing the budget, and declare our opposition to any
additional general tax burden on the people of Alaska.
8. a. We pledge our support in maintaining the right of wage
earners to organize for their mutual benefit, and recognize
the right as one of the cardinal privileges of Democratic
people.
b. We favor and support organized labor in its efforts to es
tablish prevailing wage rates on government projects.
c. We favor enforcement of the basic safety code law.
d. We favor legislation enabling the Department of Labor to
enforce collection of wage claims.
e. We favor the passage of a Fair Labor Standards Act for -
Alaska.
f. We favor the inclusion of unemployment benefits to all
seasonal workers on an annual basis.
g. We favor a Territorial Compulsory Workmen’s Compen
sation insurance program patterned after the Acts which
have and are working in those states that have long been
successful in increasing the benefits to the workers and have,
likewise, lowered the payments charged against the employer.
h. We advocate adoption of a graduated salary measure for
Territorial employees commensurate with that in effect for
Federal employees in Alaska, to the end that there be uni
form compensation for comparable duties and responsibilities.
9. a. We demand the complete and immediate abolition of
fish traps.
b. We oppose the duty free importation of foreign fish.
c. We ask that legislation be enacted by the Congress of the
United States transferring all power and authority now
I vested in the Fish and Wildlife Service over the commercial
fisheries of Alaska to the Alaska Department of Fisheries,
d. We demand representation on the Halibut Fisheries
Commission.
10. We reaffirm our belief in the American principle of equality
of opportunity for all people, with fair and equal treatment
regardless of race, creed or color, and pledge our full support
of all efforts to eliminate discrimination.
11. a.We urge the Defense Minerals Administration to take im
mediate steps to establish purchasing depots for strategic and
critical minerals at the existing Territorial Department of
Mines facilities.
b. We urge Congress to increase the depletion exemption on
Alaska mining.
c. We urge that Congress pass legislation permitting the sale
of gold on the open world market.
12. We request the Legislature to supplement the ARRC fund
to permit like loans to fanners throughout the Territory. We
further request proportionate geographical representation on
the Board of Directors.
13. a. We advocate that all major Alaskan communities be con
nected with the Territorial and Continental Highway Systems
wherever feasible.
b. We request legislative investigation as to the practicability
of compulsory public liability insurance on motor vehicles in
Alaska.
c. We protest the discrimination against Alaska contained in
the Jones Act.
d. We pledge support of adequate water transportation to and
within the Territory at fair and equitable rates.
e. We respectfully demand that Congress revise the law so the
Civil Aeronautics Board may adopt regulations providing more
adequate air carrier service to Alaska and within Alaska.
f. We pledge to continue the progressive airport program for
construction and extension of airports and seaplane bases in
Alaska as established by the Democratic Party.
g. We again ratify the active Democratic program for small boat
harbors wherever needed in Alaska.
h. We urge the adoption of a motor vehicle drivers’ examination
in Alaska and a periodic examination of motor vehicles.
14. We request the Pure Food and Drug Administration to provide
proper stations and facilities within Alaska for inspection of
ail food products.
L5. We promise a continuation of the protective Democratic regu
lations governing child labor.
16. a. We urge continuation of the Democratic program of rehabili
tation of our public schools, including the University of Alaska,
and recommend the inclusion of vocational training in the
curriculum.
b. We go on record favoring the continuation of earmarking the
tobacco tax fund for .school construction purposes, but we
oppose the extension of earmarking to other revenues now a
part of the general fund.
17. We heartily endorse the National, Territorial and privately
sponsored housing programs now being carried on in Alaska.
18. We favor the extension of the Federal Parole Act to the Terri
tory of Alaska as an instrument in the correction of juvenile
delinquency, and urge more active effort be made to process
and develop more fully the Alaska Youth Commission program.
19. We favor the development of private industry in Alaska and
the encouragement of new industries in order to insure, insofar
as possible, a future sound economy for Alaska.
20. We approve the changed policy of the Federal Government in
providing there shall be no iand withdrawals without prior
public hearings. We urge rigid adherence to this policy. Like
wise, we recommend the return to the public domain of ail land
heretofore withdrawn not positively essential to the withdraw
ing agencies within a period of three years.
21. We urge the speedy enactment of legislation by the Congress
of the United States embracing the settlement of aboriginal
claims and insuring just and adequate compensation therefor
to the Alaska Native people.
22. We actively support the immediate appointment of an addi
tional United States District Judge for Alaska.
23. We favor the construction of pioneer home facilities for mar
ried couples.
24. We stand for the complete eradication of tuberculosis in Alaska,
and advocate a continuation of the vigorous Democratic pro
gram to eliminate this dread disease.
25. We advocate the extension of existing veterans’ benefit laws
to Korean Veterans.
26. We favor increased law enforcement for Alaska by the creation
of an Alaskan law enforcement agency.
Attest: Certified:
Wendell P. Kay S. J. McCutcheon
Permanent Chairman National Committeeman