Democrats Want The Indian
Vote
Upon motion of George Grigsby
of Ketchikan and seconded by J.
J. Connors of Juneau, the Demo
cratic divisional convention in Pio
neer Hall yesterday afternoon
unanimously declared in favor of
A1 Smith of New York State as
the choice for the presidential
nomination by the Democratic na
tional convention. The delegates
elected from this division to the
territorial convention to be held
at Seward, January 16 are instruct
ed to see that the six delegates chos
en to attend the national Demo
cratic convention from Alaska are
pledged to support Mr. Smith.
This is the first instructed dele
gation in the United States from
an official Democratic organization
to declare its choice for a presiden
tial candidate for 1928.
The first order of business an
nounced by Edward Austin was the
report of the committee on platform
perpared by George Grigsby, John
W. Troy. J. J. Connors, N. R. Walk
er and James Virdin which was
adopted as read without a dissent
ing vote
Upon llie presentation of the
name of Al Smith the delegates
present broke into prolonged ap
plause.
Delegates Elected
The delegates elected to represent
the First Division at the Seward
territorial convention, and instruct
ed for A1 Smith, are:
James J. Connors, Simon Hellen
thai, W. B. Kirk, John W. Troy,
W. A. Sherman, E. J. V/hite, Jamed
McCloskey and H. J. Turner of Ju
neau; George Grigsby, J C. Virdin,
Jack Spath, William A. Holzheimer,
O. Thomas, F. J. Finzel and J. B.
Rice of Ketchikan.
Territorial committeemen from
this division elected were: Simon
Hellenthal of Juneau and James C
Virdin of Ketchikan, who also are
ex-officio members of the divisional
committee.
Committeemen Named
Divisional committeemen elected
were as follows:
Ketchikan—Walter B. Sharpe.
Juneau—James McCloskey.
Douglas—Nels Anderson.
Petersburg—James Brennan.
Hyder—Walter Blanton.
Before adjournment several of
those present were called upon and
responded.
Talk By Connors
J. J. Connors said lie considered
the platform adopted a most pro
gressive one and emphasized the im
portance of Alaskans securing the
fullest measure of home rule. lie
said Alaska with home rule could
then fight out their problems with
out some 30 odd federal bureaus
“looking down our necks.”
“Of course,” he continued, “we
will make mistakes. But I believe
that we must adopt a policy to get
as many home builders in the terri
torv as possible and get a govern
ment for the territory powered by
the people of the territory.”
Mr. Connors said the wage earn
er of today was the business man
of tomorrow and that the problem
of one was the problem of the oth
er. He said that if they were given
home rule they would take an in
terest in territorial affairs and get
the right kind of men in the legis
lature.
Troy Called On
John W. Troy said he believed
that the next president of the United
State3 would be a democrat and
that the best thing that could hap
pen to Alaska would be a change of
administration. He said he believes
that it was Msentlal for Ketchikan
and Juneau to co-operate commer
cially and politically, and the best
example of the fact that they could
effectively cooperate wa3 the splend
id platform which had just been
adopted. He said he wa3 confident
that the Democrats by sticking to
gether could elect their next legis
lative ticket. The same as th3
former speaker, he paid a glowing
tribute to A1 Smith as a man fit for
presidential office.
Albert Wile next spoke and said
he had traveled all over the terri
tory and believed the time never
looked better for a Democratic
succes3.
“If we put good men in the field
we can elect them," he said, “for
the people are anxious for a
change."
What Walker Said
N. R. Walker said that with a
progressive constructive platform
and the right kind of candidates
selected to run on it, he was satis
fied Ketchikan district would give
(he Democrats a strong vote. He
said there had been reference to
(he Indian vote, but declared that
(he Indians were 100 percent pro
ducers and intelligent and would
vote right if candidates were honest
with them and got the real facts be
fore them. He said the Republicans
had been feeding them on promises
and that they have beep sufferers
instead of beneficiaries.
Mr. Walker said he had himself
run for office and been defeated
but he held no rancor on that ac
count and advised appealing to the
natives for their franchise upon
bed-rock principles the same as
making an appeal to any American
citizen. He said he believed that
if this wa3 done and it could be
shown that the Democrats had a
constructive program to offer which
safeguarded interests of the people
of Ketchikan district they would
turn out a tremendous vote for the
Democatic ticket.
Grigsby Praises Smith
George B. Grigsby said there