Democrat Convention Splits On Primary Law
N. R. Walker sounded the key
note of the convention in his
address before the convention
Saturday morning. He appealed
to the sense of right and justice
cf the party on various matters
and pointed out the deficiencies
of the Republican, national and
territorial, administrations and
the hurts arising in the territory
therefrom. He condemned the
raising of rates on the Alaska
Railroad; the domination of
Alaska’s fisheries by one man
and urged full territorial control
of the fisheries bv the Alaska
legislature. He opposed the “car
pet bag” appointive system de
claring it without sympathy or
understanding cf the local pro
blems; condemned the auto
cratic and bureaucratic domi
nation of all political and indus
trial affairs in the territory de
claring that Alaskans are ac
tually penalized for being resi
dents. He feared that there must
be an ulterior purpose in Wash
ington for the control of Alas
ka’s resources, which created re
gulations without taking into
consideration tire needs cr
wishes of the territory.
Touching on the “native ques
t-on” he declared that in the
past this was made an issue and
that there was no more need for
a “native question” in politics
than a German question; or a
French question or any other
nationals’ question. Pointing to
many years of contact with
these people, he declared that
they had the same mental and
physical reactions as other peo
ples; that there were good and
bad as in any other race. That
they were independent of
thought and arrived ‘at their
own conclusions and acted
therefrom. That the Indian of
Alaska thought of only what will
-X
benefit the entire Territory and
worked for the great majority
in Alaska. He urged the Demo
cratic party to look upon the
Native as an Alaskan and to
work for his greater develop
ment as a citizen. He said: “Let
us be tolerant to all mankind.
It is a democratic principle re -
gardless of the disposition of
any peoples, if they are honest,
we can work with them to the
benefit of the entire territory.
Draw Bureaucrats over
Coals of Fire
Having the consideration of
the divisional party platform
under consideration, one was
almost lead to believe that Wil
liam L. Paul, Indian leader, was
the driving force in theconven
tion whilst the leaders of the
Democratic party were castigat
ing the federal appointees and
bureaus in Alaska. .From J. J.
Connors, Editor John Troy and
Reporter Pegues of the Juneau
Empire down to the delegate
from the smallest precinct, the
convention turned its fires of
criticism upon the federal bu
fcaus and carpetbag appointees.
The convention even went so far
as to say that “Bureau employ
ment disqualifies even residents
from holding office by virtue of
the change of viewpoint to that
perspective of the federal ma
chine.” How the federal sheep in
Juneau and elsewhere can sup
port the Democratic party after
this castigation is a query that
was raised by an old line Re
publican attending the conven
tion.
Community Property
Considering the Community
Property Law plank, Mr. Turner
declared that the party could
not be consistent in asking for
passage of such a law when
through the efforts and influ
cnce of two Democratic legisla
tors, such a law was defeated.
Ziegler pointed out that Senator
Dimond put such a measure to
sleep on the 60th day in the last
session of the Senate. Walker
declared that as a matter of
simple justice, the women should
be accorded equal right with
men to own community proper
ty. “As a matter of political ex
pediency,” quoting the words of
the convention it was decided
not to withdraw that plank .
Political Appointees
The next plank to draw fire
from all directions was the ap
pointment of only bona flda re
sidents. The debates at times
got a bit acrimonious and it was
urged that the limitation be
placed only on major positions.
In some instances it was urged
that as a matter of political ex
pediency the soft pedal should
Le put on the subject in such a
way as to protect possible re
sident employees^
Primary Law Bumped
The primary law bumped the
bumps under the leadership of
the old guard—Troy, Pegues,
Connors, et al. It was presented
when the session sought to
instruct the delegates to nomi
nate and endorse candidates at
the Territorial Convention at
Fairbanks in December. The
young democrats, under the
leadership of Walker and Zieg
ler of Ketchikan pointed out
that nomination and endorse
ment by conventions was con
trary to the provisions of the
primary law and further was a
handicap upon candidates and
would further throw the party,
open to criticism as railroading
nominations. The debates got
real hot and finally on consider
ation of the question a recess
v/as taken so that the precincts