PROGRESSIVE MEASURES
IN THE LEGISLATURE
By Will A. Steel
We have been asked whether
Alaska is really “the home of
the brave and the land of the
free?”
Certainly. That fact was
clearly and conclusively proven
on November 2nd last.
Notwithstanding the exhor
tations and deceptions of the
Paid Press, the cajolery of a
band of political workers, the
influence of the Court officials
of the Third division and the
benighted official family at
Juneau, the efforts of many of
the good church people com
bined with the red light and
law-breaking elements, the con
niving of corporation lawyers
and the slush fund furnished
by the Big Interests, the free
and brave electorate of the Ter
ritory in large majority went
to the polls and performed a
duty fearlessly and with honor
to themselves and the land of
their adoption.
'T'1_1_. _. __ _ . •
j. laigcai vuic ever cast in
Alaska, over 13,000, was polled
on November 2, 1926. And the
unofficial returns show that
Delegate Dan Sutherland re
ceived over 8,100 while his op
ponent Tom Marquam received
less than 4,900, with a majority
for the candidate of the peo
ple of about 3,300. And in ad
dition the friends of the Dele
gate «nd supporters of his
policies carried both houses of
the Territorial Legislature.
Are not these facts sufficient
to prove the calibre of the
greait majority of the voters of
Alaska? The issues were clear
cut. The battle was waged by
the people who want progres
sive and beneficial legislation
in opposition to the represents
atives of the Cannerymen and
other Big Interests who seek
special favors and a return
from the Territorial Treasury
of the money they invest in
Alaska political campaigns and,
maintaining Subsidized Organs.
Altho the victory was de
cisive it is still an unsettled
question as to whether or not
the people, will be permitted to
enjoy the fruits of their vic
tory. The men who regard a
slush fund as higher than prin
ciple are not content to pa
triotically submit to the will
of majority and right. i;
The Predatory Interests have
abandoned hope of controlling
Delegate Sutherland. He won
their undying enmity when he
blocked their efforts to take
possession of the fisheries of
Alaska. This was accomplish
ed when he succeeded in hav
ing incorporated in the act of
Congress passed June 6, 1924,
for the protection of the fish
eries of Alaska, the following:
“Provided, That every reg
ulation made by the Secretary
of Commerce shall be ;of gen
eral application within the par
ticular area to which it applies,
And That no Exclusive or
Several Right of Fishery shall
be Granted Therein, nor shall
any citizen of the United States
be denied the right to take,
prepare, cure, or preserve fish
or shellfish in any area of the
waters of Alaska where fishing
is permitted by the Secretary
of Commerce.”
In the halls of Congress and
the Department rooms at Washr
ington Dan Sutherland is the
intrepid and invincible warrior
continually battling for the
rights of all the people of Al
aska. The importunities of the
adroit lobbyist and the threat
enings of the arrogant money
master fail to make even a
dent in the armor. And, of
course, in their hearts they ad
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| KARL HANSEN j
| Port Alexander Alaska ■
Is .equipped to supply all the needs of fishermen |
| at reasonable prices- j
Alaska office, Seattle office, |
Port Alexander. 1911 L. C. Smith Bldg. |
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