was very little he could add to what
the other speakers had said. Ho
thought it most important that
the Democrats make preparations
for sending delegates to the national
Democratic convention. He recall
ed that Mr. Troy and himself had
attended the past two national
Democratic conventions. They had
met Al Smith and the speaker de
clared Mr. Smith wag a man of mag
netic personality. The speaker said
he had a hunch Al Smith would be
elected. He said “we voted for him
in 1924" and declared that if Smith
was elected Alaska would be accord
ed full measure of self government.
Others Give Talk
Jim Virdin when called upon
said that he was no speaker but
that he would be found on the fir
ing line every minute of the time
Ed Austin declared that he was
certain that fully 50 per cent of the
so-called Indian vote could be se
cured by treating the natives the
same as any other American citi
zens and showing them wherein the
Democratic platform was sound in
principle and that the right kind of
men would be sent to the legislature
to promote the best interests cf
Alaska. He said he knew the natives
personally and that they were in
telligent and fully capable of as
suming the burdens of self govern
ment.
The Platform
Following is the platform ad
opted:
“The Democratic party of the
First Division of the Territory of
Alaska, in convention assembled, re
affirms its allegiance to the historic
Democratic party of the nation and
congratulates the people of Alaska j
upon the promising prospect of its
return to power in the country.
“We condemn the existing Repub
lican mis-rule of fisheries of Alas- j
ka whereby the entire administra
tion of this most important re
source of the Territory has been
concentrated in the hands of one
Individ aal with full power to legis
late, regulate or prohibit. The re
sult has been disastrous both to in/
dividuals and corporations engaged
in the industry and to communities
depending upon it for their prosper
ity. We earnestly recommend that all
jurisdiction over the fisheries of Al
aska be transferred from the fed
eral government to the legislature
of Alaska. The present attempted
regulation is inefficient, unintelli
gent and results in gross injustice
and favoritism.
“We recognize that the future
development of the Territory de
pends upon acquiring a permanent
population and believe that the Ter
ritorial control of all resources would
build up a large and desirable
citizenry.
“We recognize that the conserva
tion of herring is vital to the hal
ibut and salmon industries and we
are opposed to the wanton destruc
tion of the herring supply.
“We look forward to statehood
for Alaska in the near future. Pre
paratory to statehood, the Territory
should be accorded the fullest meas
ure of territorial self-government
including control of the fisheries and
game and the power of county or
ganization wherever desirable, and
representation in the legislature ac
cording to population.
“We believe in home rule for Al
aska and to that end we not only
favor a full territorial form of gov
eminent, but we believe that all
federal offices in the Territory should
be filled through the appointment
of bona fide resident Alaskans.
, "vVe believe in the fullest exercised
of the jurisdiction now vested in
the Aaska legislature and that all
matters not of purely federal con
| cern should be administered by the
i Territory without the assistance of
federal officials, board3 or bureaus
“We believe that roads and trails
are vital to the growth and develop •
ment of the territory and we urge
a continuation of federal appropria
tions for road and trail building
and the full participation by Alaska
in the benefits of the national ap
propriations for aid of highway
construction.
“We favor liberal appropriations
for the improvement of harbors
and waterways of Alaska.
“The progress of Alaska depends
upon the development and utiliza
tion of the natural resources of the
Territory. The Democratic party of
the First Division welcomes the in
coming of capital for that purpose
and rejoices at the prospect of se
curing two or more large pulp and
paper manufacturing plants and oth
er industries in their section, and
assures the sponsors of these pro
jects of their co-operation in all
legitimate ways to insure the suc
cessful and profitable operation of
the same.”—Ketchikan Chronicle.
THE A. N. B. CONVENTION
(From The Verstovian)
From all reports the recent con
vention of the Alaska Native Broth
erhood at Angoon was one of the
most satisfactory and fruitful which
has yet been held. It was largely at
tended by the leaders in native
thought and was conducted in an
orderly businesslike way. The dis
cussions will be a norm of native
thought and action for the coming,
year.
Representatives from the Bureau
of Education, Board of National Mis
sions and Sheldon Jackson School
were present and were freely admit
ted to all sessions with the privilege
of the floor. It is to be regretted
that the isolation of the meeting
place prevented the presence of some
\ of the invited guests. This is es
pecially applicable to such govern
ment officials as represent matters
k of vital importance to the natives.
* Not presuming beyond generalities,
we are sure that the path to ad
justment of this new factor in Alas
kan politics Is the road of advice,
sympathy and cooperation. The at
titude of the Angoon convention, as