THE NOME DAILY NUGGET
GEO. S. MAYNARD, Editor
RUSSELL G MAYNARD, Manager.
Published every evening except Sunday by The Nome
Publishing Company, Nome, Alaska.
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FORMING PARTY OPINION
In the several States the laws provide varied ma
chinery for testing and expressing the sentiment of pol
itical parties. Most of it lies readiest to the hands of
members of the regular organizations. They know how
to operate the apparatus. Party primaries, and even
“Presidential preference” primaries are to them little
more than added cards with which to play the old poli
tical game. In any contest they start out with an in
itial advantage.
This is not so wrong and unfair as some would
make it out to be. If we are to have government by
political parties in this country, it is fitting that leaders
in the various States and subdivisions thereof should
be facilitated in discovering and directing party opin
ion. This was fully explained by Mr. Hughes when he
was Governor of New York and was urging a law for
party primaries in the state of New York. He frankly
admitted that, as a general rule, the established party
authorities would find it easy to confirm and strengthen
their control through primary elections. At the same
time, as Governor Hughes pointed out, means were pro
vided in the law by which a revolt within the party,
if strong enough, could overthrow the old leadership
and set up a new one. Such a revolution within the
party means hard work and takes time and money to
be successful. A partial revolt of that kind was at
tempted within the Republican party recently, but fail
ed completely to make use of the Primary Law to out
vote the leaders.
A good deal of this political machinery is combr
ous, sometimes appears utterly needless, and has un
questionably disappointed the hopes of the reformers
who the troubles to which President Roosevelt has been
put got it authorized by statute. Consider, for exam
ple, by the party primary laws. His renomination is
conceded by everybody to be absolutely certain, and
ought not to require of him that he lift a finger. Yet
he has been compelled to make application in several
States for the recording of his candidacy on the official
ballot, with a full list of his petitioners, designated dele
gates, etc. There are Republican States and districts
in which the superfluity of the Primary Laws is equally
apparent. Mere routine steps, they have to be taken
nevertheless.
Primaries have mainly to do with nominations for
office. In that respect this year’s Presidential cam-,
paign presents to the Republican party a situation
which is rather novel of it. For many years in sue-1
cession the Republican nomination for the Presidency
was as good as an election. That made party fights in
the national convention prolonged and bitter, as was
the case in 1920 or of doubtful result up to the very last
minute, as happened in 1928. But in 1936 the party
leaders are not so keen in working for a given nomina
tion. They are thinking much more of the election to
follow. They are quite aware that a certain kind of
nomination, on a certain kind of platform, would be
worth no one’s seeking or having. The consequence is
that the primary contests this year are apt to be rather
spiritless,with all the emphasis of the campaign thrown
forward to June, when it will be necessary to nominate
some candidate whom the party believes to have a
chance of being elected.
Meanwhile, political students may devote themsel
ves to the observation of party opinion in the process
of formation. It should prove for many a fascinating
study in mass mentality. No one can now say that the
Republican party as a whole has a fixed choice for Pres
idential candidate. How does the conviction spread
from one man to another, from one State to another, ^
that the party needs and hopes may best be met by a
I
LOCKHEED
VEGA
STINSON
RELIANT
! THE FASTEST, MOST FREQUENT, MOST
CONVENIENT SERVICE IS
VIA
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FAST, STURDY, LUXURIOUS PLANES
given man? The answer is not to be found in routine
propaganda. It is not given by party managers or
speakers or by the thick and thin Republican newspa
pers. They contribute something to the final creation
of party opinion, but it remains a deeper thing, a part
of the subconscious mind, an element of public psy
chology. It sometimes appears to resemble telepathy,
as if judgments arrived at by individuals, in one State
were mysteriously communicated without any visible
means to important party personages in another. The
certain thing at present is that the sentiment of Repub
lican voters in this country is still without form, and
void. To watch it taking shape during the next
month will ^be an engaging occupation for political ob
servers.—(New York Times.)
THAT MILLION DOLLAR BALANCE
It is a significant thing that the Territorial treas
ury balance at the end of the first quarter of this year
stands at more than a million dollars; $1,014,3IG to be
exact. It reflects three things that have been and are
the cause of considerable comment.
First, it is a concrete answer to those critics who
have loosely asserted in political statements that the
present Democratic Territorial Administration has
been spending money with a free hand; wasting, we
believe, is the word that the more extravagant charges
carry. A little over three years ago when the Demo
cratic office holders took over, the Territorial treasury
balance was around $300,000.00. Now it is more than
three times that much and the functions of government
have been more costly on the whole. If that be waste,
let’s have more of it.
Secondly, the fine balance reflects clearly the up
turn in business in Alaska.A large part of the collec
tions during the quarter came from delinquent taxes;
back for a year, two and even more. Taxable firms
and individuals have been paying up. which is a very
definite indication that they have obtained funds to paj£
with. This may well be the best sign of all, for when
the general income grows the entire people benefit.
And the third point is that the money is in the treas
ury and cannot be expended without sanction of the
Legislature no matter how much the Territorial officers
might desire to spend it. How often have you heard,
“oh, there’s lots of money in the Treasury, why can’t
they spend some of it for—” and some one’s pet plan is
then advanced. Particularly, the appeal has been made
for Territorial expenditure for relief.
Factually, this money is technically not available
For People Who Feel
Under Par
SQUIBBS CHOCOLATE
VITAVOSE
RICH IN VITAMINS B, G, AND IRON
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NOME DRUG STORE
THE BOARD OF TRADE
NEW LOCATION
(Opposite The Dream Theatre)
MINERS & MERCHANTS BANK of ALASKA
NOME, ALASKA.
ESTABLISHED IN 1904
GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS CONDUCTED
Checking Accounts Carried For Those Who
Prefer Paying By Check.
Interest Paid On Time Deposits
Gold Dust Purchased
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Northern Light & Power Co.
AND |
Alaska Telephone & Telegraph Co. !
Second Avenue and Lane's Way
LIGHT. POWER AND ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES
LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE SERVICE
at this time. It must carry the Territorial expenses
through the next biennium, 1937 to 1939 and conse
quently the Legislature to be elected will actually be
responsible for its appropriation.
The simple truth is and virtually everyone should
know who stops to think that the Legislature is the
money spending body of the Territory. It is the Leg
islators who come here every two years, and will be
coming again in January, who appropriate the Terri
torial funds. The Territorial officers, such as the Gov
ernor, Treasurer, Auditor, Highway Engineer and At
torney General, have nothing to do with it. There
might be ten million dollars in the Treasury, but the
Administrative officers can do nothing about spending
it, no matter how laudable the purpose, until the leg
islators have appropriated. Thus the cry to spend ter
ritorial money for relief at this time, other than the
amount set aside by the last legislature, is futile.
Simms—There are times when benefit may be de
rived from the advice of a fool.
Mrs. Simms—You certainly shouldn’t complain.
Haven’t I always listened to yours?
VOTE FOR
ANTHONY J. DIMOND
For Re-election On Democratic Ticket
FOR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS
His Work For The Territory Is The
Best Argument For His Re-election
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