The Nome Nugget

Ralph Rivers To Speak On Campaign Issues At Pioneer Meeting Tonight

Ralph Rivers, Democratic Candidate for the House of Representatives, U. S. Congress, is in N. W. Alaska, where he will wind up his campaign. In the last two months Mr. Rivers has traveled to all other principal points in Alaska in behalf of his candidacy, and to familiarize himself with the problems of each area.

Since his arrival here, Mr. Rivers has commented on the many promises recently made by Republican candidates and Secretary of Interior Seaton. Mr. Rivers said.

"The Village Armory program which will erect 51 armories and community centers in villages in Alaska, is the result of appropriations made by the Democratic 85th Congress as part of the National Defense program. These armories are to be constructed by village labor and serve as much needed community centers throughout Northwestern Alaska."

"The Nome Armory, which is assured for the 1959 construction season, is the product of action by the 1957 Democratic Territorial Legislature."

High Schools for Kotzebue, Unalakleet, Hooper Bay, and Barrow, long known to have been sorely needed, have passed the planning stage, and inasmuch as money is now available through appropriations by the 85th Congress, there can be no issue on this subject in this campaign.

The same point applies to the new hospital for Kotzebue, which is already assured.

The bill to extend the Alaska Public Works Act failed in the last Congress with 81 per cent of the House Democrats voting for the bill and 87 per cent of the House Republicans voting against

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Ralph Rivers
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it. Nome's water and sewage program, which holds top priority on the APW list of applications, hinges on action by the 86th Congress which will be overwhelmingly Democratic.

With reference to all the above points, Mr. Rivers stated, "It seems apparent that Alaska would gain no advantage by sending Republicans to Congress."

Mr. Rivers expressed his support for inclusion of Alaska in the Defense Highway Act. "It is apparent that with an increasingly important air base at Galena and numerous White Alice installations in N. W. Alaska, all of highly strategic importance to the National Defense, the proposed highway "97," as a connecting artery should be constructed as part of our National Defense program.

If elected I would work for this objective, curtailment of further Federal reservations, equitable increase in the price of newly mined gold, Federally financed public power development, expansion of rural electrification, federal aid for school construction, re-enactment of the Federal Airport Aid act recently vetoed by the President, State control of fisheries as soon as possible, and other constructive steps to make Alaska a great state.

Mr. Rivers leaves Nome today for Unalakleet, and is scheduled to return tonight to appear on TV and attend the Pioneers of Alaska meeting.