ALASKA FORUM
(OFFICIAL PAPER)
~Torum^ub^^
James B. Wingate, Editor and Manager
SufesCRiPTioNS: The Alaska Forum delivered
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paid to anonymous communications.
SATURDAY* DECEMBER 17, 1904
That portion of President Roosevelt’s
message, relative to Alaska, shows the
attention of the President has been at
tracted to the needs of this country,
and that he means to give needed as
^sistance. He expresses a desire to ex
tend governmental aid in the construc
tion of railroads from coast to Yukon;
wagon roads in districts where needed.
x To give us representation in Congress,
by a delegate, and to purify our courts
of existing corruption. The fact that
President Roosevelt has recommended
4 ‘that judges and their clerks in Alaska
be divested of their administrative ex
ecutive functions,” is a movement in
the proper channel, and strikes the key
note. It shows that the President re
alizes the present condition of arrairs
in this district, and means to put a stop
to judges being absolute czars in their
divisions.
The present system of appointment
of commissioners, irrespective of their
ability, integrity, and morality, and re
taining them in office against the wish
es of the majority of the people, is con
trary to the true principles of a free
and independent form of government.
The abuse of this administrative exec
utive function has been fully demon
strated in this division by Judge Wick
ersham. He has not only appointed
men to the office of commissioner whom
he knew were not competent to fulfil
the duties of the office, but he has pro
tected and retained them in their nefar
ious work, because they were, as he
supposed, useful to him in advancing
his own political and financial interests.
These is no portion of Uncle Sam's
domain, other than Alaska, where the
District judge has absolute control over
the issuance and revocation of business
licenses. This executive function alone
gives a judge vast power over the peo
pie, and should the judge h<*ve political
aspirations , and corrupt ideas, he is cer
tain to avail himself of th's authority
and further his private interests. This
has also been ful y demonstrated in this !
division by Judge Wickersham, who has
given the people to distinctly under
stand that their engaging, or continuing
in business d epended entirely upon their
personal treatment of him and his hench
men. ^
The present ad.nii istrative laws of
Alaska are so framed as to make the j
District judge absolute monarch of his i
division, and if inclined, he can build |
up around himself, a network of polit
ical corruption almost impossible to
segregate. The laws governing other
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1/ClliOUllCO W UCOIUW LIIC
trict judge such administrative execu
tive functions. It is on the line of good
government that a judge should not be
allowed to control and manipulate the i
commissioner’s and license collector’s |
offices. They should be separate and
distinct from the judiciary. Should the
* officials holding these different positions
violate the provisions of the law gov
erning their official duties, it then be
comes the duty of the District judge to
grant a fair and impartial trial.
It is a well recognized illegal act for
a court to sit in judgment against itself.
The President cannot be held wholly to j
blame for corrupt and incompetent men !
obtaining appointive federal positions, j
It is almost a physical impossibility for j
him to become personally acquainted j
with all the applicants for the numer
ous positions connected with our form
of government. He is therefore forced
to rely upon the applicant’s recommen
dations and endorsements. If after the
submission of overwhelming proofs of
the incompetency of the appointee, the
incumbent is still retained in office, as
is the case of Commissioner J. Lindley
Green, then the appointive power be
comes personally responsible to the*
people. __
The people of Alaska realize that a
local political campaign is on, but they
had no idea that the old style ward heel
er was at work in the district. Attempt
ed coersive subjection will never win a
political fight at the present stage of
civilization. If office-seekers cannot j
campaign on their honest merits, they
should not enter the political arena. A
federal official who comes before the
people for reelection or reappointment i
ana cannot bear to have his past official
acts brought before the people, is not
worthy of office. It sounds bad to hear
a federal official, during the heat of a
campaign, publicly threaten a private
citizen with great bodily harm, and to
belittle the dignity of his office by use
ing vulgar and obscene language in a *
public place.
If every person who takes an active *
partin a political campaign should have
the life beaten out of him by political
office holders,—merely for showing the
inccrnpetency of candidates, the privil
ege of free speech wTould be entirely ob
literated, and corruption would reign
supreme. When officials themselves,
cease to respect the laws they are sworn
to enforce, they then become unfit for
office, and cannot expect the support of
law-respecting people. Officials are
granted executive power for the pur- -
pose of enabling them enforce the laws
as they appear upon the statute books,
and not for the purpose of satisfying
personal animosity.
X hey have not the privilege of violat
ing the laws anymore than has a private #
citizen. Subordinate officers should not
make their leaders load of incompetency
the heavier to carry; the weight is al
ready immense. It should be remem
bered that the last straw was what
broke the camel's back. Those who are
unsuccessf ul in securing the coveted po
litical prize should take their defeat like v
men, and rememuer there are others in
the world worthy of recogniti< n. All
cannot hold oince at the same time;
there must be a few privates in the
ranks. Of course one dislikes to loose a
political paystreak, but that wThich is
one man's ioss is anothers gain. When
ever public officials announce that their
official acts and conduct shall not be
criticised by the public—they then be
come the very men w7ho need attention.
Congress will adjourn in few days *
for the holidays. News of the appoint- v
ments for Alaska may be expected at
anytime.
KzwmmBmsw
JULIUS RAHMSTORF
■ESI
General
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