ALASKA FORUM
(OFFICIAL PAPER) _
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James B. Wingate, Editor and Manager
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1905.
IS OFFICIAL CORRUPTION
ESSENTIAL
TO GOOD GOVERNMENT?
The public exposure of graft and
corruption in connection with the pre
sent administration of the Federal gov
vernment in the Third judicial division
of Alaska has gone further than most
people anticipated. Newspapers are
generally believed to exaggerate most
of the official abuses they denounce;
• but it is an actual fact that no public
denunciation of the federal service in
this division, under Judge Wickersham,
has fully illustrated the selfishness,
greed, fraud, corruption and falsehood,
as it re illy exists.
It might be expected in these strong
ly competitive times, when the strife
f r wealth is so great, that among sub
ordinate officials some rascals could be
found; but for such rascality to be pro
tected and participated in by the high
e ;t judic iary in the division is something
that must fill this civilized community
with disgust. Has v llany and corrup
tion gained such an hold upon our Na
tional government that nothing else can
receive recognition and protection from
it? The people of this district realize
the power they are required to worship
is Corruption, and they quiescently
yield to avoid persecution and loss of
pr perty.
Never was a monarchical form of
government mere thoroughly demon
strated than in Judge Wickersham’s re
gime in this division. Never did grand
duke strive harder to retain possession
of an ill-gotten duchy than has Judge
Wicket sham to hold judicial and politi
cal control of the Third division. Ntev
er were king’s privileged court favorites
more encouraged and protected in their
licentious operations, than are Wicker
sham’s chosen henchmen in their
nefarious schemes for looting from the
government treasury and grafting from
the people through official position and
power.
The existence of such conditions in
connection with the administration of
our Federal government cause the peo
ple to wonder—where is all this to stop?
The corrupt official acts and conduct of
Commissioner J. Lindley Green, togeth
er with his incompetency, places the
moral and intellectual standing of this
community in a peculiar light before
those not familiar with the circumstan
ces surrounding his present incumbency
of the office. His retention in office is
not an illustration of public appreciation
of an official’s meritorious ability, but
merely to satisfy the vindictiveness of
of the appointive power, Judge Wick
ersham, and to further the “personal
desires” of the “Grand Duke’s” graft
ing henchmen.
The retention in office of as corrupt
an official as Deputy marshal George
Dreibelbis, demonstrates the “ability”
of Wickersham to protect corruption
among subordinates connected with his
administration, as well as his ‘integrity’
to protect the government. It is not
honest official ability that enables Geo.
Dreibelbis to retain his deputyship, but
his grafting propensities which coincide
with the “Grand Duke’s personal de
s'res” to obtain wealth regardless of
the means resorted to. The incidences
and facts pertaining to the corruption
of Judge Wickersham’s regime having
been properly filed and submitted to
the Senate of the United States, the
action thereon at the coming session of
congress will demonstrate whether or
not such corruption is considered a nec
essary adjunct to our present form of
government.
,
General Greely’s tour of inspection
the past summer has resulted in a re
commendation that the members of the
Signal corps in Alaska be better housed
and fed. That this has been done is
commendable; but it should be seen to
that it does not stop with the recom
mendation. The erection of the gal
vanized iron telegraph houses four years
ago caused a smile among those who
were familar with Alaskan winters;
yet the men have been compelled to
occupy these refrigerators ever since.
Florence
Hotel and Bar.
—o—
Wines, Liquors & Cigars
| +
BILLIARDS POOL
Tom Mahoney—Jack Radigan
Managers.
Alaska Forum
Established 1900.
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per Miners’
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CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE
The arrival of Carriers Palm and
Shultz Thursday afternoon with the
first outside mail since the river cl(
came as a pleasant surprise. The tirtfe
made was excellent for this season of
the year, being fully a week ahead of
what is considered good time during
the closing period. These carriers have
the distinction of breaking all former
records.