FORUM PUBLISHING COMPANY
James B. Wingate, Editor and Manager
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SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1905. -
The ‘’learned jurist” made a brilliant
defense against the charges of incom
petency, graft and corruption which
have been filed against the federal offi
cials of the Third judicial division. His
argument is very weighty and certain
ly leaves no doubt as to the guilt of the
accused officials. It matters not who
or what the parties are who uncover
and expose corruption and unlawful
grafting of the government’s money by
officials. Be they angel or devil—and
THEIR CHARGES true—the offenders
should be brought to book!
The Senate, which body is composed
of two representative citizens from
each state in the Union, has sai l that i
Wicker3ham is not the proper man for
District judge of the Third judicial div
ision of Alaska; and refused to confirm
his reappointment. This action 'is an
endorsement of what we have publish
ed regarding that official. The fact of
Wickersham upholding and protecting
the corruption of Commissioner J. Lind
ley Green and Deputy marshal George
Dreibelbis received due consideration in
the summing up of Wickersham’s case
in the Senate, and that day is not far
when the verdict against them will be
made public.
The only defense put forth by Wick
ersham’s henchmen and accomplices,* is
that his accusers are “detractors” and
“political despots.” Never have they
come.forth and denounced the charges
aa;false; nor have they asked for the
proofs of their truthfulness. Now .that
the fight has been made before the pro
, per tribunal; and the charges sustained
- —this local excrescence of judicial
.knowledge shows his true principle of
manhood! If these accused officials
will: point out one false charge made
against them, we will publicly make
known the proofs of same, and feel cer
tain that the evidence of guilt will be
satisfactory. It has been satisfactor
ily proven to the Senate of the United
States that we are in the right. We
feel confident that the same can be
done to an impartial Federal grand jury.
In this matter we are dealing only
with public officers and confine charges
and comments solely to their official
acts. No matter how black or degrad
ed we may know their private charact
er to . be, we shall not overstep the
bounds of decency so far as to attempt
to make political material from private
family matters. While the temptation
is great to take advantage of the open
I ing presented, we will grant these cor
rupt officials an exclusive monopoly on
such a mode of proceedure—it is direct
ly in their line. A persons private af
fairs concern himself only and those
with whom he has dealings. The acts
of public officials concern the people at
large as the latter are the goverament.
It seems to have just dawned upon
Commissioner J. Lindley Green that
as an official he is in a pretty tight box
and must wear the shoe that pinches
so hard.
A miner named Froling arrived from
Circle a few days ago, and reports the
“acting” Commissioner Courtney, also
N. A. T. & T. Co. agent; “special”
Deputy marshal Horn, and ‘ ‘road ov er
seer” Rasmussen, also a local freigh
ter, actively enforcing the Burnham
; road tax law in all its pristine beauty—
as it existed prior to the passage of the
Nelson bill. The freighter and “road
agent” has quit packing and is solely
attending to his road agency, which ap
pointment he owes to the 4 ‘acting' ’ com
missioner, and is holding up ail comers
for $8—road tax for 1905. Froling de
murred and was mulcted just $68—fine
and costs $60 and road tax $8. If this
is the law at Circle, it should also be
the law in Rampart, Fairbanks and all
Alaskan camps. It has been claimed
that the Nelson bill displaced the Bum
ham act; but no decision has been giv
en on that point.
Vigilantes are now required to aid
the Federal authorities to uphold the
law in the Fairbanks country. A sys
tem of taxation of prostitution and vice
as has been in force there, can lead to
no other condition.
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