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There seems to be quite a political,
judicial and legislative mixup at the
present time,; relative to Alaskan af
fairs. The Valdez people want to be
annexed to Canada, while Southeastern
Alaska is expressing a desire to be
tacked onto the State of Washington.
This agitation all arises from the fail
ure to obtain needed legislation from
Congress. If we stop and look closely
into the situation, a peculiar optical il
lusion will be observed.
' The Alaska delegation, who spent
the.past winter at Washington, work
ing in behalf of much needed legislative
measures, beneficial to the district, met
with considerable opposition in' both
senate and the house. Strange to say,
. the most aggresive opponents to these
measures in congress, were the sup
porters of the federal officials of the
Third division. Senator Platt of Con
necticut, who is quoted as Wickersham’s
friend in the senate, made a most bit
ter fight against a territorial form of
government for Alaska, or any meas
ure that would trend towards future
statehood. He also did all in his power
to befriend Wickersham;—still the lat
ter would have our people believe that
there was no undercurrent between he
and Platt.
If Wickersham was honestly fighting
at Washington for our people’s rights,
why were his supporters in the senate
fighting against those rights? Can any
one chow a record where Wickersham’s
friends in the senate attempted to car
ry out his publicly expressed views (at
^Fairbanks) as to Alaska’s welfare?
- . * *»
Can anyone produce a record of Wick
ersham personally making a fight at
Washington for legislative measures
beneficial to the district? Had he
.fought as hard for the people’s inter
ests as he did to retain his federal posi
tion, his senatorial support would not
have opposed measures which were en
dorsed by Alaska’s friends in the senate
—such men as Nelson, McCumber, Pet
tus, Penrose,‘Dietrich and others.
Such politicians as Wickersham de
light in making public promises to their
constituents—and then secretly count
eract them. What he has said to the
people in his judicial division relative
to his public-spiritedness, is not in uni
son with his actions at Washington.
His efforts have been to blind the peo
ple and side-track their interests, and
run his personal train on the main line.
The senators who were working for
our better interests, granted our re
quest for a Fourth judicial division, so
as to enable the people on the Yukon
to retain the presence of a District
judge in this vicinity all the year round.
This measure was bitterly opposed, and
its passage through the lower house
prevented, bv Representative Lacy of
Iowa. Our United States marshal,.
George G. Perry, has the political ear
of Lacey, they both being from that
state. Perry receiving his federal pos
ition through Iowa’s political prestige
at Washington, it is reasonable argu
ment that his views in this matter
would be considered and his influence
with Lacey carry some weight.
If Perry was working in harmony
with the people of his division, and
honestly supporting their interests,
why did his congressional supporters
oppose and foil the people’s wishes?
Now we ask the people to carefully
study the true status of the present
situation, and convince themselves
as to whom are the true friends to Al
aska. There is no disputing the fact
that the supporters at Washington, of
our federal officials, are the very ones
who have opposed legislative measures
beneficial to our people. Those sena
tors, who are working for the interests
of the people, are the ones who refuse
to endorse the actions and, conduct of
our officials.
- We desire Alaskans to look at this
matter in the proper light, and with
unbiased mind. It is not our desire to
try and mislead anyone by false state
ments, and shall deal only with actual
facts mid matters of record. The peo
ple can judge for themselves as to the
true merits.
The criminal element is jubilant.
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