SPECIAL OETION FOR DELEGATE
WILL DEVELOP UNIQUE SITUATION
Matter Is Complicated by Impending Contest of
Wickersham—Prospective Candidates of Both
Political Parties Chary of Making Race
The death of Delegate-elect Charles
A. Sulzer leaves the territory of Alaska
confronting a singular political situa
tion, and one probably without prece
dent in the history of American do
mestic politics. The wisest politi
cians in the territory are now looking
for a solution of the riddle, and it
may be expected that within a few
days definite announcement may be
made from Juneau as to what has
been determined by the leaders of
the two major parties.
After an election the result of which
hung for weeks in the balance, the
victory swinging first to one candi
date and then to the other, and the
final returns from which were not re
ceived until four and a half months
after the closing of the polls, the ter
ritorial canvassing board, by unani
mous vote, has awarded the election
to the deceased candidate, the certifi
cate being issued on the day follow
ing his death. But so small is the
plurality of the Democratic candidate
that there is little reason to doubt
that a Republican house of representa
tives, in sympathy with the Republican
contestant, would easily be able to
absolve its conscience of unfairness
should it decide to seat the Repub
lican candidate.
Former Contest
In 1916, with the same candidates
for delegate, the election was simi
larly close, and the Democratic terri
torial canvassing board, by throwing
out disputed precincts in which the
territorial election law had not been
complied with, awarded the certificate
of election to the Democratic candi
date, Mr. Sulzer, and he occupied the
seat in the house of representatves I
until January of this year, when the
contest of his Republican opponent,
Mr. Wickersham, was acted upon and
the latter was seated. The questions
determined by the house of representa
tives in this contest were the right of
United States soldiers stationed in
Alaska to exercise the franchise, the
validity of the territorial election law,
■-—
which was held to conflict with the
congressional law, and the status of
the natives.
The effect of the decision of the
house of representatives was that sol
diers could not exercise the franchise
in Alaska, that violation of the terri
torial election law did not furnish suf
ficient cause to throw out returns of
offending election precincts, and that
there were practically no restrictions
upon the right of the Alaska natives
with reference to the franchise.
Effect of Another Contest
Wickersham, the unsuccessful Re
publican candidate for delegate, has
announced that he will file a contest
against the issuance of the election
certificate to his Democratic opponent,
and this contest must be filed with the
clerk of the house of representatives
within thirty days after the issuance
of the certificate.
There are many who have followed
the two election contests who affect
to believe that Wickersham stands an
even better chance to overthrow the
decision of the canvassing board in
the present instance than he did of
overturning the decision of Judge
Jennings of two years ago.
Special Election Called
In the meantime Governor Riggs
has decided to call a special election
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Mr. Sulzer, and it is expected that
the d^e set will be thirty days after
adjournment of the legislature, or
about the first of June. And here is
where another complication conies to
light. To follow the territorial pri
mary law in the matter of nomina
tions would consume several months,
and the returns from the special elec
tion would consume several months
more. It is evident that the territorial
authorities have decided to ignore the
primary laws and to rely on the
nominations being made by a hastily
called convention. As it has been
thought by many that the primary law
was invalid, and that elections for
delegate must take place under the
congressional law, no difficulty Is ex
pected on this score.
Why Candidates Are Timid
But suppose that conventions of the
various parties are called, nominations
are made, and the election held, and
the certificate of election is awarded
to the successful candidate, tn the
meantime congress will have been
called in special session, and in view
of the circumstances it is likely that
it will take speedy action on the con
test of Mr. Wickersham. Should he
be again successful, this would leave
the winner in the special territorial
election in the peculiar position of
having been elected to an office in
which there was no vacancy.
Under the circumstances it is not
expected that James Wickersham will
be a candidate at the special election,
as it would be inconsistent for him
to again be a candidate for an office
to which he already claims to have
been elected. And he will no doubt
prefer to stand on his contest.
The Republican party will therefore
be compelled to look for new material,
and it is evident that among the few
men who take a prominent part in
territorial politics, and thus are known
throughout Alaska, there are but few
outstanding figures, and even some of
these will not care to make a race
under such peculiar conditions. This
applies equally to the Democratic
party.
Some Who Are Mentioned
Assuming that Mr. Wickersham
will refuse to be a candidate before
a Republican convention (and it is ex
tremely doubtful whether he could se
cure the nomination if he did), there
has been suggested as a likely candi
date Representative Collins of the
Fourth division, formerly speaker of
the lower house, and who, judged by
the returns of the last election. Is ex
tremely popular in his home division.
He was the only Republican legisla
tive candidate elected in the Fourth
division at the last election, and he
received a magnificent plurality.
Another Republican who has been
prominently mentioned is Attorney L.
V. Ray of Seward, who also is well
and favorably known in the Coast di
visions. It is not known whether he
could be induced to make the run.
W. A. Gilmore of Nome, a former
candidate on the Republican ticket
for delegate, also has numerous sup
porters, and no doubt would male a
splendid run. But it is persistently
claimed that for several years past
he has not really been a resided of
the territory, residing with his fanily
in Seattle during the winter ninths.
Among the Democrats named in
connection with the office of delegate
none is more prominently mentioned
than Judge Charles E. Bunnell of
Fairbanks. Judge Bunnell made the
run against Wickersham in 1914, and
although then practically unknown
he made a good impression, and since
that time he has rapidly come to the
front in Democratic ranks. No mar
in the Democratic party, it is said
would poll a larger vote than would
Judge Bunnell.
George Grigsby, the territorial attor
ney general, also has hosts of friends
and might not be averse to making
the canvass.
Might Have to Resign
In the case of these Democratic can
didates, however, and especially ii
Judge Bunnell’s case, it is thoughi
likely that resignation from presenl
office would inevitably precede candi
dature for the delegateship. It is
thought unlikely that the departmeni
of justice would allow a United States
district judge to sit on the bench a!
a time when he was a candidate foi
another office. To ask the genia
judge to resign in order to become
the standard-bearer of his party is
felt to be too much of a sacrifice to
expect, especially in view of the fact
that he may be striving for an empty
honor.
Possible Conventions
It is likely that the calling of the
special election so soon after the ad
journment of the legislature is to en
able the nominating conventons to be
held in Juneau while the members of
the legislature are still there. Cau
cuses could be held in the various
precincts throughout the territory,
delegates elected, and the proxies sent
to the members of the legislature
from the various divisions. In this
manner only would it be possible to
place candidates in the field in the
limited period of thirty days specified
in the governor’s proclamation.
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NOTICE!
We have settled with the
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and are now
Open for Business
Our entire stock on sale
from 20 to 75
per cent reduction
/
«
LAURIE BROTHERS
. McCarthy
PROFESSIONAL
DR. W. W. COUNCIL
PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
Office and Reside nee, Cordova
General Hospital v. Ostrander
Building).
Phones—Residence, 115; Office, 132
DR. W. H. CHASE
PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
Office over Cordova Drug Store.
Calls may be left at Cordova
Drug Store.
Residence, Alaska Hotel.
DR. W. DARCY CHACE *
PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
WINDSOR HOTEL
Hours:
1 p. m. to 3 p. m. and 7 p. m. to 8 p. m.
DR. CHAS. DAGGETT
Northern Hotel Building, Cordova
Hours 9 a. m. to 9 p. m.
DENTISTRY
Special attention to
Prophylaxis and Pyorrhea
^ PHONE 200
D0N0H0E & DIMOND I
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
Offices:
CORDOVA and VALOEZ
FRANK H. FOSTER
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
ROOM 1. OSTRANDER BUILDING
E. F. MEDLEY
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR
AT LAW
Room 1. Adams Block
CORDOVA, ALASKA
»-«
R. H. L NOAKS
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
3FFICE - - - ADAMS BUILDING
WILLIAM A. HESSE
U. S. MINERAL SURVEYOR
Cordova, Alaska
DONALD C. FAIRMAN #
Will accept a limited number of
pupils for
PIANO INSTRUCTION
Studio, Empress Bldg. Phone 29-2
MRS. T. N. HUBBERT *
TEACHER OF VOICE AND PIANO
Residence:
Street Leading to Dock N
ERNESTINE TYLER
DANCING INSTRUCTIONS
Phone 135
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^l■l■■ll■l!lllll!!lll!l’lnl!]lll]lly|^]|l■llt■^1^ra^lf1l[rlm»ll^^^^''lm^l^1'Tmml^IT^^ ....
I Fraternal Order of Eagles 1
jj Will Hold a jj
j DANCE |
1 EAGLES’ HALL
I SATURDAY
| NIGHT
■ Fine Hardwood Floor, Best of Music, and
a .Good Time for All Who Attend
| Admission $1.00
liiiiiiiiiiiiiinillllilllllllllll
Special dinner served from 11:30
o’clock every day at the City Bakery.
2-Gt
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Best coffee in town at the City
Bakery. 2-6t
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YOUR FUR8 MADE TO ORDER
Best work guaranteed. Low
est prices. Over 2,000 Alaska
customers.
R. W. Drew
Tacoma’s Expert Furreir
11th and B’dw’y, Tacoma, Wash.
SPECIAL SALE
OF UP-TO-DATE
WAISTS
Also a Full Line of Ladies’ Suits,
Coats, Dresses and Skirts
THE REGENT
(MRS. JOHN NELSON)
Across St. from Modern Laundry ,
Fresh Fleishman yeast, In any quan
tity, at American Bakery. 25-3t
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See Monday’s and Tuesday’s special
grocery sale in the ad space of the
Blum-ONeill Co.
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CORDOVA MACHINE
WORKS
E. R. GARNES, Prop.
Residence Phone 101-3
Shop Phone 182
Machine Work of all Kinds,
Blacksmithing, General Repair
ing, Horse Shoeing, Oxy-Acety
lene Welding and Cutting.
AUTOMOBILES
REPAIRED
Office and Shop: City Dock
CORDOVA, Alaska.
Out of Town Jobs Given Strict
Attention.
CITY BAKERY LUNCH ROOM
* Special Carefully-Prepared Lunch served from 11:30 a. m. Our Fine
French Rolls with every meal
Big Variety of Pastries and Cakes, Always Fresh
Sanitary Machinery of Latest Model. Patent Brick Oven. Best Ma
terials used by Expert Workmen, producing our Famous Cream Loaf
Best Coffee in Town
French Bread Rye Bread