Thompson still wished to leave Alaska, however, and in 1915, he sold a majority share of "News-Miner" stock on option to O.P. Gaustad, a Republican Party booster. Scandal erupted when it was revealed that Gaustad was merely a stand-in for James Wickersham, who was Alaska's delegate to Congress. Partially because of the scandal, Gaustad was unable to sell the shares he held an option for, and Thompson returned to Alaska in spring 1916 to reassume his role as publisher. Later that year, Republican interests took over the "Fairbanks Times", which had leaned toward the Democratic Party. The new owners of the "Times" were unable to come up with financing for new equipment, however, and the "Times" went out of business in October 1916.