The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-12
ALASKA POLITICAL TALK
PROBABILITY ). HAT THREE
PLUMS WILL FALI-AN add
IIONAL JUDGE, "A NEW GOV
ERNOR AND A DELEGATE, PER-
KINS AND WICKERsHAM POSI-
BILITIES.
Special to The journal.

special to The Journal.
Seattle, Wash, Jan. 12.-Advices
from Washington to the effect that
Alaska is to have another federal
portant political positions in that dis
trlct are likely to be disposed Of soon.
Governor Brady's term will end soon,
ana While the governor would proba-
bly, like to succeed himself his chances
Tor 50 doing are not regarded as very
bright. The governors merits as a
gentleman and citizen are recognized,
but he is not regarded as a very pro-
gressive or serviceable governor.
While the office Of governor of Alaska
is a good deal Of sinecure, and
there is nothing much for him to do
II he does not care TO do much, there
are undoubtedly opportunities for a
man in that office to advance the in
terests Of the district, and it is be-
lieved that an active, wide-awake,
progressive man in the office of gov
ernor could do good deal more to
promote the interests of Alaska than
has been done by the present official.
Congress is expected to decide the
question soon as to whether Alaska
shall have a territorial form of gov
eminent or not. The prospect does
egate, either appointed or elected, is
certainly expected by the people of
Alaska as a result of the visit of the
senators last summer. There is a
strong and popular demand for home
rule or a territorial form of govern
ment in Alaska, but the appointment
or an acceptable delegate would be a
great advance over present conditions
The intimation that there is to be a
new judge carries with it the sugges-
ton that the central division, now
presided over by Judge Wickershan
will be divided and the interior given
to new judge, with possibly some adj
ditions on the west. This would give
the new judge the Yukon valley and
trlct. The tying Of the Yukon ur
with Valdez made the district diff
cult one to cover because of the diff
Guilty. of travel. It took Judge Wick
ersham practically a year to gel
| around from one part Of the district tc
another and this is not often enough
to serve the interests of the people sat.
isfactorily. At the same time, it is the
best that can be done under present
| means of transportation.
The people who talk Alaska politics
here, suggest that if the three offices
| spoken of, are to be filled soon, ar
excellent distribution of the favors
would be to select a governor from
Nome, a delegate from the central dis
trict, who would therefore be free
| from local prejudices in respec
either to northwestern or southeastern
| Alaska, and perhaps better situated tt
| look after the interests Of the whole
| district than if he were chosen from
one end or the other, and to take thu
new judge from southeastern Alaska
| The only candidates spoken Of for gov
ernor thus far are Perkins Of Nome
and Marshall Shoup Of Juneau. Mr.
| Perkins is at the head of large com
mercial company having EXTENSIVE
| concessions on the Siberian coast am
might not be disposed to accept tn
office. He is, however, an enterpris
ing, wide-awake man and woul,
doubtless make the office serviceabl
1 to the district. For delegate at-larg
in congress, Judge Wickersham i
spoken Of with favor. No one seem
to have picked out the judge in south
4 eastern Alaska but that plum woul,
undoubtedly be placed there if prope
regard were given to geographical dis
tribution Of the offices.
AT all events it would be expecte,
that all of these places would be file
/ from residents of Alaska. The peopl
! Of that district are not favOrably dis
posed toward carpet-bag government
There are plenty Of men of ability an
experience in Alaska to fill all the of
fees. If, however, the delegat
should be made elective there seem
no reason why the governor Shout
not be chosen the sameeway. It woul
! not cost any more to elect a gOverno
along with the delegate than to cleo
the delegate by himself.