The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-02
JUDGES IN ALASKA
WILL BE SUSTAINED
This Is the Probable Outcome
of the Investigation Made by
Department of Justice
Globe Special Washington Service
f417 q Street

1417 G Street
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. L.
Although no offic;sI information has
been given out in regard to the ex-
traordinary investigation of federal
officers in Alaska which was ordered
by the president early in the recent
summer, it is believed that the report
of Assistant Attorney General Day,
who made the investigation, will be ia
vorable to at least two of the three
district judges in the territory. 1t was
the judges against whom the attacks
of many of the citizens of Alaska were
especially directed
Affairs connected with the Alaska Ju-
dietary have caused no end of trouble
to the administration for the last four
years, and the controversies have been
of particular interest to Minnesota and
the Northwest. on account of the iden--
LITIGATION of many Minnesotans with
business or official interests in the far
North. Judge Noyes was dismissed
from Office in 1901, after long inves-
tigatiOn, and is was believed that the
court troubles in the territory were
ended.
Charges were soon preferred, how
ever, against Judge Brown and Wick
cism Of Judge Moore. Judge Brown is
located in the southeastern part of
Alaska, Wickersham in the central and
Moore in the northwestern, or Nome,
district. Judge Wickersham was ap-
pointed from the state of Washington,
but one of his stanchest friends, until
late last winter, was Senator Nelson, of
Minnesota. Mr.. Nelson was a member
of the subcommittee Of the senate
committee on territories who visited
Alaska last year for the purpose of eX-
aiming into the needs of the territory
and he was favorably impressed with
Judge Understands conduct of the
business of the federal court in the
central district. He spoke highly of
the judge after his return to the
states, and when Senator Fairbanks,
of Indiana, went out of his way to
praise Judge Wickersham on the floor
of the senate last winter, Mr.. Nelson,
In answer to a question, acQuieSced in
the statement that Wickersham was
one Of the best judges Alaska ever had.
Senator Nelson had introduced a bill
in the senate, however, to divide into
two districts the single district pre-
sided over by Judge Wickersham, and
1T was represented to him that the
judge was secretly opposing the
measure. Mr.. Nelson was highly dis
pleased upon hearing of Judge Wick
6FSDduS dlleSeQ ACTIVITY against the
division bill, and late in the winter he
joined forces with the men who were
trying to-prevent Wickersham's reap
pointment for another term of four
years.
Similar charges had been filed
against Judge Brown, and the presi-
dent decided to order an extraordinary
investigation, not only of these Judges,
but of practically every one of the fed
eral officers in Alaska. Assistant At
torney General Day, who was assigned
TO this task. has just completed his
work, and will soon make his report to
the president. 1t is pretty well under
stood that Judge Days report will say
that the reports against the judges
were exaggerated, and the. prediction
is made that all three jurists will be
practically sustained. The terms of
Judges Wickersham and Brown ex-
pired June 6 last and the appoint
ment of their successors has been de-
layed pending the investigation. Both
are candidates for another term.
Walter E. Clark.