The Ketchikan miner., 1907-08-10
RATHER DISINGENUoUS.

RATHER DISINGENUOUS.
 Governor Hoggatt, in what appears to have been an authorized statement wired to the Seattle P-I. from Fair banks, is made to say: "I deny that ever said Ut any time or place that all Ahskans were opposed to self gov ernment. On the contrary, l have always clalmed that the idea is supported by them. I sincerely be- heve my attitude is right, and elamor will not shake mo from that position. The newspaper elamor does not bother nc in the least. l believe the newspaper campaign is designed to destroy my influence with the national government. Having perfect assur- anee at first hand that this will not arise. regard the biting criticism as unfortunate. but not dangerous to my work.
 The Miner may be excused ii 1t de- elines to accept this disclaimer as al- together sincere and disingenuous Governor Hoggatt has not been aeeus- ed Of saying at any time or place tha t "an Alaskans were opposed to self gov gernment, = and his denial of hay ing done so therefore fails to meet the question at issue between himself and the people whom he assumed to represent only to misrepresent and in directly villifv. Not only has he asserted in his newspaper interviews and in private conversation that the people ot Alaska were and are oppos- sd 10 home government, but that was .he impression he sought to convey to the president and the congress last wipter, when he said over his own signature ia s letter to the president which the latter transmitted to con gress, "is is the concensus of opinion Of the conservative business men, almost without exception that sha time is inopportune for that form Of government, that a large DOT
 tion Of the agitation for territorial ! government comes from the saloon element which is desirous of decreas-
 Ing the burdens now imposed upon that business. and at the same time obtain greater liberty than
 they now have in the conduct of their bushes, = and that "another large poreion comes from the demagogic statement that our people are depriT- ! led. .of some of the essential rights of citizenship, with which l take de-
 cided issue" Again. did he not assert in that same letter that the
 "question Of territorial government
 wa5 net seriously considered in the election of delegate to congress. at
 which Mss.rs Wasiey and Gale. run nin on platform pledging them to
 it's support, were elected by such an , overwhelming majority.
 IL all comes t0 this, as the plain
 anl unvarnished turth, that Mr. Hog gat5 has not only declared his own unqualified opposition to territorial i CT other form ot popular home gov erument for Alaaka. without adranc-
 ing any logical reasons therefor. but ! he has not ,cruPled to usnrp preroga-
 tiras belonging to the chosen repre- IsentatiYes Of the people. and in place
 and out Of place to studiousl3 misreH- resent and indirectly insult them.
 That Mr. Hoggatt, is at last be- ginning to feel the strieturas passed
 upon him by the press Of Alaska affords ragement to the hope that he still has left within him some Of the spirit oi patriotism inherent to true .Americanism, and that he may be made to realize ere long. that without change of heart and conduct he gill kick in vain against the bricks oi stirring conscience. If he would hafesthe good will and aid Of the Alaskan press and people in his work. z he needs but to adher
 strictly and legitimately to that work
 and let the work deputed to othei. than himself severely alone.