The Ketchikan miner., 1907-05-18
SOMETHING DUE THE PEOPLE.

SOMETHING DUE THE PEOPLE.
 The person or persons, whether in official position or private station, who are desirous of securing and re- taining the confidence and respect of his fellow men should ever be ready and willing to accord a like consid- eration for the views and opinions of others. Especially does this rule hold good in respect as to public official, though by none others is it more frequently disregarded and set at naught. It is too often the case that the individual invested with little brief authority, does not scruple to overstep the bounds of decent pro-
 priety, and forgetting that under the American principle of government, whether elected or appointed to public position, he is merely the ser- want of the people, assumes to be
 their master. But while 1t Is meet and proper that we accord all due
 and proper respect to official position,
 whether of high or low degree, such consideration is due to the incumbent
 of that position in so far only as he
 may, by his conduct, prove his deserv- ing.
 These remarks are preliminary to
 suggestion which The Miner, with all due respect for the position he occu-
 pies. wishes to offer Hon. Milford E.
 Hoggatt, governor of Alaska. It will
 be made in spirit of perfect candor
 with no desire or intent to offend, but rather with feeling of sincere regret that The Miner finds itself honestly at variance with the views and opinions of that gentleman on
 all, or nearly all, important public
 questions upon the final determina- tion of which depends the present and future welfare of Alaska. It is by no means essential that Gov. Hog
 gait should revise his views and
 opinions on these important public questions to make them conform, even
 remotely. to those who differ with him in order to attain the respect and confidence of the people; but if, in-
 deed, he would attain that position in
 his relations with them, it is wholly
 necessary that he should accord to them that degree of consideration to
 which decent respect for their in- telligence entities them. He may not, indeed it is scarcely possible, win them to his way of thinking on the public qu estions at issue, but he can win the respect which the
 honest, conscientious opponent, is ever ready to accord another alike honest and conscientious.
 It will not truthfully be said that the governor has been lacking in the expression of his opinion on matters pertaining to Alaska the trouble is that he has been. utterly lacking in the respect due to the differing views and opinions of a people possessed of fair degree of intelligence, insist ing that they should accept his ipse dixit as final and conclusive. He has asserted that territorial organiza- ion would entail an expense of a million dollars annually on the people of Alaska, and when asked to make good that extraordinary assertion with a statement of facts and figures, treats the wholly respectful request with seemingly contemptuous silence. He has asserted that the ''best people" in Alaska are opposed to territorial government in Alaska. as are also the solid interests, " and that the demand for change from our present bastard form of government to one more in consonance with the American principle of popular soy ereignty, comes from a few dema gogues and saloon keepers only.
 The Miner would like exceedingly well to be able to credit Mr. Hoggatt with the possession. of at least a modicum of honest candor; but until he makes good, by substantial proof, the wholly reckless assertions credited to and not denied by him, that credit will not be accorded him either by the press or the people of Alaska.
 The way is yet open to him to make his peace with the people whose in- telligence he has indirectly, if not intentially, insulted. He can do, that in no other way, however, than by or trying to substan- tiate, the truth of at least one or two of the reckless assertions referred to, if indeed he cannot truthfully deny having made them. But for the official position he occupies they would, in the absence of substantial proof, not be given crederce anywhere.
 The Miner will see to it that the question of popular home government for Alaska is kept to the fore, and unless the substantions asked for are ere long forthcoming, will undertake a rattling of the drybones of the opposition that will cause some few people at least to sit up and take heed.