Douglas Island news., 1907-11-06
The Luneau Convention.

is being made against W. B, Hoggatt, governor of the territory of Alaska, is in reality aimed at the corporations and trusts that have controlled the terri tory for years. Hoggatt is openly charged with favoritism to the corpor- ate interests. Those who are fighting for his removal charge that he is the tool of the Guggenheims, aud has used his office as governor of the territory to promote corporate interests to the detriment of the territory.
 For years Alaska has been political hotbed. In the early days the territory was the Mecca of grafters. The pur- chase of officials in the interests of trusts and combines formed to secure control of the rich mining properties and the fisheries was common occur rauce.
 The better element of the territory has kept up continuous fight against the grafters, but the trusts have been strong politically, and the hottest fight in the history of the territory will oc- cur when che Republican convention, to adopt a platform and nominate a candidate for delegate to congress meets, in Juneau, next month.
 Itis a foregoue conclusion that this convention will pass resolutions asking President Roosevelt to remove Gov. Hoggatt and iudorsiug territorial gov ernment.
 The advocates ot territorial govern mert contend that this will remedy all of the evils that have existed in Alaska that were directly due to the federal authorities in the territory. While the advocates of territorial government eX- pect to win at the convention, it is known that Hoggatt and his trust back ing will make warm fight to prevent the passage of the resolutions.
 With the tales of fabulous wealth of Alaska that have been sent broadcast over the continent, the northern terri. tory has been the base of operations for more fake mining enterprises than any other place in the world. With the name of Alaska tackled to mining com pauies, stock has been sold in mythical mines all over the United States. 1t has been truly said that there are more ''vo. cal miners" in Alaska than those who represent legitimate undertakings, and many of these have been promoted through the indorsement of men hold ing federal positions. h this way pol itics bas had a part in everything re- latiug to the northern country.
 In the fully developed districts of Alaska, where the first excitement of the gold discoveries has passed and the district has settled down to steady pro- duction, practically all of The best properties are iu the hands of corpora tious. Itis a well established fact that the big interests have no desire for change in the form of government, and it is due to this fact more than any thing else that the fight will be made at the Juneau convention.
 While many of the men who will op- pose Hoggatt and work for the passage of resolutions favoring territorial gov ernment are prompted by political mo- tives, the vast majority of the opposi- tion to the present administration of the territory is due to the corporation rule.
 Itisan old saying that politics some times makes strange bed fellows" but none the less true in the present case. In this instance factions that have been fighting each other bitterly for years have lined up in opposition to the rule by corporations. In the delegation from the Seward peninsula that will at- tend the convention are men who were prominent factors in the campaign con- ducted for several years against former Federal Judge Wickersham. Ia the coming convention these men will stand with the delegation from the Tanana country, which is solidly with Wicker sham, and of which he will be the lead CT, on all questions relating to the fight against Hoggatt and the trusts.
 The fact that President Roosevelt will have personal representation at this convention from the national cap ital lends peculiar interest to the out