The Alaska prospector., 1908-04-02
ANARCHY IN POLITICS.

Some Alaska republicans seem de- termined to introduce southern re- publican methods into politics of the north. In the southern states that never elect a republican presidential elector or congressman they always have two or three republican parties, while New York and Pennsylvania with more than 800, 1000 votes each, and Illinois and Ohio with more than time few dozen republicans in the far south get sore at the local commit tee they organize new party.
 Fairbanks and Juneau often try to emulate South Carolina and Mississip- pi. Those two towns can raise more hell in politics than all the rest of the territory combined. It may be be- cause they have more talent. constant ly sputtering for expansion like steam in kettle, or it may be that they have just acquired the habit of kick ing to keep warm.
 Just now Fairbanks has the center of the stage. Some very estimable gentlemen, no doubt, do not like John McGinn, the Tanana member of both territorial committees which united in the call for the Ketchikan convcn- tiOn, and therefore ignored his call for a primary and held one of their own. Notwithstanding delegations to the territorial convention to stir up more hell, when Alaska republicans ought to get together if they expect to receive an iota of respectful atten- tton from the party at large. The re- publican party of Alaska united am cunts to no more than a cipher in the nation. and ripped into factions even the rim is knocked off the cipher.
 Comes now the Fairbanks Times and attacks Chairman Sheldon and Secretary Wulff of the territorial com mittee because Mir. Wuln sent tele- gram to Mir. McGinn recognizing his right to call the primary. MT. Shel- don was not in Valdez when Mir. Me Ginn's query came and is not res ponsible for the answer. MT. Wuln referred the matter to the writer of
 
 as he did This was not through par tiality to MT. McGinn, whom neither MT. WulH nor the person advising him ever saw, nor enmity to the oth- CT faction, but merely in pursuit of regularity. Mir. McGinn represents both territorial committees.
 The Times repeats the fiction harp ed on by the Juneau story organs that the Juneau convention of last November was declared invalid by the republican national committee. The national committee did not do anything of the kind because it lack ed power to do so. It declared in- valid the election of delegates to the national convention, as it had q right to do. but it has no control over territorial or state organizations. The republicans of Alaska have Il right to hold a new convention and elect new committee every six weeks, provided the meeting is regu- lsrly called. The committee which called the November convention had been recognized by the national committee.
 The Times also insists that the Sheldon committee had to get the backing of the Irving committee to legalize the call for the spring con- Yention, which is only a dream. The Irving committee was asked to unite in the call in the hope that thereby the fractional divisions in the party might be closed up.
 Right here it is well to remember that two years ago the Times refused to recognize the Irving committee or the nominee for congress selected by the convention which elected that committee.
 AS a matter of common sense the November convention should never have been held because it was too early, but the call for that month followed two precedents which had been recognized by the following national conventions. The work of the Juneau convention was turned down because the delegation was in- s"uctSn TUT lbto aHu bnc natiOlal committee has an anti-Taft majority. It is time for Alaska republicans to get together and they seem willing to do 30 everywhere but in Fairbanks. What difference does it mako who | calls convention or caucus provided | due notice Is given and everybody | has chance to attend. If tho anti McGinn republicans are in the majority in Fairbanka they could |