Douglas Island news., 1908-05-20
HE RETCHIKAN CONVENTION
What Ex-Governor Swineford thinks of it, as expressed in
 She Daily Miner

The outcome of the Republican Territorial Convention, called to meet here on the I2th inst, though predicted by many and feared by others, was a repetition, in a measure at least, of all Republican conventions heretofore held in Alaska. The closing scenes enacted were, to say the least, more than disgraceful, fact which will be admitted Jy all who were present. save and except only the active partici- pants. In fact, the only consolation that can be drawn from the event must be found in the fact that the row did not culminate in resort to Vio- fence and bloodshed, and the fair assumption that the actors themselves must by this time be heartily ashamed of the parts they enacted in the pro ceedings.
 It is not the province of The Miner to comment at length upon the merits or demerits of the affair as bstween the coUtending factions, though it may be proper to refer to the out come, having reference to the effect it is likely to have upon outside pub, lie opinion as affecting the welfare of the people of Alaska in general. Though this paper does entertain an opinion of it's own as to the merits and demerits of the party row, those are questions which it prefers to leave to a discussion and possible satisfactory settlement by the partisan organs of the territory, in the hope that they may be able to arrive at solution satisfactory at least to the "solid in- terests,' if, indeed, not to the rank and file of the party itself. It may be excused for saying however, that two sets of delegates having been chosen to represent Alaska in the National Republican convention, botb/ sets of whom will, presumably, present themselves demanding recognition, that that body will, through it's prop erly constituted committee, be per fectly justified in declaring "a plague on both your houses" and in suggest ing that they both go back home and learn how to behave themselves prop erly before again presenting them selves for admission to participation in the supreme council of the party. That would be, in the opinion of The Miner, the only recognition to which they will be justly entitled.
 Altogether, assuming that the fac tion which succeeded in holding pos session of the hall and finally conclud- ing it's business without interruption was the "regularn Republican con vention, then, in that case it must honestly be admitted that 1t arrived at a wholly inconsistent, lame and i'm potent conclusion. This faction Is supposed, indeed claimed to represent what they themselves choose to de- nominate the "Hoggatt faction"-ir other words, the sentiment within the party was openly opposed to terri torial form of government for Alaska. The Miners opinion of the propriety of thus making the issue of opposition to territorial government one personal to the Governor himself because 0i his we'll known views on that question and the injustice thus done by his ill advised friends, is a matter of liStle moment and cuts DO figure here, other than to tend to emphasize the align ment between the contending factions within the party, and is suggested only by the fact that they themselves would have it so. If we concede the adherents of this so-called "Hoggatt