New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
ALASKAN DELEGATES
Two Men To Be Chosen for the Chi
cagO Contention.
IFIom The Tribune BUREAU. |

IFIom The Tribune Bureau1
Washington. Feb 22.-Alaska will hold new
election :. Ketchikan May 2 for two dele
gates to -e Republican National Convention. and
the delegates will have to start Immediately In
order arrive in Chicago IN time to cast their
votes. Six delegates had already been elected
when the Republican National Committee met in
Washington last December. but by the terms of
the cali they were declared TO have been pre-
matureiy chosen, and Alaska told that no
delegate from that territory would be seated at
the convention until others named. The
call further stipulated that only two would be
seated instead of TX
AS the six delegates had been Instructed 10
vote for Secretary Taft their rejection was re-
ceived with jur. r.ation by The opponents OF the
Secretary. who loss of four votes to L n
and tie possibility that Alaska could not elect
her allotted delegates IN time to be repre-
sented al the convention They realized tEat an
election in Alaska is much different ana more
difficult matter than a short walk to tie polls in
the United States, and hope was expressed
that. having once gone Oh record the AlasAahs
would be content to forego another election But
in this hope they did not reckon on the uetefihlia
ton of the Alaskans to exercise their rights OF
ballot and the calibre of Thomas Gale the Terri
toria Delegate in Congress, who holds strong views
as to the interest his people should take in national
politics. Mr.. Gale believes that the Alashans prize
the right of ballot more highly than any otner
Americans. and that they make more sacrihces
for it, He says that the delegates will
somewhat changes the situation Mr. Gale Is a
Nermonter by birth, but has lived in Alaska ten
years and is serving his first term In Congress.
He elected q non-partisan ticket although
he is closely allied with the Republicans than
the Democrats, and is listed in the former column
In speaking Of the voters Of Alaska Mr. Gale SAID;
The people of the United States do not realize the
sacrifices that many of my people have to MAKE 20
distances To pat voting precincts within Ieach OF
all would be utterly impossible, so we do the next
tres Of population Even with the utmost care
cannot arrange matters to many miles III Our o
vote. Those who can come along the rivers 90 nos
fellows who ere forced to come overland meet with
many hardships. We have had several instances
precinct and innumerable stories of sacrifices
the naming of delegates to the Republican National
Convention comes at exceedingly bad time for
miner in Alaska has the most important work of
o % % a to- oIa 5 of and week vet m conen
that will poll good vote. The people out in
most people in the states. they devour the papers
though the news is some weeks old. and the
most interested country town of Indiana.
rhey h and beeVe a
he is the sort of man who would enjoy the sort
President, they are for Taft yet the Secretary of
remember his trip through the Northwest and feel
terest in the territories of the United states For
these reasons think that the delegation will be in
strong they will make up In enthusiasm what they
cainpaisning ' in Alaska as It takes about two
paces D R a eampagR for congress te
months son on my trip which wa, DEVOTED chiefly to
natural dift1culties polls surprisingly large vote
ond 10 some OF me S STATES as OF me unon
were more than nine thousand votes cast, which
of many business interests.