The Washington herald., 1909-06-06
THE

Reilly was forging along with his hent
down, and so engrOssed I'm his owl
thoughts that he did not hear her voice
Before she could repeat her hail, he haC
been lost In crowd collected around TIA,
stand occupied by street orator.
She was to know other dlsappolntments
for as time went on, her father became
harrassed with doubts concerning his
election. Indeed, the whole country, or
a memorable day In January, was torn by
conflicting sentiments. lt seemed e
Grace that the echoes Of a nations NUT
terings 0nd a nations disputes and argu
ments were all resoundlng within the
walls OF her own home, which, In by-gone
years had been a place or refuge, penct
and ultimate quiet from outside worries
The condition OF unrest was brought
about by ono Of those unfortunate and
unexpected political occurrences which,
on four other occasions In the history of
the country, had given room for debate.
The various charges OF fraud, Irregular
counts and technical discrepancies, which
arose after that November day In several
state had all been decided In due legal
form by the states themselves, with the
exception OF certain contests In the new
ly-f0rmed state OF South Alaska. IL was
of this, the infant state In the great Sis
terhOod OF stars had hAen born into the
union 70 become a troublesome, although
decisive, factor In the future policy OF
government with It's immense mining,
timber and agricultural interests still In
the pioneer stage OF development, II had
drawn a population made up of peculiarly
Independent and free-thinlSing men, all
law-abiding, but inclined to adhere to
their views of equity rather than to
precedent.
Its legislature convened on the second
Monday In January to render judgment,
but it's election disputes were so close
and so intricate that 1t came to a dead.
lock over the electors. For two weeks,
this deadlock continued, while the news
papers of the entire country were loaded
with every detail OF the infant legsla-
ture's actions and leading editorials were
devoted TO nothing else. Another ele-
ment, the physical one, was now enter
ing Into the case; for, under the United
States law, the certified electoral vote
OF the state OF South Alaska must reach
Washington by the second Wednesday n
February, otherwise the state would lose
warding of those votes by messenger from
Sitka TO Washington, even with the rapid
transportation OF the period, could scarce
~ be less than ten days.
TN this emergency, when the fate OF
the election seemed hinging upon this
most Isolated state, when the cOuntry
was wrought to the highest pitch. and
partisanship had reached a point of po-
litlcal bitterness never before felt, tn 2
bulletins fSOm Alaska carried the news
that the lieutenant governor, acting pro
tenn, In the illness Of the chief execu
tive of the state, had issued certificates
of election to the three conservative cleo
tors, thus for the moment insuring the
election OF Grace's father The cOnserv-
AIlNG UdILlSanS over the entire country
were wild with enthusiasm, and for the
fist time since the day OK the popular
vote, held great meetings Of jubilation.
The bulletins received that evening in
the eastern portion of the United States
carried the additional comforting news
that not only had the three conservative
electors sailed from Sitka at once, but
that more than a hundred enthusiastic
Washington, to be present at the cast
Ing OF the momentous ballot Before the
bontres OF eastern cities had died out
before the sparks had fallen from the
last sheafs Of rockets, another bulletin
came, which once more threw the issue
Into doubt, stirred the anger OF conserya-
tives. and filled the liberal heart with
cation. 1t was TO the effect that the
governor of Alaska, after the regular
steamer had sailed, learning Of the coup
d etat executed by his lieutenant, had
been taken from his sick bed TO the ex-
ecutive chambers where he. In turn, had
issued a manifesto declaring the action
of the lieutenant governor invalid, and
had himself as chief executive OF the
state issued certificates OF election to
the three electors on the liberal side;
that liberal partisans In Sltka had I'm
mediately thereafter chartered another
steamer, so that a few hours later, an
other three men carrying certificates OF
election on the liberal side and backed
up by another crowd OF more than a
Ing madly down the inland waters of the
Pacific. All the enthusiasm which had
been displayed by the conservatives over
the entire country was now duplicated by
the liberals 1t was the first time in
the life Of the Atlantic coast cities when
two ratification meetings took place In
one night, the second one, owing to the
difference In time between Alaska and
the eastern coast beginning at three
o. clock in the morning.
TT HE total interest OF the United States
and indeed, Of the entire civilized
world was, for several days. fixed on this
unique race between two steamers in the