The daily Alaskan., 1909-06-17
AS TO THE GOVERNOR SHIP.

gait was not expected. Nor was the nomination of Walter 7. Clark, of Washington, D. C., to be his success Sur. It is not necessary to here dis cuSs Governor HOggatt'S motive in rendering his resignation. It may be that he was piqued because Secre- tGry Ballinger included him in the undesirable list; it may have been because of business reasons. But the important fact is that he has re- S,gued and his resignation will be- come effective on october l next Ihe Herald's opinion of Governor Hoggatt, Us executive of Alaska is known. For the governor as man and q gentleman, We have respect but We also believe that in his off. cal capacity he is q distinct disap- pOAuILAGuL anu AAIGASs
 As for Mr. Clark and his Qualifica- tions for the office to which he has been nominated by President Taft, much might be said, largely by way oi speculation, however. He ought 10 be endowed with the ability re- Quired to discharg' the few import ant duties attached to the office. His occupation in life should make him familiar with men and things. lie has some Knowledge of Alaska and the conditions obtaining in the territory, having visited it once or twice in the past few years. He should know Alaska politicians. By this designation We mean the lead CTS Of the several Republican fac tons in Alaska which are forever quarreling about the division of the loayes and fishes, and doing every thing possible (and impoSsible) to obstruct the other fellows path to tbe piccouuter. Mir. Clark knows these men; and he has been at all times judiciouS-except, perhaps, in d commercial Sense-in the diStribu- ton of the favors that his position as newspaper correspondent in the national capital. have given him. He has at times shown disposition to color his correspondence for the ap- parent purpose of securing favorS for special individuals or special inter- cStS. without regard, We think, to the merits of either. But as goyer- nor he might assume a new and lof' ter plane of thought and action.
 While the Herald would much pre-. fer to have seen a real, bona fide, Alaskan nominated for the office, it tees not propose to throw rocks at MT. Clark. We have said many times that there are Republicans in Alaska, leu of integrity and ability, capable ol filling with dignity and distinction any office within the gift of the president. It is matter of pro- uud regret that the factions are ever ready to jump at each others throat, and claw each others eyes. This fight of factions has long been standing disgrace to the dominant political party. And just here we may state that President Taft errs when he judges Alaskans in the light of factional fights within his own party in Alaska. The average Alaskan asks only that capable and honorable men be appointed to red eraI office in the territory. Alaskans are to be preferred at all times to tine stranger, but if the stranger be appointed, Alaskans should have the right to insist he be honest and com petent.
 Mir. Clark's nomination has been confirmed by the senate and it is to be hoped that he will discharge his official duties with an eye single to the welfare of all Alaska, and with out fear or favor. He has long list (; distinguished failures to make plain the shoals on which his prede'