The daily Alaskan., 1910-01-19
THE GOVERNOR BREACHES 9ART-
 HAN POLITICS,

Mems club last Saturday evening, Gov. Walter F. Clark iu his address on The Duties of Citizenship de- voted no iucousiderabla portion of his time Co a theme. which, stripped of all verbiage. practically constitutes 8 sraight-torward plea for paruZan pol tiles in Alaska.
 There was a time iu che dark poll tiCal history of autebellUm days "ha strict party allegiance was Card.ua, creed and when not Co vote che straight ticket was considered crime only second to treason to Che flag. This blind and narrow view wa naturally enough iOstgred by che p1i- lticians iu power so that until coWpa," auvely recent years "Jue straight ticket" was the sh,boletl and bolt ing" considered the herosy of the body polite.
 Happily. however. this Illogical sgn- timent has died a natural death, so that now iJ ts not rare Co meet honest and respected men who are mo. ashamed Go admit that though Repua liCans. they voted for Democrats or vice versa Indeed 30 grna. and con Stautly increasing body of voters hay come Co the sane conclusion that |. is more praiseworrhy Co vote for what. they consider the best wGg than co bIindly cast their ballots ar oIora.tou of party leadership. This tendency has frequently caused the election 1i Republican governors Iu Democratic states and of Democratic leaders H Republican communities and has made ff more and more 0.lUuu.r for .He political managers Co t.r...u l1. E. suits Of elections. .r has also NHa the beneficial result u. rasu- ,I' standard Ot character ul our elective officers. for nowadays, voters, Lo som extent look about them 0e.0r. they vote and ir Is far more df..ou.. u .N year 1910 Co elect gurrHu. or .a. capable man Co office than i- was H the good old days.
 The above conclusions we .Hua are generally accepted by r.-ul think ing people ju fac. che main cone tentiOns we have made gr. self aE. dent. if good govorum.u. Is lU. H.str. ed end Ot che voters choice.
 In view of these circumstances W. would be loarh r1 charge aoE Walter E. Clark of wgkiu- ul.a for part. izau politics were na not convicted Of the charge by his own words, which follow verbatim.
 "On such questions as these there will appear. believe. uH great 0.- verSity of opinion. On certain 0.H.. public matters there win be wide 0..- fereuCes. and rH.s leads w. Go Ob- serve that Jhe best voting citizens everywhere are those who uooD.ral. with the pOldca, party whenever uo- HtiCal questions are lu issue. Need | call your attention co LH. fac. .aa0 our government Is essentially a gov crumeDt by political parties. OF need l impress upon you che u0tsDH.ao.e evidence of our history cha. this sys- tenn is wise2 The times Wu.u .u- pOrtant political issues being @. stalk" a citizen finds just excuse for dns"rt- ing his party and for refusing Go join with another. but initiates OF joins in an independent movement. are rare indeed and are not likely to o@ cur iu the lives of most Ot us.
 "Of course. the good citizen m Alas ka. as elsewhere will bn militant in politics He will l.-l. l.r. H the primaries and precinct meetings of his party, seeking tO bend party ae. ton toward the adoption of such a course in reference r1 platforms and candidates as satisfies his conscience When the candidates are nominated he will cease to oDD0s. hts own part associates. and will fight che political enemy of the opposite party.
 We have no quarrel with che p1i- teal opinions of Walter F. Clark
 To vote as he chooses is the pre- rogative of every mau-nr0r.de1 he has a vote. It Gov Clark honestly believes that the best interests 0i government are tartGered by strict allegiance to party power he ls wnr come Co that belief.
 But we do take exceptions to the Governor of Alaska preaching such a doctrine at a public meeting. ospoe. ially. as his remarks seem u0 have an iusidioUs bearing on the coming election which will decide who will represent Alaska iu Congress.
 Gov Clark tells ms that rha best voting citizens should cooperate with party power. che obvious inference being that if there should happen to be an independent candidate at the next election he would he unworthy of support
 Alaskans. who are not permitted tn vote on national affairs, will not take kindly to this advice, iu-asmuch as the present delegate and an his pre- decessOrs were elected 0u udapeud- ent tickets. and considering che hands wherein the present power of the Republican party of Alaska Is lodged.
 When Gov. Clark took office he promised to keep al0of from po.itS He has since repeated that prom~a Are not the remarks we have quoted political in their uatUre4 Are they not even partizau2
 Perhaps We do err iU at-rtbuting such subtility to the meaning of our chief executive. but most readers would consUue his remarks as being so aimed as to have a special bearing on the position of Delegate James Wickersham
 This is hardly our idea of keeping clear of politics.