The daily Alaskan., 1910-02-16

IT the Beyeridge bin is defeated, and at the present writing the indica- uoas are that it will not by any means have smooth sailing. the cred it for the hwarung of this in ad- yised and un-American piece of legts- Lsuou will be largely due to enc man James wickersham. Aaska's dele gate to Congress-
 From the time the bill was first in- rOduced in the Senate by Beveridge, wickersham has waged incessant war agains, it. He has been opposed by all the power of the President. for Senator Beyeridge is authority for stating that Taft is extremely desir, Ous Of having this uuamended bill pass a majority of the committee on territories are subservieut to Taft and Beyeridge. and ex.Goy. Hoggatt and Major Richardson have persisten ly lobOied in favor of the buL Yet despite these great odds James Wick ersham. holding a brief from the peo- pie of Alaska. has presented our case wih such clear minded logic, such fairness. with such wide and mtim- ate knowledge of the conditions in Al aska. that slowly he has been carry ing conviction to the members of hostile camp so that now it is by no means improbable that the Beveridge bill may be defeated. At least it's most obnoxious features will be elim- mated by amendment
 Photographic dispatches from day to day have kept the people Of Alaska posted on the status Of the bill. but the stenograpbic reports of the com miJtee hearings. which have just reached us. show more plainly than any press dispatches just what Wick ersham has done. the great good he has accomplished. and also the con, summate patience with which he has labored.
 The committee hearing reports are verbatim accounts Of the dialog in tha committee room. They are absolute Iy unembelushed, but one can read be- tween the lines. can infer the hostile intent Of some of the legislators, can perceive the persistent opposition of Senator Beyeridge. The ignorance of the other legislators concerning Alas kan conditions is revealed and one stands aghast at the magnitude of the task that confronted Wlckersham: hostility. ignorance and indifference, were thc barriers he was forced 10 beat against.
 On the morning of Jan 20 Wicker sham for nearly three hours stood be- fore committee Of eleven senators, headed by Beyeridge. and without hay ing an opportunity to consult any doe umeuJary evidence answered off hand every conceivable question that could be put to him concerning Alaska and her people. their needs, their desires. the conditions Of the territory and his objections to the Beveridge bill,
 A perusal of the report must in. eyitably arouse admiration for Wick ersham. Never was he at loss for the facts. seldom did he make the slightest mistake and never did he mis-state any important point. Not only did he plainly show that the Peo pie of Alaska want home rule. are capable of home rule and entitled to home rule. by every law of justice and liberty. but he thoroughly riddled the original draft of the Beyeridge bill pointed out it's inconsistencies; its vicious concentration of power in to the hands of few men; the oo- vlous intent to make Major Richard son the rel ruler of Alaska by ere ating him commissioner of the inter- for and allowing him to retain control