The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-27
ALASKAN DELEGATE CASTS SERl-
Gus AsPERsioNs UPON MR..
TAFT AND OTHERS.
PROMPTLY CALLED DOWN
Former Judge Credited With Allegation
That President and Former Execu.
tive, Mr.. Roosevelt. Had Maintained
an Alaskan Lobby in Washington
Counter Charges Are Made.

Washington. Jan. a6.-Charges by
Judge Wickersham.. delegate from
Alaska. that President Tai: and for
mer President Roosevelt had main
tanned in Washington AN Alaskan
lobby in the persons of former Gov
ernor Hoggatt and Major W. p.
Richardson. head of the Alaskan road
commission. are revealed by proofs
made public today of an executive
hearing before the senate committee
on territories i'm relation to the Alas:
kan legislative council bill.
Counter charges by Judge Hosgatt
that Judge Wickersham is .'humbug-
ging." further eniivens the situation.
The senate committee took seriously
the aspersions which seemed to have
been cast upon the motives of the
president and former president by
Judge wickersham's testimony.
Before an official stenograrher was
admitted to the hearing Judge Wick
crsham was called to order by Senator
Beveridge.l chairman of the committee
and warned to give his utterances
with more care.
Should Not Appear.
After the Alaskan delegate had re-
tired, portion of his Testimony was
considered. and IL was decided II
should not appear In the printed rec
ord. Chairman Reveridge said to the
committee:
"A witness would not be permitted
TO make such a reflection upon mo-
tives of the president OF the United
states In any committee of which I
was chairman even if that office were
filled by William Jennings Bryan or
prohibitionist or a socialist
Judge wickersham had charged that
certain legislation furthered by Major
Richardson and former Governor
Hoggatt was in the Interest OF the
Guggcnheims. and that the president
and former president were responsible
for their presence i'm Washington as
lobbyists for the measures. 1t was at
that point the delegate was called to
order.
Further along in the hearins-and
this is part of the testimony made
public-Wickersham. in protesting
against the presence of Major Rich
ardson i'm Washington. said:
'''The president has no right to main
tain "a lobbyist here"
Great interest was manifested by
the committee as to the activities of
Richardson. Judge Wickersham said
Richardson had come to him and
many others with bills which were
against the interests of the people of
Alaska. but would benefit the Gug-
genheinls. while being paid u salary
as governor
''humbusgine."
Former Governor Hoggatt followed
MIR. Wickersham as witness and
was asked by Senator Clarke of Ar
kansas. IL he knew why Wickersham
had charged him with being a lob
byist.
Judge Wickersham has probably
felt very kindly toward me since he
resigned as judge of the United States
court in Alaska rather than face
charges which l was prepared to
make to the president. If the judge
had not decided that he had best re-
sign.'' responded Mr.. Hoggatt.
Have you any counter-charses to
make-that Wickersham Is interested
in lobbying for any particular inter- /
est"" continued Mr.. Clarke.
No. I do not know anything about
it. He is not lobbying. He is just
'humbugging.' that Is all