The Alaska citizen., 1911-05-22
RESENTS FEDERAL
 INTERFERENCE
MAJOR STRONG IS OUTSPOkEN WHEN TT THREATENS
 iDITAROO CITY.

IDITAROD CITY. April 19.-The city council, it is alleged this morn ing will at the meeting tonight appoint Pat OConnor chief of police.
 It is alleged. also on excellent au- thority. that the appointment has been dictated by Special District At torney Clegg; that the threat he used to secure the promise of his favorites appointment is that unless O'Connor is given the place the Special District Attorney will put the lid on the town and clamp it down" So a majority of the city council of Iditarod, elected by the people only last week. are to be coerced by federal official!
 If the charge made against Spe- cial District Attorney Clegg be true, does not know that the play called ed by others than himself? And he may be asked, if the lid is off, why he failed to make the discov- cry before the town was incOrporat- ed and a chief of police was to be appointed? Also why does he dare to presume to dictate appointments in an incorporated municipality of Alaska? Why does he have the of frontery to interfere in any man. ner with the towns affairs. in his capacity of subordinate federal official. save only to see that the laws are not violated? Does his superior. District Attorney Crossley, approve of this federal interference, dctation or threatening?
 What Is it's purpose? Will not such action. if it be true, give rise to the suspicion of graft? If the charges that are being made upon the streets and in public places against MT, Clegg be true, then he must answer with his official head. If he is acting under instructions from or with the cOgniZance of, District Attorney Crossley, then Mir. Crossley must answer. In any event. he is responsible for the acts of his subordnates.
 Since the Nugget does not know MT. OConnor, it can have no per sonal objection to him; but it can not too strongly condemn the in
  for him. and the Nugget, in con- clusion. has this to say: No in terference. or dictation, in purely mu- nicipal affairs. on the part of any fed eral official. of whatsoever degree. shall be permitted If conspicuous pub licity be of any avail. And it will.
 The city council held caucus last night and it was stated today that the following appointments would be made tonight: Chief of police, Pat O'Connor; city attorney, Henry Roden; Clerk and Municipal Magistrate, Earl B. Hunt. It was stated that no other appointments would be made at present. coun- cilman stated this morning that the appointment of O'Connor was agreed on as merely temporary-so that he could superintend the removal of Mrs Stoner's building in Willow street, which was accomplished this morning after being determined upon last night It was also said that city officials would be elected by secret ballot.
 Speaking of secret ballot. a we'll known business man said today: Why should the council want se- cret ballot? Are they going to appoint men to office they are asham ed or afraid to vote for openly? Do they wish to shirk the responsi- bility? A secret ballot would jus tify such a construction of the act. Let everything be done openly and above board The people demand it."
 The city council held special meeting yesterday afternoon. and after calling in Attorney Clegg. serv- ed formal notice upon Mrs. Stoner, who had begun the erection of a building in Willow street. on the site of the one torn down in the l fire of April 4. warning her to de- sist. No attention having been paid to the notice. the building was torn down and the material placed in l a neat pile.-Iditarod Nugget.